Garlic and herb rice is the perfect side dish for any occasion! The tasty combination of fragrant herbs, garlic, butter, and rice will add a delicious burst of flavor to your meal times. Ready in no time at all, this easy-to-make recipe will soon be your go-to side dish.
Plain rice is a staple ingredient in many households across the world thanks to its versatility. But not only is rice a super simple side dish, but it can also take on additional flavors well – making it a great way to add flavor and texture to any dish.
This garlic and herbed rice recipe takes the classic side up a notch with an irresistible mix of herbs and spices! Cooked in butter, fresh garlic, and a handful of ingredients, you can have this delicious side ready in no time. The result is a savory, buttery, yet fluffy rice that can be enjoyed alone or as part of a complete meal.
Not to mention, adding lemon zest brightens up the rice and complements the herbs perfectly. This herb rice recipe will make a great addition to your meal rotation – and you’ll be surprised to see how quickly it comes together!
Why You’ll Love Garlic and Herb Rice
- Effortless to make. Most of this recipe is hands-off while you wait for the rice to cook. This means my herbed rice is a great recipe for busy weeknights. Why not use leftover rice to make this simple recipe even more effortless?
- Flavorful and delicious. The combination of herbs, garlic, butter, and lemon zest gives the rice an amazing flavor! The additional seasonings elevate what can be an otherwise boring side dish, making it the star of any meal.
- It’s so versatile. There aren’t many dishes this garlic butter rice won’t go with! Garlic lemon herb rice can be served with many protein and veggie combinations, making it a wonderful all-around side.
Ingredients For Herbed Rice
- Butter
- Long grain white rice
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Garlic
- Lemon zest
- Parsley
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Broth
- Salt
- Black pepper
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
Instructions For Garlic Herb Rice
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over a medium heat.
- Add the rice and minced cloves of garlic, stir to coat.
- Pour in the broth (or substitute water).
- Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is absorbed. Watch it, but don’t stir or remove the lid.
- Once the rice is finished cooking, add the lemon zest, fresh parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Lightly stir to combine.
Variations for Garlic and Herb Rice
I love when a recipe can be customized to fit the ingredients I have in my pantry. This can make an easy recipe even easier – while also helping to reduce food waste! So while I highly recommend you follow this herbed rice recipe to get the full flavor experience, here are some ideas for how to mix it up:
- Switch up the herbs: You can use a different mix of fresh herbs in this herbed rice recipe, depending on what you have on hand. Check out my blog post on herb preservation to find some awesome herb combination ideas!
- Use different types of rice: You want to stick with long grain rice for this recipe, which gives a lovely fluffy texture. But as for what variety of long-grain white rice, you can go with jasmine rice, basmati rice, or any other variety you like. Brown rice can also work if that’s all you have – but it will take longer to cook, so keep this in mind.
- Make it dairy-free: Olive oil is a good substitute for butter if you want to make this rice dish milk free.
- Add in additional flavors: Garlic and herb rice can be easily adapted to include more flavors if you’d like. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for some heat, or add sun-dried tomatoes for an extra flavor punch!
- Swap out the broth: This recipe can use water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth. It all depends on what flavor you’re going for and what type of meal you’re serving the rice with.
How to Serve Garlic Herbed Rice
This herbed rice is great served as a side dish, but it can also be used as an ingredient in other dishes. Here are some ideas for how to use this tasty rice:
- Serve it alongside reverse-seared steak or grilled salmon for a complete meal
- Use the herbed rice as a base for Buddha bowls or grain salads
- Mix it with veggies like roasted Brussels sprouts and a savory sauce for an amazing stir-fry
- Serve it with a saucy dish like chicken curry or Instant Pot turkey chili for a delicious option
- Stuff peppers or squash with the herbed rice for a flavorful dinner
- Serve it as is, topped with some freshly chopped herbs as an easy side
It is safe to store cooked rice in the fridge. If you made a little too much or have some leftovers, you can store herbed rice in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply pop it in the microwave until fully heated through. You can also add a splash of water or broth to the rice to help keep it moist and flavorful.
Just remember that the fresh herbs will lose their flavor over time, so it’s best to enjoy them while they’re still fresh!
Yes! This rice freezes well. Ensure it’s completely cooled to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer bags. You can then freeze your delicious rice for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the microwave as above.
If possible, freeze your herb rice without the fresh herbs and lemon zest. You can mix these in once the rice has thawed and been reheated – it’ll taste as good as freshly made!
Garlic and Herb Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 1/2 cups broth chicken or vegetable
- 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, minced
- 1/2 tablepoon basil fresh, minced
- 2 teaspoons rosemary fresh, minced
- 2 teaspoons oregano fresh, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
- Add the rice and garlic, stir to coat.
- Pour in the broth (or substitute water).
- Cover and simmer about 20 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is absorbed. Watch it, but dont' stir or remove the lid.
- Once the rice is finished cooking, add the lemon zest, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Lightly stir to combine.
Sue Lingman says
I can’t see measurement for broth in recipe
Alli says
Thank you for letting me know! My mistake has been fixed and it is listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.