Garlic butter rice is one of the easiest and most delicious side dishes you can make. It's fragrant, with the rich smell of garlic, and the rice comes out perfectly cooked, fluffy, and buttery every time. This simple dish pairs well with almost anything - from baked chicken drumsticks to stir-fries, making it a great addition to any meal. Whether you're cooking for a special occasion or just a quick weeknight dinner, garlic rice adds a burst of flavor without any hassle.

Today, I want to show you how to make the perfect buttery garlic rice in just a few easy steps. This garlic rice will quickly become a staple in your daily menus-it's simple to prepare, and kids love it too! The rich, savory flavor of the garlic and butter makes it irresistible.

This garlic butter rice recipe was inspired by my garlic ginger rice and easy coconut rice, and saffron rice recipes, so you know it's packed with deliciousness.

Whether as a side dish or main, this garlic rice is always a crowd-pleaser. It pairs perfectly with ground beef and cabbage stir fry, pork stir-fry and green beans, bean sprout stir fry with tofu, and Vietnamese lemongrass stir fry chicken.

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Ingredients:
How to Make Garlic Butter Rice:
How to Store Garlic Rice:
How to Reheat Garlic Rice:
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Ingredients:

Here's a list of ingredients you'll need to make garlic rice:

White long-grain rice: You can use regular or jasmine rice. Both work well for making fluffy rice.
Unsalted butter: Adds a rich, buttery flavor to the rice.
Salt: For seasoning and bringing out the flavors.
Garlic: You'll use minced garlic for sautéing in the rice and sliced garlic for garnish to add an extra burst of flavor.
Neutral oil: Used for cooking the garlic without burning it.
Low-sodium chicken broth: This helps cook the rice and gives it extra flavor without too much salt.
Fresh chives: for topping or garnish.

How to Make Garlic Butter Rice:

Here are the step-by-step instructions to make delicious, buttery garlic rice:

Cook the Sliced Garlic: Heat a little neutral oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and cook until golden brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Once golden, transfer the garlic to a plate and set aside. Remove any excess oil from the pan.

Sauté the Minced Garlic: In the same saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant-this should only take about 30 seconds.

Toast the Rice: Add the rinsed rice to the pan with the garlic. Stir to coat the rice in the garlic and butter, and toast the rice for about 2 minutes.

Add Chicken Broth: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth. Bring it to a boil and cook until the liquid evaporates down to almost the same level as the rice and you start to see small "tunnels" form in the rice.

Simmer the Rice: Once the broth level has reduced, cover the pot with a lid and turn the heat to low (minimum). Let the rice cook for 10 minutes without lifting the lid. Rest the Rice: After 10 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and let the rice rest, covered, for another 10 minutes. This allows the rice to finish cooking in its own steam.

Serve: Fluff the rice with a fork, top with the crispy sliced garlic you set aside earlier, and enjoy your buttery, fragrant garlic rice!

Tips for Making Garlic Rice

Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker Method: If you're short on time, you can easily make garlic rice using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker. For this method, follow the same steps for sautéing the garlic and toasting the rice in butter. Once the rice is toasted, add the chicken broth, but make sure to use a 1:1 rice to water ratio (for example, 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of chicken broth). Seal the Instant Pot and set it to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for about 10 minutes before opening the lid. Fluff the rice and garnish with the crispy garlic slices.
Avoid Overcooking Garlic: When sautéing the garlic, be careful not to overcook it. Burnt garlic can turn bitter, so keep an eye on it and remove it from the pan as soon as it turns golden brown.
Resting Time is Key: Letting the rice rest after cooking helps to ensure that the texture is light and fluffy. It also allows the flavors to settle, making the garlic rice even more delicious.
Add Extra Flavor: You can also add a little soy sauce or a sprinkle of chopped herbs like parsley or cilantro to enhance the flavor of the rice before serving.
Rinse the rice: Rinsing rice in cold water removes excess starch, preventing it from becoming sticky and ensuring fluffier, separate grains. It also cleans the rice, reduces foam during cooking, and helps achieve a more neutral flavor, resulting in better texture and cleaner rice.

How to Store Garlic Rice:

If you have leftover garlic rice, here's how to store it properly:

Let It Cool: Before storing, let the garlic rice cool down to room temperature. This helps prevent condensation inside the storage container, which could make the rice soggy.
Store in an Airtight Container: Transfer the cooled rice into an airtight container to keep it fresh. It will stay good in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing Leftovers: If you have a lot of leftover garlic rice, you can freeze it. Just let the rice cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen garlic rice can be stored for up to 2 months.

For additional food safety guidance, please visit this website.

How to Reheat Garlic Rice:

When you're ready to eat the leftover garlic rice, reheat it in a skillet with a small amount of butter or oil to bring back its fluffy texture. You can also reheat it in the microwave, but add a splash of water or broth to keep it from drying out.

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Rika says