Garlic Herb Rice | Precious Core

July 13, 2023 Stan

Here is your step-by-step guide for making Garlic Herb Rice from scratch! Never open a boxed mix again! This impressive side dish is garlicky, buttery, fragrant, and ready in 30 minutes.

A bowl of garlic herb rice topped with minced fresh parsley.

Today we are kicking plain Jane white rice to the curb because this garlic and herb rice is the real deal! Let me show you how to make a rice side dish that has the chef’s kiss! You’ll want to make this recipe over and over again!

Serve it alongside Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops, Lentil Stew, Pan Seared Lamb Chops, Garlic Butter Green Beans, and Oven Baked Turkey Wings. Insanely good!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It is impressive! Do you want to learn how to make a rice side dish that impresses every time? This easy Garlic Herb Rice is the rice side dish to make! The little flecks of herbs throughout the rice give this rice an appearance that just screams, “Eat me!”

It is flavorful! You’ll love the flavors of the garlic, combined with the herbs. It’s amazing how adding a little garlic and herbs to rice just takes it to the next level!

You can make it ahead! This recipe is easy to make and great to make ahead. Just make and keep in the fridge then reheat and serve.
You’ll make it over and over again! This side dish pairs so well with many protein and vegetable dishes. It’s one to add to the dinner rotation!
Holiday friendly! This recipe is the perfect side dish for celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter!

Ingredients For Garlic Herb Rice

Here is everything you need for stunning garlic and herb rice.

Olive Oil: For sauteeing the garlic so the flavors bloom.

Grated or Minced Garlic: Adds flavor to the rice. Use more or less than the quantity of garlic the recipe calls for to suit your preferences.

Herbs: Fresh Rosemary and thyme add lots of flavor to the rice. You could use dried herbs too. Adding minced parsley at the end adds fresh flavor and makes the rice visually appealing.

Bouillon Powder: Use chicken bouillon powder or beef bouillon powder to imbue flavor onto the rice. No need to cook the rice in stock when using bouillon powder as the bouillon already adds great flavor.

Salt and Pepper: Ground black pepper or ground white pepper would work here.

Butter: Adding butter to the just-cooked hot garlic herb rice is a finishing step not to miss! The butter adds incredible flavor at the end.

See the recipe card below with a detailed list of ingredients and instructions.

Bowl of seasoned rice with plates on one side.

Substitutions

Different herbs: Feel free to add various herbs to the rice such as dill, cilantro, mint, and basil.

Stock: Substitute the bouillon powder and water for chicken stock, beef stock, or vegetable stock. Any stock or broth you have on hand would work. If using stock, make sure you use sodium-free stock and control the amount of salt you add to the rice.

Rice: I used Basmati rice here but feel free to use any long-grain rice you have on hand or another rice. You could also make this recipe with brown rice. Just note that brown rice will take longer to cook.

Garlic Herb Cauliflower Rice: For a low-carb version, swap the rice with cauliflower and instead of cooking the rice in water or stock, stir-fry the cauliflower in a wok with the garlic and herbs until done.

How To Cook Garlic Herb Rice

Here is how you make incredible Garlic Herb Rice!

First, rinse the rice in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.

2. Then saute minced garlic, rosemary, and thyme in olive oil for a few seconds. This helps the flavors of the garlic intensify, resulting in really tasty rice.

Garlic and fresh herbs sauteeing in olive oil in a cast iron enamel pot.

3. Add the rice to the pot and let it toast for 3-4 minutes. Stir from time to time as the rice toasts.

4. Add the rice, water, chicken bouillon powder, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Water and seasoning added to tasted rice.

5. Bring the rice to a boil then reduce the heat to low and cook until done. Once the rice is done, let it sit covered for 5 minutes.

Cooked rice with garlic and herbs in a pot.

6. Then fluff with a fork, top with butter and minced parsley, and serve warm.

Rice topped with butter and minced parsley.

To avoid mushy rice, avoid adding lots of water when cooking the rice. A good ratio is 1 1/2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. Let the rice come to a simmer first before letting it cook covered so the steam can stay in the pot and cook the rice.

Variations

Try the following variations with the rice:

Cheesy rice: Cook the rice in milk instead of water then top with grated cheddar cheese when done and cover so the residual heat melts over the cheese.
Curry rice: Add curry powder to make curry rice.
Lemon rice: Squeeze lemon juice into the rice at the end for a lemony flair.
Spicy rice: Add crushed pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Also, try this Easy Coconut Rice recipe.

Expert Tips For Garlic Herb Rice

To always cook rice perfectly add water or any other cooking liquid like stock or broth to cover the rice by about 1 inch.
Toast the rice in a bit of oil before adding the liquid. This adds flavor to the rice and the oil also coats the rice which can help the grains stay separate.
Use fresh garlic if you can for the best flavor. An easy way to mince the garlic is to grate it using a microplane zester.
If you choose to use dried herbs instead, use half the amount of fresh herbs used. Using dried herbs could cut down the time used in prepping fresh herbs.
Store cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Don’t store the rice in the same container it was cooked in.
To reheat garlic herb rice on the stovetop, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to a small pot. Add the rice, cover the pot, and let it heat up on medium heat until completely heated through. To reheat in the microwave, add a little water to the rice so it doesn’t dry out, cover and heat on low heat until heated through.

Recipe Commonly Asked Questions

What herbs and spices go with rice?

Herbs that go well with rice include thyme, parsley, rosemary, oregano, and basil. Spices like garlic, ginger, crushed pepper flakes, cumin, and white or black pepper go well with rice. Spice blends like Italian seasoning, curry powder, or cajun seasoning also go well with rice.

What seasonings make rice taste better?

Salt is really good for bringing out the flavors in rice. Bouillon powder like chicken bouillon powder or beef bouillon powder adds great flavor to rice.

What can I add to white rice for flavor?

Simply adding butter to white rice will greatly improve the taste of the rice. A drizzle of soy sauce and some minced fresh herbs will add more flavor to the rice.

Equipment

The following equipment makes it easier to make this garlic and herb rice!

Serve this garlic herb rice with the following delicious dishes!

Serving

Serve this garlic herb rice with the following delicious dishes!

More Rice Recipes To Try

Looking for more rice recipes to try? Try the following:

If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe plus I love hearing from you! Thank you!

Rinse the Basmati rice thoroughly using a fine mesh strainer to remove the starch. Rinse until the water runs clear. Tap the strainer well so the excess water drains from the rice. Set aside.
Place a medium pot on medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pot and heat up for 1-2 minutes. Add the minced garlic, minced rosemary, and thyme, and saute for 30 seconds. Add the rinsed rice and let it toast in the oil for 3 to 4 minutes while stirring from time to time.
Add in the 3 cups of water, salt, bouillon powder, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine. Bring the pot to a boil still on medium-high heat then cover tightly and reduce the heat to medium-low (almost at the lowest heat but not quite at the lowest).
Let the rice cook covered for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed and the rice is done. If the rice isn’t done, cover, and let it cook again for 5 minutes until fully cooked. Avoid adding water at this stage as the residual steam will cook the rice.
Dice the 2 tablespoons of butter and add to the rice. Let the cooked rice rest covered for 5 minutes, allowing the butter to melt. Fluff with a fork and serve warm with your favorite dishes.

Storage: Store cooked rice in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Don’t store the rice in the same container it was cooked in.
Reheating: To reheat garlic herb rice on the stovetop, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to a small pot. Add the rice, cover the pot, and let it heat up on medium heat until completely heated through. To reheat in the microwave, add a little water to the rice so it doesn’t dry out, cover and heat on low heat until heated through.
Dried Herbs: You could use dried thyme and rosemary instead of fresh. Just reduce the quantity by half since dried herbs are more concentrated. So for this recipe, you would use half a teaspoon of dried thyme and half a teaspoon of dried rosemary.