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Make perfect Portuguese rice every time - fluffy, flavorful, and so easy! This stovetop rice recipe cooks in 30 minutes and never fails. One secret ingredient makes this rice extra special!
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If you're Portuguese, rice is probably a staple in your home, just like it was in mine growing up. I had rice almost every night of the week, and to this day, this remains my go-to rice recipe.
My friends always loved my mom's Portuguese rice. Back then, I didn't understand why it was so special - until I tried instant rice at a friend's house. One bite, and I realized: there's nothing quite like homemade rice. The flavor and texture just can't be beat!
This easy Portuguese rice recipe cooks on the stove and takes just 30 minutes, and the results are so fluffy and flavorful, you'll never want to make rice any other way again. It's foolproof - seriously, there's no messing it up!
Ingredients in Portuguese Rice
| Ingredient | Notes & Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Water | Start with cold water and bring it to a boil on the stove. |
| Chicken Bouillon Cubes | You can also use powdered chicken bouillon - about 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of water will do the trick. |
| Small Onion | I recommend a white or yellow onion. Take off the skin, but leave it whole. The onion is placed in the center of the rice for amazing flavor that seeps into every grain. |
| Long-Grain White Rice | Basmati and Jasmine rice are my favorite varieties of long-grain white rice. |
| Butter | I recommend using unsalted butter so you have more control over the salt levels in your rice, but you can use salted butter if it's what you have. Just add less salt. |
| Salt | Maldon sea salt flakes, Himalayan sea salt, or kosher salt work best. |
How to Make Portuguese Rice on the Stove
- How to boil rice: bring water to a boil. Once boiling, add in chicken bouillon and mix well. 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!
- Add small onion to the center of the pan.
- Reduce heat to low and pour in the rice to surround the onion.
- 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.
- Remove and discard the onion.
- Add butter and stir in until melted completely.
- Taste your rice to see if it needs any salt. Serve, and enjoy your fluffy white rice recipe!
Isabel's Top Tips for Making Portuguese Rice
- 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!
- 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.
- 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!
Storing Leftover Rice
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 to Reheat Portuguese 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.
Rice Recipes
- Teriyaki Pulled Pork Rice Bowl
- Asian Beef Stir Fry
- Fluffy Stovetop Rice
- Spanish Rice and Beans
- Tuna Yum Yum Bowl
Cooking Guides
My kids love this Portuguese rice recipe as much as I did growing up, and whenever their friends would come over, they would always ask for seconds. Once you try making rice this way, I guarantee you'll never reach for a box of instant rice again - trust me!
Portuguese Rice
Video
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
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
- Add 1 small onion to the center of the pan.1 small onion
- Reduce heat to low and pour in the rice to surround the onion.2 cups long grain rice
- Cover and do not touch* for approximately 30 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove and discard the onion.
- Stir in 4 Tbsp. butter until completely melted. Stir in well.4 tablespoons butter
- Taste your rice to see if it needs any salt. Serve, and enjoy your fluffy white rice recipe!1 teaspoon salt
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.
Sofie says
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.
Em Beitel says
That's awesome, Sofie! Thank you so much for sharing - we're so glad you enjoyed it!
Debbie says
Do you wash rice first before cooking, and can you use jasmati rice?
Em Beitel says
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.
Hali says
Does anyone ever use chicken broth instead of the water and bouillon cubes?
Isabel Laessig says
Hali, you could definitely use chicken broth if you like. You could use either a full amount of chicken broth, or 2 cups water and 2 cups broth. I would do whichever appeals to you according to your tastes. You might want to consider using a lower sodium broth if you aren't sure, because store-bought broth can be salty. Please let me know how it turns out for you!
Cari says
This recipe is perfect - the rice is sooo delicious 😍 Thank you so much!
Isabel says
Thank you so much, Cari! It's my favorite rice recipe and what I grew up eating, so I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed it.
Chekena M says
Oh my goodness this is the best white rice hands down I've ever tasted. It came out fluffy, seasoned and buttery. Making again for our free community meals this Sunday. Thanks so much for sharing. The onion surprised me.
Isabel Laessig says
Thank you so much, Chekena! The onion is the best part, isn't it? I'm so glad you enjoyed it.