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Garlic Butter Rice is a fast weeknight side dish that the whole family will love! Made in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop, this garlic rice is great for meal prep.
Rice is one of those sides that goes with almost everything. It’s readily available, filling, and beloved by even the pickiest of family members. It’s like the rice version of Cheesy Garlic Bread.
But you don’t need to turn to those heat and serve packets from the grocery store to make delicious flavored rice. I got you boo.
In a perfect world, I would serve a side of this garlic rice with Air Fryer French Onion Pork Chops, Dry Brine Roast Chicken, Air Fryer Steak Bites, Instant Pot Beef Tips and Gravy, Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs, Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli, or Roasted Frozen Broccoli.
Garlic Butter Rice Variations
The garlic in this rice is pretty apparent, so if you need something more subtle, either dial back the garlic or use roasted garlic. I always have some Instant Pot Roasted Garlic or Air Fryer Roasted Garlic hanging around my freezer.
For even creamier garlic rice, add milk or cream to the finished rice 1 tbsp at a time, stirring with each addition, until it has reached your desired consistency.
Making this after the holidays? Use Turkey Bone Broth instead of chicken.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Want a vegetarian version? Sub in your favorite veggie broth.
- Like your rice more cheesy? Top the finished rice with additional parmesan.
- If you need to make this on the stovetop, combine all ingredients except Parmesan in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce to low, and cook for 15 minutes with the lid on.
- In this recipe, I do not rinse my rice beforehand
because I’m lazy, but if you choose to rinse, the cooking time and measurements remain the same.
Garlic Butter Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to "saute" to melt the butter (it will take about 1-2 minutes). Once melted, turn the Instant Pot to "off/keep warm".3 tbsp butter
- Add the rice, broth, garlic, and dried parsley. Stir.1 1/3 cup rice, 2 cups broth, 3 cloves garlic, 3/4 tsp parsley
- Lock the lid into place and set the steam release handle (valve on top) to “Sealing”. Press Manual>High Pressure>6 minutes. It will take 2-4 minutes to get up to pressure.
- When the cooking time is up, flip the vent to venting and perform a quick release.
- Carefully open the lid and add the parmesan and stir.2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Notes
- Use 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley in place of dried
Use 1.5 tsp garlic powder in place of fresh - If you use instant rice, reduce cooking time to 4 minutes in the Instant Pot.
- I used long-grain Jasmine rice in this recipe.
- If you prefer brown rice, increase the Instant Pot cooking time to 22 minutes and allow for a 10-minute natural release. I would also recommend increasing the broth by 1/4 cup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am making this recipe tonight, but I just have to tell you how much I love your directions! I’m a very detailed person and your directions are just that!
I love how you put the amount of each item needed within each step. (it helped eliminate the need to go back-and-forth from the directions to the ingredient list! So helpful!) Also, the exact directions you give for the pressure cooker is so greatly appreciated. I often find myself guessing on what was intended and did not have that at all with your directions! I’m excited to make the recipe! Thank you again for the thoroughness!
Jen, it’s my pleasure! I love doing those little things to make life easier for my readers. I hope you love the rice. Please come back and let me know how it went for you. 🙂
This is the best recipe on the web I’ve ever seen, and I haven’t even made it yet. Thank you for posting the measurements under each step so I don’t accidentally click 20 ads each time I have to scroll back and forth. Trying this today, by the way!
Awww, Laura, I’m honored you’re such a fan of it! 🙂
The measurements are a great little thing that we have slowly been implementing through all our existing recipes. I’m thrilled it is so helpful for my readers.
Thank you for this quick & easy way to step up the taste of common white rice!
So glad you enjoyed, it Sharyn!
If making this on the stovetop, when do you add the parmesan cheese? After cooking for 15 minutes right before serving?
Great question! Right before serving.
I have made this numerous times-my husband says “this is very tasty!”.
So glad you both enjoy it, Lea!
Can I use basmati rice in this recipe?
Yep, absolutely!
So easy in the instant pot and yummy. Is it easy to double?
Yes! As long as you have an Instant Pot larger than a 3 quart, you can easily double it. It will take a bit longer to come up to pressure and depressurize.
This is now a household staple and favorite for the entire family
Would this work in a 6 cup rice cooker and if so, are the directions any different?
I have never tried it in a rice cooker and haven’t used one in 5 years. My best guess is yes, it could work in a rice cooker…but it’s only a guess.
You’d want to melt the butter in the microwave before adding it and the other ingredients to the rice cooker. The garlic wouldn’t be able to cook down ahead of time unless you did it in butter on the stovetop. But it should soften up enough in the rice cooker.
This was so delicious! Made it according to the recipe and the rice was perfect and fluffy and sooooo tasty! It’s the fluffiest rice I’ve gotten out of my instant pot. Ate it with grilled shrimp and asparagus!
I’m so glad you liked it, Stephanie. It’s a favorite in our house and I love sharing it with others.
Amazing and so simple and quick. My husband was like that smells so good! He is not a big rice fan but he loves it!
Great recipe
Kelly, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and it helped win over your husband.
My oldest kid didn’t like rice or french fries for years and I never could wrap my head around that.
A staple at our house! So easy. So quick. So creamy!
So glad you like it, Stephanie! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Appreciate it for helping out, fantastic info .
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe! So easy and always a great side dish! It is our go
to side dish. So easy to whip up. I had to add more chicken broth – my first batch was delicious
but sticky. Thumbs up!!
Delicious! Made this in a hurry to go with some quick grilled chicken. My rice came out sticky but so flavorful. I gather instant pots are different. This recipe is a keeper but will add more liquid next time. Yummy!
Beth, I’m so glad that you liked it! Did you make it in a rice cooker? Ours is never sticky in the IP, so I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot.
I did it on the stovetop. I browned crumbled Italian sausage, use the dripping in lieu of butter, pressed garlic instead of minced, and Italian seasoning in lieu of parsley. After 15 min on low I add some frozen peas and carrots and let it sit for a bit to steam. I only dirtied my garlic press, a spatula, and a saucepan for this. Ok ok also a bowl and a spoon, but this is so good and easy I can just eat it straight from the pot. I am currently having SAD (yay winter!) with no desire to do anything. This easy rice dish ensure that I eat something instead of going to sleep hungry. Thank you.
Ary, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I am honored to have been part of something that helped you feel a little bit better. Best of luck to you until spring. Hang in there!
Have you doubled the recipe? Just curious about the cook time.
Many, many times! The cook time remains the same but it will take a little bit longer to come to pressure.
I don’t know why I’ve never made this but I just did and it REALLY good!
A family favorite in our house! So glad you enjoyed it!
Oh my gosh, this was AWESOME – since it was so simple, I didn’t expect it to taste so ridiculously amazing, but it did! I cooked it in the IP (I’m a newbie, and LOVING my new toy!) and used brown basmati rice, and maybe an extra clove of garlic…and a little extra fresh parmigiano reggiano.. 🙂 Didn’t have any fresh herbs, so I used two drops of doTERRA cilantro essential oil. Served with organic chicken sausage with mushrooms (apologies to my vegetarian friends), and yellow squash and zucchini (sauteed in evoo, balsamic vinegar and za’atar) topped with feta cheese and sliced garlic-stuff green olives. Will definitely make a double-batch next time!
Nancy, you took this dish to the NEXT level! Nice work on that meal, and I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it so much. 🙂
I’m not a huge rice fan but my husband loves it so I thought I’d try something different. This was really good, my husband said that it was better than any restaurant rice he has ever had. My daughter also loved the flavour combination and thought it would also be great for quinoa. Excellent recipe, will be in our regular rotation! Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Julie! It’s a family favorite, and we’re actually having it tonight. 🙂