Forgo store bought rice box mix, make your very own and best homemade seasoned rice recipe. It’s super easy, well under the budget and you get to adjust the flavors according to your taste.

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Rice is a staple at home. We have rice in our meals most of the days. And over the years I have perfected cooking perfect rice either on stove top or in instant pot. I have never used boxed rice mixes, because when you can make the perfect rice at home and oomph in the flavors why would you want to rely on box mixes?
When you can oomph in the flavors so much, why would anyone want to make boring bland rice, right?! Rice cooked to perfection, seasoned and flavored is the way you want to be cooking rice from now on!
Why Should You Try This Recipe?
- Making seasoned rice recipe at home is very economical. Forgo the costly rice box mixes from the store, make your own!
- You’ll need less than 20 minutes to make a batch of rice.
- Recipe is very simple, easy to make and you get tasty rice side dish.
- Amateur cooks to professional, anyone will be cooking perfect rice with this recipe. This recipes guarantees you perfectly cooked rice with perfect texture. Use any type of rice and we got your covered (check recipe notes for cooking instructions of different types on rice).
- Feel free to use any herbs that you like. Dill, dried basil are some of the options.
- Recipe is completely customizable. The flavors can be adjusted as per your taste preference.
- Make a big batch and store it away to have it as sides for any meals.
- No more boring pot of rice!
Ingredients Needed
Below picture shows ingredients needed to make herby flavored rice. Of course you can change up the flavors as per your taste.
Rice: To make it healthier, you can use brown rice. Long grain rice too can be used.
Stock: bouillon cubes dissolved in water is what we have used. It sure enhances the flavor of rice. Feel free to use homemade stock if you have.
Herbs: For flavoring dried thyme and dried parsley went into my pot of rice. Of course you can add more herbs or change herbs to your favorite. Dill, basil, oregano are some of the best options for rice seasoning.
Salt n Pepper: Seasoning is most important step in the recipe. Add salt and pepper to taste. I like to use Himalayan salt. Feel free to use kosher salt as well.
Butter: don’t skip butter. It will keep rice moist and make rice tasty. You can increase butter to 2 tablespoon if you like rice taste in the rice.
For Heat: small amount of cayenne pepper to add kick to the rice. This is completely optional. Also feel free to increase the amount if you want to have spicier. Cayenne pepper can be substituted with chili powder or smoked paprika.
How To Season Rice?
Into a sauce pan add rice.
Add in rest of the seasoning and flavoring ingredients – salt n pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, dried parsley.
For each cup of white short grain rice use double the amount of stock. For 1 cup white rice, pour 2 cups stock.
Stir everything together.
Bring the saucepan to boil over medium heat. Once it starts boiling, simmer heat, cover the pot with lid and let it cook in it’s own steam for about 12 to 14 minutes.
Note: Do not keep opening the lid. Steam will escape and rice will not be cooked to perfection if you keep opening lid to peep in. If you want to peep in, use glass lid so you can check on the rice without opening the lid.
Once done, turn off flame. Remove pot from the stove.
Add in butter. Gently fluff the rice and stir in the butter to spread uniformly.
Your seasoned rice is ready to be served as side dish for your favorite roast chicken meal or any meal.
You can store rice in fridge. Make sure you store within an hour or two after it’s cooked, to ensure food safety. Rice can be stored in fridge for 3 to 4 days.
How To Store Seasoned Rice?
Cooked rice, soon as it’s cooled should be refrigerated with an hour. Place rice in a container with lid and refrigerate it. Make sure to use up rice within 3 to 4 days.
For longer storage, freeze portions of rice in freezer zip lock bags. Freeze for longer storage.
How To Serve It?
Seasoned white rice or seasoned brown rice can be served as side dish alongside any roast meat. Roast chicken and potatoes with this rice on the side is best meal ever.
Serve it with beef, pork or lamb.
Use this rice in Mexican meals like burritos.
Looking for more rice recipes? Check out the most popular recipes from the blog:
Spicy Cajun Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
Cooking White and Brown Rice in Instant Pot
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📋Best Homemade Seasoned Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups stock chicken stock or vegetable stock – I used 1 bouillon cubes dissolved in water
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Into a sauce pan add rice.
- Add in rest of the seasoning and flavoring ingredients – salt n pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme, dried parsley.
- For each cup of white short grain rice use double the amount of stock. For 1 cup white rice, pour 2 cups stock.
- Stir everything together.
- Bring the saucepan to boil over medium heat. Once it starts boiling, simmer heat, cover the pot with lid and let it cook in it’s own steam for about 12 to 14 minutes.Note: Do not keep opening the lid. Steam will escape and rice will not be cooked to perfection if you keep opening lid to peep in. If you want to peep in, use glass lid so you can check on the rice without opening the lid.
- Once done, turn off flame. Remove pot from the stove.
- Add in butter. Gently fluff the rice and stir in the butter to spread uniformly.
- Your seasoned rice is ready to be served as side dish for your favorite roast chicken meal or any meal.
Comments & Reviews
Roberta says
Just no, never again. Way too much thyme, overpowered everything. Immediately deleted from my recipes
Jyothi Rajesh says
Can you tell me how much thyme you added? The recipe calls for only 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried thyme, and you can adjust the amount to your taste preference as mentioned in the recipe!
Darien Kamholtz says
We tried the recipe last night and it was a hit! The only problem was the ingredients list didn’t mention cayenne pepper but the directions did. I played it safe and left the cayenne pepper out. I’d love to try it with cayenne pepper! How much should I put in??
Jyothi Rajesh says
The amount of cayenne you can add depends on your heat tolerance levels, i’d suggest start with less amount if you can’t handle spicy rice, may be 1/4 teaspoon to start with
Ana says
This was exactly what I was looking for….thank you! I refuse to pay for overpriced boxed rice but we get tired of plain rice. This was easy, quick, and absolutely delicious.
Jyothi Rajesh says
I’m so glad you loved the recipe Ana. Thank you for sharing your feedback.
Tim Forest says
How much cayenne pepoer are you supposed to add? This ingredient is in your instructions but notvthe ingredient list.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Since it’s an optional ingredient I did not mention the quantity. Please feel free to add just as much as you like. I would suggest 1/4 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon depending on how much heat you prefer.
Bernice says
I try this recipe, but the searsoning was a little over barring for my taste. I will try again but less seasoning to the rice. It was better then store brought rice.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Yes please adjust the seasoning next time you try and let me know. Thank you!
Becca says
Wow, what a great, simple recipe! I’ve made it several times, sautéing the rice and seasoning beforehand. I’m excited to find another recipe here to try!
Jyothi Rajesh says
I’m so glad to know you loved the recipe Becca. Hope you try other recipes too. Thank you.
Heidy M says
This really was one of the best rice recipes I have tried in ages. The flavor was awesome and I really should double the recipe next time. The instructions were easy to follow and on point!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad you liked it. Thank you
LaKita says
This seasoned rice looks delicious and loaded with flavor! Love that you used chicken stock instead of water in this recipe.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you, glad you liked it
Joey says
Did I read the recipe right is it 2 table spoons of thyme? I really liked it but the thyme seemed to over power it.
Jyothi Rajesh says
I’m sorry, that was a typo. I used 2 tablespoon of parsley and 1 ‘teaspoon’ of dried thyme. Please adjust thyme according to your taste preference.
Dianna says
If you made a mistake in the measurements for the rice, why haven’t you changed the recipe to reflect the correct amounts???? If I hadn’t read this comment and your response and then checked the recipe, I would have had inedible rice! NOT COOL!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Oh I have updated the recipe card long back itself. Aren’t you seeing the correct measurements? I have mentioned 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried thyme long back in January itself.
Please check the recipe card.
EA at The Spicy RD says
I love all the seasonings in this rice! My kids and husband are going to love this instead of the boring white rice I usually make 🙂
Jyothi Rajesh says
Hope you try it and your family likes it 😀
Tara says
I am always looking for a flavored rice recipe. The combination of the spices was just what i’m looking for. So versatile!
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad you liked the recipe
Marisa F. Stewart says
I love this recipe. The seasoning is just what I would want to jazz up the rice. Plain rice to me is simply boring. This recipe will make the perfect side to our grilled Cornish hens.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad you liked it
Kushigalu says
How flavorful and delicious is this seasoned rice. Can’t wait to make this one.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Thank you
Bernice Hill says
I could eat rice every day…I love it so! We rarely had it when I was growing up….just had meat and potatoes.
Great recipe! I’m always looking for a great change up to the classic white rice.
Paige says
This looks great and your post is packed with good tips! Rice is harder than it looks, so thanks!
Colleen says
I never buy those processed packaged products so this is the perfect recipe for me. I love know exactly what’s in it, and it’s delicious.
Jen says
I am anti plain rice. I am always looking for quick rice recipes with different flavors. This one is a keeper.
Jyothi Rajesh says
Glad you liked it