This Lemon Rice Recipe is garlicky, buttery, with lots of lemon juice and zest. Flavorful and quick to prepare, it’s an easy way to add flavor to all your meals!

lemon rice in bowl with spoon topped with lemons

I am so excited to bring you another post in our All the Healthy Things “Just the Basics” series. These posts are focused on helping you master basics in the kitchen and, hopefully, inspiring you with a few new ideas along the way.

If you are new to cooking or just need a refresher on the basics, these posts are designed to help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Once you have a handle on a few basic concepts and techniques, you can easily build upon them to create new and exciting recipes and dishes without a second thought.

If you have ever wondered how some people just seem to know how to cook without a recipe or can quickly throw together a meal in a moment’s notice, it’s likely because they have a good grasp of the basics. I want that for you! It’s my hope that every just the basics post helps you feel more comfortable so that you can enjoy your time spent in the kitchen even more!

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the other how-to guides in the series.

Here are a few of our most popular posts:

Ingredient Notes and Helpful Substitutions

Salted Butter: I recommend using salted butter to sauté the aromatics and add extra flavor. Don’t want to use butter? Swap it for olive oil instead, and it’s still just as delicious!
Aromatics: we’re using both garlic cloves and shallots to give the lemon rice a sweet, savory, pungent flavor base.
Rice: I use Basmati rice, but any long-grain white rice will work for this recipe. Just make sure to rinse and drain it well before you begin.
Lemon: lemon juice and lemon zest infuse the rice with a bright, citrusy taste that balances the rest of the ingredients nicely.
Broth: I use a combination of water and broth for more flavorful rice. I prefer low-sodium chicken broth for this recipe, but vegetable broth will also work.
Kosher Salt: don’t skip this! You’ll need it to flavor the rice.

How to Make an Easy Lemon Rice Recipe

Sauté. Melt the butter in a large saucepan, and sauté the garlic and shallots until the garlic is light golden brown.
Toast. Add the rice, stir to combine, and cook just until it’s golden. Be careful not to burn!
Cook. Stir in the remaining ingredients, bring the liquid to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Rest. Remove the pan from the heat, and let the rice rest with the lid on. Then, fluff it with a rice paddle or fork, add additional lemon zest, and enjoy!

A Few of My Favorite Pairings

Lemon rice is incredibly versatile and adds depth and brightness to any meal! It’s delicious used as a base for grain bowls, sprinkled over salads, or added to wraps, burritos, and rice bakes.

If you’re looking for inspiration, some of my favorite ways to use it include:

How to Store

Once cool, you can transfer leftover lemon rice to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or, freeze for up to 6 months.

To serve, thaw frozen rice in the refrigerator overnight. Then, reheat it in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth as needed to freshen it back up.

I hope you enjoy this Lemon Rice Recipe! If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.

Lemon Rice

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews

Author: Ashlea Carver
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 8 1x
Category: Sides
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Greek inspired

Print Recipe

Description

This Lemon Rice Recipe is garlicky, buttery, with lots of lemon juice and zest. Flavorful and quick to prepare, it’s an easy way to add flavor to all your meals!

Ingredients

Units Scale

4 tablespoons salted butter or olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup diced shallot
juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 cups basmati rice (or another long grain white rice), rinsed and drained
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

Heat a large saucepan, with a lid, over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the butter and melt.
Once the butter has melted, add the shallot and garlic and sauté until the shallot is translucent.
Next, add the rice to the pan and stir until well combined and covered in the butter. Toast for 30 seconds to a minute, stirring constantly.
Add the chicken broth, water, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt to the pan and stir until combined.
Bring the rice to a boil and then cover with a lid and turn the heat to low. Cook the rice for 15 minutes and then remove from the heat, with the lid on, and allow the rice to continue to steam for 5-10 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork and then garnish with additional lemon zest as desired.