Easy Garlic Rice (dairy free!)

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

Why you’ll love this

A woman in a pink sweater smiles widely while holding a dish of fresh salad with greens and strawberries, standing at a wooden table against a light background—perfectly capturing the inviting spirit of a food blog.

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.

→ This recipe would be great with: sesame ginger lime chicken / Lemon rosemary chicken / sweet chili salmon / baked pineapple chicken

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

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

Frequently asked questions

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.

→ More side dish recipes: wild rice pilaf / easy saffron rice / ham fried rice / easy coconut rice

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

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Easy Garlic Rice

By: Melissa Belanger

Tired of boring rice? Try this simple garlic rice recipe for a flavorful side dish to pair with all your favorite main dishes. This easy rice recipe is a family favorite in our house, and it requires very effort.

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Servings: servings

Ingredients

▢ 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
▢ 3 cups water
▢ 3 – 4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil, or vegan butter
▢ Pinch of coarse salt

Instructions

Season the rice. Combine rice, water, garlic and olive oil in a large saucepan. Season with a pinch of coarse salt.
Cook the rice. Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, but keep your pot covered. Let the rice to sit for about 10 more minutes to allow the remaining liquid to be absorbed into the rice.
Fluff and serve. Use a fork to fluff the rice and remove the garlic cloves before serving. If desired, garnish with fresh herbs like cilantro, green onion or parsley.