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    Home > Meal Type > Sides

    Easy Garlic Rice Pilaf

    Updated: Jun 23rd 2021 • Published: Apr 15th 2020 • 14 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    PIN IMAGE - garlic rice with text overlay

    Garlic Rice Pilaf is the side dish that goes with pretty much anything! It is packed with flavor, easy to make, and the whole family will love it!

    Not only is this delicious, but it is so simple to make, with just four ingredients, this garlic rice is a winner! 

    Tender white rice, plenty of garlic, butter, and then some vegetable broth to make sure each grain soaks up the maximum flavor! This simple rice dish work with so many different main courses. And leftovers are great for lunches as it reheats well.

    an oval dish full of rice on a grey table

    Jump Menu

    • What is a Pilaf?
    • What rice to use?
    • How to make Garlic Rice Pilaf
    • What to serve with Garlic Rice
    • Easy Garlic Rice Pilaf Recipe

    What is a Pilaf?

    A pilaf is also know as a pilau, and it rice that has been cooked in broth or stock, usually with other flavors, like herbs and spices. Or in this recipe garlic!

    The finished rice dish has tender fluffy grains of rice that are full of flavor. These dishes are so packed with flavor that you can often eat a pilaff on its own!

    For other rice pilaf recipes check out my Greek Style Rice (Greek Pilaf), or my Jeweled Persian Rice Pilaf or this easy Turkish Rice Pilaf with Orzo.

    What rice to use?

    With so much choice at the grocery store, the choice of rice can be overwelming! 

    This recipe uses your standard long-grain white rice. It is easy to cook, takes on the flavors of the garlic, and is readily available.

    A couple of rice notes:

    Look for standard long-grain rice, not quick cook or converted white rice (like uncle bens). These need different quantities of water and different cooking times.

    Wash your rice, not only will it remove the starch and dust from your rice, which means fluffier rice, it also softens the rice, so it absorbs the garlic flavors and cooks evenly in the broth.

    How to rinse rice
    Place the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Use your hand to turn the rice over in the bowl, be gentle as you don't want to break the grains. Carefully drain the water away and repeat this process twice more. Once you have rinsed the rice three times, use a fine-mesh sieve to drain the rice. To ensure you have washed away as much starch as possible, place the sieve under the flow of running water for 10-15 seconds. Leave the rice to drain dry. 

    overhead of the rice in a dish with parsley on top

    How to make Garlic Rice Pilaf

    To start this rice, we want to rinse it well (see above) then leave it to drain.

    While the rice is draining, we need to chop plenty of garlic. The recipe calls for ten cloves of garlic, which is about one head of garlic. Don't worry though, the garlic is simmered with the rice, so it does mellow down. If you want a milder flavor, then you can reduce the number of cloves. 

    This garlic is cooked over low heat in butter (you can use oil, but butter gives the rice more flavor - think of this as Garlic Butter Rice!) Use a large shallow pan (one with a lid) as this will help the rice to cook evenly. 

    Once the garlic has softened, use a spoon to remove one tablespoon of garlic and butter from the pan, reserve this to drizzle over at the end. Then add in the drained, washed rice, it will splutter and spit a little, but this is normal, just stir it around to coat it in the butter

    You want to add in hot vegetable broth; this helps to cook the rice evenly. It is essential to turn the heat to low while cooking the rice; the broth needs to be absorbed into the rice rather than evaporating away. This is why a large shallow pan is best, it allows the rice to sit in a thin layer, and it will cook more evenly.

    Once the broth is added, you need to pop a lid on the rice and reduce the heat to low, again all designed to make sure the rice cooks through. 

    Cook everything for 15 minutes and then turn the heat off, but don't look at the rice. Leave it to sit for 10 minutes with the lid on to ensure everything steams and cooks thoroughly.

    Serve with the reserved butter spooned over.

    close up of the rice grains and minced garlic

    What to serve with Garlic Rice

    You can pretty much serve this with anything!! It really is a great side dish. It works with saucy dishes, or because it is soft and buttery with drier mains like a seared chicken breast.

    Some of our favorite options are:

    • Creamy Mushroom Chicken
    • Creamy Bacon Chicken
    • Thai Scallops
    • Peri Peri Chicken
    • Italian Chicken Breasts
    • Creamy Tuscan Mushrooms
    a rustic oval dish of garlic rice

    Enjoy x

    For more delicious rice side dishes, why not try:

    • Greek Style Rice
    • Jeweled Persian Rice Pilaf
    • Garlic Bacon Rice
    • Turkish Rice Pilaf with Orzo


    Pin this recipe for Garlic Rice Pilaf. Pin it here.

    overhead view of rice with garlic and herbs on top
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.70 from 10 votes

    Easy Garlic Rice Pilaf Recipe

    Garlic Rice is the side dish that goes with pretty much anything! It's packed with flavor, easy to make, and the whole family will love it! With just four ingredients, this garlic rice is a winner! Tender white rice, plenty of garlic, butter, and then some vegetable broth to make sure each grain soaks up the maximum flavor! This simple rice dish work with so many different main courses. And leftovers are great for lunches as it reheats well.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Side
    Cuisine: Modern Australian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 345kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups rice - see note 1
    • 10 cloves garlic - see note 2
    • 3 tablespoon butter
    • 1 ½ cups vegetable broth, hot - see note 3
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • fresh parsley - optional garnish

    Instructions

    • Rinse the rice in cold water at least three times to remove any excess starch. (see note 3)
      1 ½ cups white rice

    • Peel and finely chop the garlic.
      10 cloves garlic

    • Add the butter to a large shallow skillet/pan (one with a lid).
      3 tablespoon butter

    • Add the garlic and place over low heat.
    • Once the garlic has softened and is smelling aromatic, remove a tablespoon of butter and garlic from the pan and set to one side.
    • Add the washed rice to the remaining butter in the pan and stir to coat.
    • Pour in the hot broth and the salt, then bring to a simmer.
      1 ½ cups hot broth
      ½ teaspoon salt

    • Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
    • Remove from heat, but don't lift the lid. Let the finished pilaf stand for 5-10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
    • Serve the cooked rice with the reserved garlic butter and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

    Notes

    1. Use a long grain white rice for this recipe; that way, the broth volumes will give you perfectly cooked rice.
    2. 10 cloves of garlic are roughly one head of garlic. The cooking process will mellow it.
    3. You can use vegetable or chicken broth, just ensure that it is a well-flavored broth.
    4. Rinse the rice thoroughly to ensure the finished pilaf will be fluffier.
      How to rinse rice: Place the rice in a bowl and cover with water. Use your hand to turn the rice over in the bowl, be gentle; you don't want to break the grains. Carefully drain the water away and repeat this process twice more. Once you have rinsed the rice three times, use a fine-mesh sieve to drain the rice. To ensure you have washed away as much starch as possible, place the sieve under the flow of running water for 10-15 seconds. Leave the rice to drain.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 724mg | Potassium: 110mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rhoda Meadows says

      March 17, 2023 at 11:35 pm

      Can this be made with leftover rice?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        March 21, 2023 at 3:48 pm

        Hi Rhoda,

        Haven't tried it with left over rice, but I am thinking that if you make the garlic butter and then mix the cooked rice through it, you should get a similar dish.
        Hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    2. Megan says

      February 26, 2023 at 10:56 am

      Can this be made in a rice cooker?

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        February 28, 2023 at 5:06 pm

        I haven't tried, but I think as long as you alter the rice to water ratios to suit your rice cooker it will work well.
        Sorry I can't be more help
        Cx

        Reply
    3. Adena says

      September 12, 2022 at 10:17 am

      5 stars
      My boys and I really, really, Really enjoyed the flavor of this rice. My youngest son and I even had leftovers for breakfast with a fried egg on top. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 03, 2022 at 6:02 pm

        That sounds like an awesome breakfast!
        So happy you all enjoyed it 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    4. camilla says

      August 24, 2022 at 1:00 am

      Can you fix the metric system toggle? I can't find it on your website.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        November 15, 2022 at 12:53 pm

        Hi Camila,

        It might be it is a recipe that doesn't have a conversion. I tend to only measure rice in cups.
        Next time I make this I will weight the rice and use a measuring cup for the stock and update the recipe.
        Cx

        Reply
    5. Beth says

      July 30, 2022 at 5:59 am

      I wanted to read the recipe but was bombarded by ads. No thanks!!!!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        January 31, 2023 at 3:31 pm

        I am sorry you feel this way, but I have a large website with hundreds of recipes and it is entirely free to readers.
        As I’m sure you can imagine, it’s quite expensive to host such a resource as well as test each recipe multiple times. Not to mention, cover numerous operating expenses like, a test kitchen, computers, cameras, lenses, video equipment, employees, marketing and more!

        The ads on my site ensure that the site remains free for everyone.

Thank you.

        Reply
    6. Sandra says

      May 18, 2021 at 4:31 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! It's been hard to find a great tasting rice pilaf and this one was bursting with flavor. Will definitely be making this again.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        June 13, 2021 at 11:01 am

        Oh I am so pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    7. Sandra says

      May 18, 2021 at 4:23 am

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for sharing your recipe! This rice pilaf was bursting with flavor. Will definitely be making this again.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        June 13, 2021 at 11:02 am

        I am so happy you found it packed with flavor! 🙂
        Thanks for taking the time to comment
        Cx

        Reply

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