If you’re already heating the oven, slide in a pan of this easy baked 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.
- 2 cups uncooked white rice
- 2 tablespoons butter cut into cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 4 cups boiling water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- freshly ground black pepper
- 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.
Want to make brown rice? Increase the baking time to about 45 minutes.
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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.
My kids love the flavor of baked rice. They claim it’s different than other rice, but I have no idea why that is.
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?
Great idea. It would work alongside Jessika’s Roasted Vegetables, too, yeah?
Absolutely!
Is this instant white rice or long grain rice?
Use long grain.
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?
I am not really sure. How many pans would you divide it into?
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?
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.
Yes. You’ll need a lot longer cook time especially if you’re doing more pans in one oven.
This is SOOOO delicious!!
So glad you liked it!
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 .
Great way to adapt the base recipe. Thanks for sharing, Penny.
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.
Yes, anytime you increase amounts or change the cooking atmosphere will affect cooking times. Glad you were able to enjoy it anyway!
Thanks for this recipe, been looking for one that cooks all together. Without cooking rice 1st. Excellent recipe, tasty.