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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Portuguese Rice

    Portuguese Rice

    Published: Jun 6, 2023 Modified: Jun 6, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

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    Learn how to make rice the Portuguese way, on the stove, without fail. Once you try making Portuguese rice, you’ll make it this way all the time! It’s so simple and delicious.

    This easy rice recipe takes just 30 minutes to cook and has the most amazing flavor and texture! It’s the best rice recipe for making perfect, fluffy rice every time.

    portuguese rice in a orange dish with cilantro and peppers on the side
    Jump to:
    • How to Make Rice Perfect Every Time
    • Portuguese Rice Recipe Ingredients
    • How to Cook Rice
    • Rice to Water Ratio
    • White Rice Recipe Tips
    • How long does it take to Cook Rice?
    • Rice Recipe FAQs
    • Rice Recipes
    • Cooking Guides
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    How to Make Rice Perfect Every Time

    If you are Portuguese, rice is a staple in your home. I grew up enjoying Portuguese cuisine, especially Portuguese rice, almost every night of the week.

    All of my friends loved my mom’s Portuguese rice and would tell me how different it is from regular American rice! At the time, I didn’t “get it”. It was only after trying instant rice at a friend’s house that I really understood: Portuguese rice is the best rice in the world!

    This is the only rice recipe I’ll make, and it’s foolproof. Seriously, there’s no messing up making rice this way. My kids and their friends love this easy rice recipe just like I did growing up, and there’s a good reason for that!

    portuguese rice in a bowl with chicken on the side

    Portuguese Rice Recipe Ingredients

    • Water
    • Chicken bouillon cubes or powdered chicken bouillon
    • Small onion, whole
    • Uncooked long-grain rice
    • Butter
    • Salt
    portuguese rice ingredients

    How to Cook Rice

    1. How to boil rice: bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add in chicken bouillon and mix well. adding chicken bouillon seasoning in a pot of boiling water
    2. Add small onion to the center of the pan.adding an onion to boiling water
    3. Reduce heat to low and pour in the rice to surround the onion.adding rice to a pot
    4. How to cook rice in a pot: Cover and do not touch (seriously, do not even think about touching it!) for approximately 30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and tender.adding the lid onto a pot
    5. Remove and discard the onion.removing onion from pot
    6. Add butter and stir in until melted completely.adding butter to pot of rice
    7. Taste your rice to see if it needs any salt. Serve, and enjoy your fluffy white rice recipe!Portuguese rice in a pot

    Rice to Water Ratio

    For perfect rice, use a 2-1 water for rice ratio. As an example, for 2 cups of long-grain rice, I use 4 cups of water. This is a good way of knowing how much water to use for rice no matter what portion size you’re making!

    White Rice Recipe Tips

    • The key to the incredible flavor of this white rice recipe is the chicken bouillon and the onion. The flavors seep up into the rice as it cooks and makes every bite flavorful!
    • Stovetop rice really is that easy! There’s no need for a rice cooker or other appliance to make steamed rice. All you need to learn how to cook perfect rice every time is a pan and your stove!
    • I’ll let you in on a little secret: you won’t even touch this rice for the full 30 minutes that it’s cooking. In fact, do not stir it until it is cooked! Put the lid on, and do not look at it again!
    portuguese rice in a orange bowl with cilantro

    How long does it take to Cook Rice?

    One of the biggest questions I get about my Portuguese rice is how long to cook rice on the stove. The good news is, cooking rice on the stove is easy to do and really doesn’t take very long!

    It will take just 30 minutes for your perfect stovetop rice to completely cook.

    You can even make my perfect rice in the Instant Pot – try my Instant Pot White Rice recipe!

    Rice Recipe FAQs

    How long does cooked rice last in the refrigerator?

    You can keep cooked white rice in the fridge for about 4 to 5 days. I recommend pairing it with other recipes if you find you made too much, but trust me – it’s so delicious, it won’t last that long!

    How do you reheat rice?

    To reheat your rice, add it to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or so. I find adding a little extra liquid when reheating rice is important. You can add either a little extra butter or just a bit of water. Cover the container with a paper towel when reheating.

    portuguese rice in an orange bowl with peppers on the side

    Rice Recipes

    • Teriyaki Pulled Pork Rice Bowl
    • Asian Beef Stir Fry
    • Pork Fried Rice Recipe
    • Tuna Yum Yum Bowl

    I also love enjoying this rice as-is! It’s that delicious. Once you know how to make rice like Portuguese rice, you’ll want to use it for so many recipes! I guarantee it.

    Cooking Guides

    • How to Make Au Jus
    • Chicken Temperature Chart
    • Turkey Temperature
    • Cooking Measurements Chart

    📋 Recipe

    portuguese rice with cilantro in an orange dish

    Portuguese Rice

    Isabel Laessig
    Portuguese rice is the only rice recipe I’ll make, and it’s fool-proof. Seriously, there’s no messing up making rice this way! Learn how to cook perfect rice every time with this easy rice recipe.
    4.62 from 26 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course Main or side dish
    Cuisine Portuguese
    Servings 8
    Calories 230 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pot with a lid

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 cups water
    • 2 chicken bouillon cubes or 2 tablespoons powdered chicken bouillon
    • 1 small onion whole
    • 2 cups long grain rice uncooked
    • 4 tablespoons butter salted
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add in chicken bouillon and mix well.
      4 cups water, 2 chicken bouillon cubes
      adding chicken bouillon seasoning in a pot of boiling water
    • Add 1 small onion to the center of the pan.
      1 small onion
      adding an onion to boiling water
    • Reduce heat to low and pour in the rice to surround the onion.
      2 cups long grain rice
      adding rice to a pot
    • Cover and do not touch* for approximately 30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and tender.
      adding the lid onto a pot
    • Remove and discard the onion.
      removing onion from pot
    • Stir in 4 Tbsp. butter until completely melted. Stir in well.
      4 tablespoons butter
      adding butter to pot of rice
    • Taste your rice to see if it needs any salt. Serve, and enjoy your fluffy white rice recipe!
      1 teaspoon salt
      Portuguese rice in a pot

    Video

    Notes

    • How to reheat rice: Microwave on high 1-2 minutes with a bit of water or a pat of butter.
    • DO NOT TOUCH the rice while it’s cooking! I know it can be tempting to stir it, but trust me: don’t do it! The rice will perfectly cook without you touching it.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 4gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 487mgPotassium: 78mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 185IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword how to cook rice, how to make rice, portuguese rice, rice recipe
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
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    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sofie says

      July 03, 2022 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      Always delicious!!! Thank you for sharing. I’ve cooked it using these ingredients in a rice cooker too so i can do it in advance for a family party and bbq too. Gorgeous.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        July 05, 2022 at 10:42 am

        That’s awesome, Sofie! Thank you so much for sharing – we’re so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Debbie says

      July 19, 2022 at 6:14 pm

      Do you wash rice first before cooking, and can you use jasmati rice?

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        July 29, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        Hi Debbie! You do not need to wash the rice before cooking – I wouldn’t, personally. We’ve never used jasmati rice, but I think it should work just fine. I would just check the water ratio outlined on the packaging before cooking it to be sure.

        Reply

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