Easy Garlic Rice Recipe (dairy free!)

Close up of garlic rice in a bowl. Garnished with chopped parsley.

What I love about garlic rice

Rice has always been one of my favorite side dishes. I think it’s perfect the way it is, and I normally don’t care if it’s seasoned or not, but the rest of my favorite isn’t as big of a fan as me.

So lately, I’ve been making this simple garlic rice recipe with the hopes that their affinity for rice will grow. It’s super easy to make and it really does add so much flavor. They love it, and now I have an excuse to eat rice more often.

The best part? You can throw the garlic cloves in whole and as they boil into the rice, they become so soft you’ll barely notice them. The flavor becomes more subtle and if you want, you can eat them as is. But, you can always mince the garlic if you prefer.

Close up of garlic rice in a sauce pan with a spoon scooping into it.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it

Large saucepan

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liquid measuring cup

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measuring cups

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A saucepan full of rice and garlic cloves being filled with water.

How to make this easy garlic rice

Season the rice. Add the rice to your pot. Cover with the water, drop in the garlic and drizzle in the olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt and cover the pot.

Cook the rice. Heat until the water starts to boil, then reduce heat and let the rice simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, but keep your pot covered. Let the rice to sit for about 15 more minutes to allow the remaining liquid to be absorbed into the rice.

Fluff and serve. Use a fork to stir the rice and fluff it up before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro, green onion or parsley.

A close up of cooked white rice in a large saucepan.

FAQs and tips on how to cook rice

What can you add to the rice to give it flavor?

In this recipe we are using garlic to season the white rice, you could definitely add other seasonings if you would like. Cooking rice with broth or stocks rather than water adds tons of flavor, too.

Is jasmine rice sticky rice?

Yes, when you cook jasmine rice and follow the directions on the package it should turn out with a slightly sticky consistency.

Do I have to rinse my rice before cooking it?

You don’t have to rinse rice before cooking it (we rarely do). It’s totally safe to eat without, but rinsing rice before cooking removes excess starches. This helps allow the rice to absorb the water more efficiently which helps keep the rice fluffy and prevents it from becoming gummy.

Close up of garlic rice in a bowl with a fork in it. Garnished with chopped parsley.

More outstanding rice recipes you should try

Mains that would go great with garlic rice