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Indulge in the rich and creamy flavors of Garlic Butter Parmesan Rice, bursting with flavor and cooked all in one pot! The garlic and cheese mix is simply delicious. It’s kid-friendly and makes a great side dish for chicken drumsticks, Salisbury steak, or seafood.
This garlic rice is our hands-down-favorite rice recipe. My kids love it because it’s creamy and cheesy, and I love it because it cooks up in one pot, and it’s not another pan of mac & cheese.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Rice Recipe
- Flavorful: The combination of garlic and Parmesan creates a hard-to-resist richness.
- One-Pot Wonder: Easy cleanup with everything cooked in a single pot.
- Versatile Side Dish: Parmesan rice pairs wonderfully with chicken, steak, or seafood.
- Customizable: This quick rice recipe is easy to adapt with various broths and optional spinach.
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter: Adds creaminess and richness.
- Garlic: Fresh is best, but you can also use garlic powder.
- Long Grain Rice: I like to use Basmati rice or plain white long-grain rice.
- Milk: Contributes to the creaminess and it can be replaced with a dairy-free alternative.
- Water or Broth: Use chicken or vegetable broth for extra flavor.
- Salt & Pepper: For seasoning the rice.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a nutty, cheesy depth.
- Baby Spinach (Optional): For a touch of color and nutrition.
- Fresh Parsley: Used for garnish and freshness.
How to Make Garlic Butter Parmesan Rice
- Melt: Set a Dutch oven or a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and cook it for a couple of minutes.
- Add: Add rice and stir it around to evenly coat it with the butter. Stir in the milk, water, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cook: Cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish: Remove the lid and stir in the cheese, spinach, and parsley. Remove the pot from the heat. Cover the parmesan rice and let it stand for 3 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
If you’re looking for a next-level side dish with rice that everyone will love, you’ve found it. Follow these tips to make sure it’s the best:
- You can opt to use water or broth. Chicken broth or vegetable broth both work well. I’d recommend using low-sodium versions or adjusting the amount of salt you add if you do use broth instead of water.
- Don’t skip the milk! The milk is what gives this dish the creamy, risotto-like texture.
- This recipe calls for long-grain rice. Short-grain rice will be too dense and won’t get as tender. I prefer Basmati rice, but Jasmine rice also works really well.
Serving Suggestions
I like to use this garlic butter rice dish in place of any plain rice side to a juicy blue steak, roast chicken, or broiled salmon. If you don’t include the spinach, you may want to serve sauteed green beans or snap peas with the rest of your dishes. A spicy chicken soup beforehand would be fabulous.
How to Store Leftover Garlic Rice
Cool the leftovers to room temperature, place them in an airtight container, and refrigerate for 2 days. To maintain creaminess, reheat on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of milk or broth.
Delicious Rice Dishes
- Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Broccoli & Rice Casserole
- Shrimp Fried Rice
- Ranch Chicken And Rice
- Mushroom Rice
Garlic Butter Parmesan Rice
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 cloves garlic,, minced
- 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup water,, you can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach,, optional
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley,, divided
Instructions
- Set a Dutch oven or a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Do not burn the garlic.
- Add rice and stir around to evenly coat with the melted butter. Stir in the milk, water, salt, and pepper, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Cover with a lid and reduce the heat to low; cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the lid and stir in the Parmesan cheese, baby spinach, and 1 tablespoon parsley. Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 3 minutes.
- Garnish with remaining parsley and serve.
Equipment
Notes
- Avoid Burning the Garlic: Stir the garlic to keep the flavor fresh and to prevent bitterness.
- Stir the Rice: Prevents the rice from sticking and ensures even cooking.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
OMG, this is soooo good…. Where has this side dish been all my life?! My hubby asks for it weekly!!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Delicious! Thanks for sharing
Thank YOU! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Have you ever made with half of the butter? Or oil instead? I have to watch cholesterol.
My kids are always requesting this! So easy to make, the only thing I do differently is you use an entire can of chicken stock instead of just a cup. Makes it a little creamier. Thanks for making this a regular part of my meals!
My kids are always requesting this! So easy to make, the only thing I do differently is use an entire can of chicken stock instead of just a cup. Makes it a little creamier. Thanks for making this a regular part of my meals!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Why did mine come out to runny? Appreciate any thoughts.
I made this tonight and added a few prawns and scallops at the final step. Left it to sit in its own heat to cook seafood through. Yum yum !!!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Absolutely delicious and flavorful. Will be added to the recipe box for future!
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
can I use buttermilk instead of regular milk??
I have not tested this recipe with buttermilk.
Can I use cauliflower rice and then just a dash or two of milk ????
I have not tested this recipe with cauliflower rice, but if you do, and have a minute, please let me know how it went! Keep in mind that cauli-rice does not need to cook for 20+ minutes like rice. You’ll only need to cook it for just a few minutes. You can try and follow my recipe here and just tweak it around with parm cheese and milk 👉 https://diethood.com/garlic-butter-cauliflower-rice-spinach/