If you’re already heating the oven, slide in a pan of this easy baked lemon herb rice for a great side dish. It’s practically hands-free and produces perfect rice.
Part of the process of economizing includes getting the biggest bang for your buck.
If you cook a whole chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken, turn the carcass into practically free chicken stock. If you’re going to go shopping, check the clearance rack for items already on your list. If you’re going to heat the oven, add another pan of something to make the most of the energy being generated.
This baked rice dish is a perfect case in point. I started baking rice a year or two ago once I realized that I could kill two birds with one stone. So to speak. If I was already baking chicken or fish, I could slide a second 9×13-inch pan into the oven, make good use of the heat already there, and have my side dish already taken care of.
I had already been baking chicken WITH my rice, why not alongside it?
I’ve tweaked this method with all kinds of spices and seasonings, herbs, butters and oils, as well as switching between broth or water. The general method is very forgiving and you can adapt it to what you have on hand. If you use basmati rice, I’d add a little extra liquid as it tends to get drier than long-grain rice. Want to make brown rice? Increase the baking time to about 45 minutes.
If you’ve got a dutch oven, that’s probably perfect for this. I haven’t yet splurged on one, so I just use a 9×13-inch pan and heavy foil. Use what works for you.
Baked Rice with Lemon and Thyme
Ingredients
- 2 cup long grain white rice uncooked
- 2 tablespoon butter cut into cubes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon lemon, zested
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- 4 cup water boiling
- 2 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
- black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place the rice in the pan in an even layer. Dot the top with butter. Sprinkle the salt, thyme, zest, and paprika over the top.
- Pour the boiling water into the pan and cover it right away with heavy-duty foil. Seal the edges tightly.
- Bake the rice for 20 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork, tossing it with the fresh parsley. Adjust seasonings and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Libby
I only have instant 90 seconds rice for tonight will that work?
Jessica Fisher
Hi Libby. No, instant rice won’t work for this recipe, but you could still add the thyme and lemon for flavor!
Ginny
Best rice ever! I won’t make rice any other way now. Thank you!
Felicia Dalzell
This is a great recipe!! I use it a couple times per week and tweak the seasoning depending on what protein I’m using.
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad it’s working as a template for you!
soniaszczecinski
Thanks for this recipe, been looking for one that cooks all together. Without cooking rice 1st. Excellent recipe, tasty.
Jenn Clark
Lovely yummy rice it was a family hit. The oven method did not work. I doubled the recipe and cooked it longer but I had other items in the oven too. I ended up cooking in a pan. But the flavor was delicious.
Jessica Fisher
Yes, anytime you increase amounts or change the cooking atmosphere will affect cooking times. Glad you were able to enjoy it anyway!
Penny
Thank you so much for the recipe. I used it as a launching point for dinner last night . Chunked in a bag of broccoli and lots more lemon. Baked it until the rice was almost done then added tilapia filets on top and baked it 20 more minutes. Was very delicious. Next time I’m going to try adding some cheese. I won’t throw away my rice cooker (it’s an antique at 39 years old) but I will definitely use this recipe when I want to jazz up my rice game. Thanks again .
Jessica Fisher
Great way to adapt the base recipe. Thanks for sharing, Penny.
Amy
This is SOOOO delicious!!
Jessica Fisher
So glad you liked it!
Tanya Searle
I’m considering using this method to cook 27 cups (dry) rice for a camp I am cooking at in a couple weeks. The pans would be larger obviously, but do you think the cook time would need to be altered?
Jessica Fisher
I am not really sure. How many pans would you divide it into?
Tanya Searle
I will be using pans that are about double to triple the size of a 9×13. I would need to figure out my ratio’s. Would more than 2 cups rice fit into a 9×13?
Jessica Fisher
Sorry for my delay in getting back to you! I have done 3 cups in a 9×13. I wouldn’t do more than that.
Jennifer Clark
Yes. You’ll need a lot longer cook time especially if you’re doing more pans in one oven.
Amy
Is this instant white rice or long grain rice?
Jessica Fisher
Use long grain.
Janel
Great idea. It would work alongside Jessika’s Roasted Vegetables, too, yeah?
Jessica Fisher
Absolutely!
Micha
Baking brown rice is the only way I can get it to turn out without half being mushy and the other crunchy. I’ve never tried baking white rice by itself but this looks tasty and I just happen to have everything for it.
Jessica Fisher
My kids love the flavor of baked rice. They claim it’s different than other rice, but I have no idea why that is.
Jessica Fisher
Also, I wonder if your burners aren’t balanced. If half is crunchy, my guess is the heat it too high on one side, or you need a better quality pot?