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The best easy rice pilaf recipe – no fail rice pilaf, just mix, cook, and ready to serve in under 20 minutes for light, fluffy rice pilaf that is packed with flavor!
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Delicious Easy Best Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf – a rich, delicious, fluffy rice side dish with chicken stock and sautéed onions, is one of my all time favorite side dishes.
Rice pilaf is gluten free, cooks quickly, and goes with just about everything – it is great alongside grilled dinners like chicken, pork tenderloin, lobster tails – and even mixed into salads or with shrimp and spicy sauce served on top!
This easy rice pilaf is great for beginner cooks – just a little sautéing, boiling, and stirring to get to this versatile side dish.
What Rice To Use In Rice Pilaf
For this rice pilaf, we’re using a plain long grain rice – any variety you love. Traditional rice pilaf always starts with plain long grain white rice.
You can also reduce the long grain rice by ¼ cup and replace with ¼ cup orzo for a rice pilaf with orzo.
Wild Rice Pilaf
If you’d like to make this rice pilaf with wild rice, please follow my tips for perfect easy wild rice pilaf:
Cook time will increase to around 40 to 50 minutes – wild rice takes a little longer to cook.
Since wild rice has a different texture than white long grain rice, it will not be quite as fluffy and light – but it should be soft and full of flavor!
Brown Rice Pilaf
If you’d like to make this rice pilaf with brown rice, please use my suggestions below for perfect easy brown rice pilaf.
Cook time will increase to around 35 to 40 minutes – brown rice takes a little longer to cook.
Rice Pilaf Without Chicken Stock
If you’re looking for a great rice pilaf recipe without using chicken stock, follow my ideas below:
-Use seafood, beef, or vegetable stock for a twist on this classic with a richer flavor.
-Add in up to 3 tbsp of butter for a rich and salty kick.
-Stir in garlic powder or herbs for a zesty kick.
-Top with fresh grated parmesan or garlic butter for a scampi-style rice.
What To Serve with Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is one of the most versatile side dishes – it goes with just about everything! Some of my favorite dishes to serve with rice pilaf are my baked pork tenderloin, ribeye steaks with mushrooms, and thai chili scallops!
Other Delicious Recipe
For some delicious hearty dishes that are great with rice pilaf, please click through some of my favorite easy recipes below:
FAQs
Yes, you will want to use the sauté function of an instant pot to sauté the veggies in the oil (or do it in a separate pan if you are using a classic pressure cooker). Once they are sauteed add the broth and spices. Use Manual mode to cook at high pressure for 3 minutes. Allow the pressure to come down naturally which could take about 15 minutes. Enjoy
The Best Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe
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The Best Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a medium sized pot, heat olive oil on medium.
- When olive oil is shiny, add onion and celery.
- Cook onion, celery, and garlic on medium until soft and very lightly browned, stirring occasionally to prevent burning - about 6 minutes.
- Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne.
- Add rice and heat until shiny and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Add chicken stock and bring to a boil.
- Cover and reduce heat to low, let simmer 15-20 minutes, until stock is soaked up.
- Turn off heat and let sit, covered, for five minutes.
- Remove cover and fluff with a fork.
- Top with parsley and serve.
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size about 1 cup, cookedAmount Per Serving Calories 227Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 7mgSodium 1417mgCarbohydrates 35gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 9g
Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.
The ingredients only include garlic powder but you say to sauté the onion, celery and garlic and then add garlic powder later.
Woops, thanks for pointing that out, I updated the recipe card with the fresh garlic. If you don’t have fresh garlic you can use just 1 tsp garlic powder instead.
Can this be done in an instant pot pressure cooker?
Yes, you will want to use the sauté function of an instant pot to sauté the veggies in the oil (or do it in a separate pan if you are using a classic pressure cooker). Once they are sauteed add the broth and spices. Use Manual mode to cook at high pressure for 3 minutes. Allow the pressure to come down naturally which could take about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
This was really amazing! So easy to make, too!
This rice looks so fluffy & delicious!! We love rice with so many other recipes!
Rice pilaf is my favorite! This is such a great recipe!
One of my favorite sides! So easy yet so flavorful!
I LOVE rice pilaf, but have never made it!!! Thank you!
Good morning! For the life of me, I can’t find where in the recipe directions that I should use the celery. It’s early here, so maybe I’m not reading it right? Thank you!
The celery gets sautéed with the onion in the hot oil. I have updated the recipe card, thank you for pointing that out!