• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Cheap Eats
  • About
    • About Good Cheap Eats
    • Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Me
  • Members Only
    • Login
    • Club Homepage
    • Club Resource Library
    • Downloads
    • Live Club Events
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog
  • SHOP
    • Purchases
    • Cookbooks
    • Planner
    • The Good Cheap Eats Club
    • Meal Plans
    • Holiday Helps
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Grad Party Food
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Grad Party Food
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • My Account
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Side Dishes

    Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven

    Published: May 24, 2021 · Modified: Mar 2, 2023 by Jessica Fisher

    FacebookTweetPinPrint
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Baked Rice is simple and fuss-free. It steams perfectly and tastes great every time. All you need is rice, salt, and hot water! If you’ve ever felt like a failure making rice, those days are over when you bake rice in the oven.

    When you cook rice in the oven, you take all the guess work out of the process. It’s quick, easy, and completely hands-free for making perfectly cooked rice. Save time when you cook more than one recipe in the same hot oven, like Hands-Free Cashew Chicken.

    woman's hand holding a fork to fluff the baked rice in dish with steam rising from the pan. this …
    Jump to:
    • Why Make This
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Freezing Instructions
    • What to do with leftovers?
    • Tips for Success
    • More Great Rice Dishes
    • Tell us what you think!
    • Baked Rice

    I can’t make rice.

    My rice never turns out.

    I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t make good rice.

    Have you ever said those words? Believe me, you are not alone.

    Rice is the one good cheap eat that I hear folks struggle with continuously, but once you master it, a whole world of great, budget-friendly food opens up for you.

    Thankfully, it really is easy to make, especially when you cook rice in the oven!

    Why Make This

    It’s foolproof. Since rice is featured in so many dishes and serves as a supporting side to so many delicious things, it’s in your best interests to learn how to make good rice. This foolproof method to bake rice in the oven will give you confidence to make rice a regular dish in your meal planning.

    It’s easy! Baked Rice is a no-brainer side dish to prepare. It takes very little effort and can bake alongside other dishes in the oven, making dinner prep a snap. It is so easy to assemble Rice Bowls when you’ve got Easy Oven Baked Rice.

    Baked Rice goes with anything! This whole grain is a delicious, versatile, and inexpensive side dish that is embraced by cultures the world over, featured in Mexican food, Asian bowls, Catalan paella, Cajun Jambalaya, French pilafs, and Mediterranean dishes. Rice is the base of many a curry and a great side to Chicken Tikka Masala.

    Ingredients

    Here’s what you’ll need to make baked rice in the oven:

    ingredients and equipment needed to make baked rice on tabletop.

    The ingredients list here is short. All you need is rice, salt, and very hot, boiling water. Rice is readily available at almost any grocery store, so nothing special needed.

    We use regular long-grain rice for this baked rice recipe, but you can easily swap in other types of rice, though you may need to adjust the ratio of water to rice or how long you cook it, depending on the variety.

    Nonstick cooking spray helps your rice not stick to the glass baking dish.

    While it doesn’t really matter what kind of rice you use, it does matter what equipment you use.

    Either bake your rice in a Dutch oven with a securely fitting lid, or use heavy-duty aluminum foil (as we do here) to securely cover the 9×13-inch baking dish so that the heat does not escape. You want the rice to steam/bake covered.

    Variations

    Jazzing up your Baked Rice is super simple. Add a few knobs of butter, fresh or dried herbs, ground spices, or even chicken or vegetable broth instead of the boiling water. 

    There’s no end to the delicious flavor combinations you can make! Two of our favorites include Baked Lemon And Thyme Rice and a recipe from the Good Cheap Eats Dinner in 30 Minutes (or Less!) Cookbook, Cilantro Lime Rice.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Baking rice in the oven requires three ingredients and about 30 minutes of your time. It comes out perfectly every time, and there’s only one dish to wash!

    Any recipe that allows you to cook and serve in the same vessel is a winner in my book.

    uncooked rice in a layer across the bottom of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
    adding boiling water to the rice in the pan.
    the pan covered with heavy-duty-aluminum foil.
    the baked rice fluffed in the pan with a fork stuck in.

    The process is very simple:

    1. Grease a baking dish and boil some water. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Put uncooked rice and salt in the prepared pan.
    2. Add the boiling water.
    3. Cover the pan tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
    4. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

    This really is a simple dish! Be sure to watch the video to see how easy it is!

     

    Freezing Instructions

    You can freeze cooked rice. Just package it in an airtight container, chill completely in the refrigerator, and then freeze. To reheat, thaw and warm the rice.

    Sometimes, after freezing the rice is a bit dryer than it was beforehand. This makes it ideal for adding to soups or using in fried rice.

    What to do with leftovers?

    Package leftovers promptly and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freeze for longer storage. Reheat with a bit of water if the rice seems a bit dry. Cold, dry rice is perfect for Vegetable Fried Rice or Chicken Fried Rice! Make extra so that you can make fried rice later.

    Tips for Success

    • Follow the ratios – for every cup of long grain rice, use 2 cups water; for every cup of brown rice, use 2 cups water, but increase the baking time to 45 minutes; for every cup of basmati or jasmine rice, use 1 ½ cups water.
    • Make sure your water is boiling – You want boiling water added to the rice. Hot water just won’t cook it properly.
    • If making more than two cups of rice, be sure to use a larger baking dish than 9×13.
    • Store uncooked rice in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Many white rices can be stored indefinitely at room temperature, however, brown rice has a shorter shelf life than white rice, about 3 to 6 months at room temperature. You can extend its shelf life by storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. You’ll know when brown rice is no longer good when it has a rancid, off odor.
    How long does it take to cook rice in the oven?

    This oven baked rice recipe takes 20 minutes when you use white rice. If you’re going to use brown rice, increase the cooking time to 45 minutes. The goal here is to make sure the grains are cooked through and the water has been absorbed. Use boiling hot water for best results.

    What type of rice is best for cooking in the oven?

    For this recipe we just used long grain white rice. If you use a different type of rice it may affect how long it takes for the rice to bake. For instance, brown rice will take 45 minutes to bake.

    Is it better to cook rice in the oven or on the stove?

    Baked Rice and Stovetop Rice are both easy to make and delicious additions to meals. If you already have the oven on, it makes sense to bake it! If there’s no room in the oven, follow our instructions for foolproof stovetop rice.

    Can baked rice be frozen?

    Having frozen rice on hand makes for super quick dinners and lunches. Cool the rice completely, divide into meal size portions in freezer-safe containers, and chill for several hours in the fridge before storing in the freezer. To serve, thaw and reheat or reheat from frozen, adding a bit of water if the rice is a little dry.

    glass baking dish filled with fluffy white rice baked in the oven.

    More Great Rice Dishes

    • array of rice bowls in black bowls on table.
      How to Make a Rice Bowl
    • closeup of Spanish brown rice in white bowl.
      Spanish Brown Rice (Mexican Brown Rice)
    • white bowl of mexican rice topped with chopped cilantro.
      How to Make Mexican Rice (Instant Pot or Stovetop)
    • wooden spoon scooping up rice from a pan of seasoned rice pilaf.
      Seasoned Rice Pilaf (38 cents/serving)
    white spoon and fork on a teal plate logo.

    Tell us what you think!

    We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.

    with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
    Print Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    4.84 from 30 votes

    Baked Rice

    Learn to bake rice in the oven so that you have a quick and easy side dish without a lot of hassle. This method produces perfect rice every time!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Mediterranean, Mexican
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 225kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Cost: $0.35
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 9×13-inch baking dish
    • heavy duty aluminum foil
    • hot water kettle
    • nonstick cooking spray

    Ingredients

    • 2 cup long-grain white rice uncooked
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 4 cup water boiling
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425°. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
    • Place the rice and ½ teaspoon salt in the bottom of the pan.
    • Pour the boiling water into the pan and cover it right away with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Seal the edges tightly.
    • Place the pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Type of rice: You can make this recipe with brown rice, however you will need to increase the baking time to 45 minutes.
    Storage: Leftover rice can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Store cooked rice in the freezer for longer storage.
    How much to make: How much rice to make for your table will really depend on the eating habits of your dinner companions. For a family of 6, I recommend cooking 2 cups of rice which will result in about 6 cups cooked, or 1 cup of rice per person. Adjust how much you cook for the folks at your table.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 205mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.

    This post was originally published February 9, 2019. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « BBQ Party Meal Plan for Less than $25!
    Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole (63 cents/serving) »
    FacebookTweetPinPrint

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nikki

      February 28, 2023 at 10:41 am

      5 stars
      This is a very interesting and clever idea, and would leave a lot more free room on the stovetop! Thank you.

      Reply
    2. Rebecca

      February 19, 2023 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      My go-to recipe for rice. Comes out perfect every time!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        February 19, 2023 at 12:39 pm

        5 stars
        So great to hear. Thanks for letting us know, Rebecca!

        Reply
    3. Ann

      January 08, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      I’m preparing for 60 people. How would you adjust this recipe?
      Ann

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 08, 2023 at 4:16 pm

        I have never made more than a double or triple batch at a time, so I’m not sure I can advise you. Sorry I can’t be more help.

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter their budget.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    cooking for one
    cooking for many banner
    cooking to freeze banner

    Celebrate Your Grad

    • veggie tray made on wooden board on a diagonal on a white counter.
      Easy Vegetable Tray
    • bowl of ranch dip surrounded by veggie dippers.
      Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dip
    • meat and cheese platters on buffet table.
      How to Make Your Own Meat and Cheese Platters
    • fruit tray with kiwi, melon, and berries on white oval platter.
      How to Make a Fruit Tray
    • overhead shot of square of chocolate frosted cake on white plate with fork.
      Chocolate Frosting Without Powdered Sugar
    • close up of chocolate orange cake square on a plate.
      Chocolate Orange Cake

    Break Up with Take-Out

    • cut half of breakfast burrito leaning on second half on plate with pico and orange slices.
      Breakfast Burrito Ideas
    • two black divided meal prep boxes with lettuce leaves on one side and turkey filling on the other.
      30+ Meal Prepped Lunches to Beat Fast Food
    • pizza freezer kit in gallon size ziptop bag.
      Freezer Meal Pizza Kits
    • vegetable fried rice on plate with potstickers
      Vegetable Fried Rice

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Good Cheap Eats