This recipe for Garlic Parmesan Rice is quick and easy, and pairs well with just about anything. It only uses a few simple ingredients, like chicken broth, fresh garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese, and packs a mean flavor punch.
Plus, it's a breeze to customize, whether you're going vegetarian or tweaking the flavors to match your family's taste buds. Get ready for a dish that'll have everyone asking for more.
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Easy Garlic Parmesan Rice
If you’re looking for an easy way to make rice a little more interesting, you’ve come to the right place. Think of this Parmesan cheese rice as the smooth, buttery, deliciously cool cousin of your ordinary, everyday rice recipe.
The flavors are simple enough that your kids will love it, but sophisticated enough that you’ll have friends and family asking you what your secret is! It’s also incredibly easy to adapt to make vegetarian or adjust the flavoring to your own family's tastes.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Rice - I like Basmati or Jasmine rice best for this recipe, but any long grain white rice will work.
- Chicken Broth - broth adds an extra layer of flavor, compared with water. You can substitute vegetable broth if you want to make this vegetarian.
- Butter - feel free to add a little extra to make your rice a little more creamy.
- Garlic - we used fresh minced garlic, but you could use garlic powder if you prefer.
- Parsley - this recipe calls for fresh parsley, but you can use dried if you’d like.
- Parmesan Cheese - you want this to be freshly grated, not the stuff in the jar!
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Rice
- Bring the ingredients to a boil. Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the uncooked rice, chicken broth, butter, minced garlic, parsley, and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low.
- Cook. Let simmer, without stirring, for about 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all water has absorbed. Keep the lid on your pan until you need to check to see if the rice is done.
- Serve. Remove from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. Add the Parmesan cheese and fluff and stir the rice using a fork, then serve immediately. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Feel free to mix and match these ideas or get creative with your own favorite ingredients:
- Mushroom: Take your rice to the next level by sautéing mushrooms in garlic butter before mixing them into the dish.
- Bacon: Stir in crispy bacon bits for a little satisfying crunch and depth of flavor.
- Pesto: Swirl in a spoonful of pesto for a vibrant burst of basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan.
- Spinach and Feta: Amp up the nutritional value and taste by folding in fresh spinach leaves and crumbled feta cheese. The combination of creamy Parmesan, garlicky goodness, and the bright pop of spinach is a win-win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Garlic Parmesan Rice will pair well with a full range of entrees, but would taste especially good with the following:
Teriyaki Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Basil Chicken Stir Fry
Baked Lemon Ginger Chicken
Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
Parmesan Ranch Chicken
My first choice of rice for this side dish would be to use Basmati rice. Basmati Rice is a long-grain variety that works great for dishes like this Parmesan Garlic Rice, or pilafs. You could also substitute Jasmine rice (slightly stickier), or any other long-grain white rice that stays nice and fluffy after it’s cooked.
For this recipe, you’ll want to avoid instant rice, or any short grain rice. If you want to substitute brown rice, you’ll need to adjust your cooking time, as well as increase the amount of broth that you use.
For any risotto fans out there who like creamy rice, there are a couple of simple adjustments that you can make to help you achieve your dreams. First, boost the butter by about 1-2 tablespoons. Next, cook your rice in half chicken (or vegetable) broth and half milk.
After your rice is cooked and you have added in the Parmesan cheese, hit it with about ½ - ¾ cup of milk, depending on the level of creaminess that you like.
Yes! Just add all of the ingredients, besides the cheese, to the rice cooker and choose the "white rice" setting. Once the rice has cooked completely, stir in the Parmesan cheese and fluff using a fork, then serve immediately.
Garlic Parmesan Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced (about 3 garlic cloves)
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the uncooked rice, chicken broth, butter, minced garlic, parsley, and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low.
- Let simmer, without stirring, for about 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all water has absorbed. Keep the lid on your pan until you need to check to see if the rice is done.
- Remove from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. Add the Parmesan cheese and fluff and stir the rice using a fork, then serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storing Instructions: Leftover rice can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat in the microwave, combine the rice and 1-2 tablespoons of water in a microwave safe container and mix well. Lay a wet paper towel over the rice and heat on high for about 30 seconds at a time until warmed through.
- To reheat on the stovetop, transfer rice to a small pot and stir in a splash of water. Mix well, then cover and turn heat to low. Continue to cook on very low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
Nutrition
More Easy Rice Side Dish Recipes
- Coconut Rice
- Ham Fried Rice
- Cheesy Green Chili Rice Casserole
- Thanksgiving Wild Rice
- Homemade Rice Pilaf
- Spanish Rice
- Lemon Herb Rice
- More Quick and Easy Side Dish Recipes
- More Rice Recipes
This recipe for creamy Garlic Rice with Parmesan Cheese is a quick and easy way to make rice a little more interesting. It uses just a few simple ingredients, like chicken broth, fresh garlic, parsley and Parmesan cheese, to deliver a powerful flavor punch.
Heidi E
Delicious! So easy and tasty with fresh garlic, parsley, and Parmesan. Paired great with honey garlic, Sriracha chicken.
Natalie
Such a lovely side to any meat dinner. Rice looks perfectly cooked. I'm going to give this recipe a try.
Jill Baird
I Hope you love it!
Nellie Tracy
Great recipe! Pairs really well with so many dishes!