Super Easy Yellow Rice complements just about any meal! You can make this on the stove top or in the rice cooker. So tasty!
Super Easy Yellow Rice
This easy yellow rice recipe is one of our favorite side dishes. It seriously goes with almost anything! You can keep it plain or spice it up to go with different meals. If you are in a rush and don’t have time to make it over the stove, you can also throw all the ingredients in a rice cooker and do it that way. My family loves this light and fluffy side dish and you will too!
What is Yellow Rice?
Yellow rice is basically white rice that is colored by the spices tumeric or saffron when prepared. This yellow rice recipe calls for tumeric but you could easily substitute saffron and achieve the same bright yellow color and slightly tangy flavor. Yellow rice is traditional in Spanish, Cuban, Indian and Indonesian dishes, plus many more. The flavor is mild enough that you can serve it with a million different recipes.
Yellow Rice Recipe Variations
The possibilities for this rice recipe are endless! Mix and match any of these to create the perfect easy yellow rice side-dish for your next family meal.
- Adding frozen peas or carrots to the rice while cooking is an easy way to add color, texture and added nutrients.
- Make this dish Cajun style by adding diced onion, red and/or green bell pepper and diced jalapeno while sauteing the rice. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning before adding the chicken broth. After the rice is finished cooking you can stir in grilled smoked sausage, shrimp or chicken. Red or black beans make the meal even more hearty and delicious.
- For a more Indian flair, add 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, four cardamom pods and a handful of golden raisins before bringing to boil. So yummy!
- Add this dish to your Mexican feast by adding jalapeno and diced onion to the rice while sauteing and sprinkle with a little cumin before adding the broth.
More Yummy Rice Recipes
Rice is one of those easy to make, filling and oh so delicious side dishes. Try a few of our favorites:
- Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
- Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
- Ham Fried Rice
- Easy Garden Vegetable Rice
- How to Make Sushi Rice
- Lemon Pesto Rice
How to Make Super Easy Yellow Rice
How to Make Yellow Rice
INGREDIENTS
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder or dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt or to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh cilantro chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to lightly brown.
- Add garlic, onion powder, and turmeric and stir until well mixed in.
- Slowly stir in chicken broth and raise heat to medium-high. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring the mix to a boil then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.
- Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from heat and add cilantro, and fluff with a fork. Serves 4.
Liz says
May 10, 2015 at 11:24 amNice and simple. Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day!
Angela says
May 10, 2015 at 1:03 pmThis is a lovely recipe. I make one very similar to this with our meals when we have fish…. except that I use fresh parsley instead of cilantro, since none if us can tolerate that ‘sudsy’ flavor! I use brown rice, but I’m sure that it’s also good with long grain white rice. My family loves rice, since there are ‘so many’ different ways to prepare it. Does anyone out there remember the old 50s “Spanish Rice” side-dish? I dredged-up my mom’s old recipe last week, and made it for my family when I served Meatloaf w/Fresh Green Buttered Beans for supper. It was a “Blast from the Past”, and my hubby (especially) enjoyed it. Lets not forget those old recipes which our moms took great care to write down (back in the day.) Those ‘oldies but goodies’ are still delicious, so let’s not forget them.
Paula Graves says
May 10, 2015 at 11:28 pmAngela, believe it or not, come of us did not have mothers who shared recipes-would you mind sharing the “spanish rice” side dish? The only spanish rice my family had was in a box with the logo “San Francisco treat” Thanks, Paula
Michele says
May 13, 2015 at 10:01 amYes, please share the Spanish rice recipe!
anna says
May 16, 2015 at 9:24 amFor those wanting the Spanish rice the lady above mentioned here it is. It came from a better home and garden recipe from the 50’s and was really popular. Enjoy 🙂
6 slices bacon, cut up
1⁄4 cup finely chopped onion
1⁄4 cup chopped green pepper
3 cups cooked rice (1 cup uncooked)
2 cups canned tomatoes
1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
1⁄8 teaspoon pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a skillet, fry the bacon until it is crisp; remove from skillet and drain off most of the fat.
Add onion and green pepper to bacon fat and cook over medium heat until the onion is yellowed.
Add remaining ingredients and cook uncovered over low heat for abou 15 minutes, or until hot.
NOTE: you can heat the oven to 400 degrees and combine the cooked bacon, onion and pepper with the rice and tomatoes, salt and pepper, in a baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Sarah says
January 31, 2019 at 5:15 pmMy “Mexican” rice
1.5 cups long grain white rice
3-4 TBS tomato sauce (plain tomato sauce canned)
3 TBS oil
Garlic powder (to taste)
Onion powder (to taste)
Knorr Pollo bouillon 3-4 TBS it’s SALTY though so it’s to taste
3 cups of water
Lightly brown the rice with oil
MEANWHILE
Separate bowl add seasonings, tomato sauce and chicken bouillon, whisk together
Once rice is golden add mixture, cover and bring to a boil
Once boiling, lower temp and give it 20 minutes
Uncover and let stand 10 minutes
You can also add chopped tomato’s, jalapeño.
I make this about 3 times a week. My husbands family is Hispanic and he says this is the closest he can get to abuelas.
Ole says
February 12, 2016 at 6:34 amYou should stay away from Brown Rice! Most people don’t know much about what they eat, but Brown Rice contains Arsenik!!! For those who doesn’t know what that means, it simply means “Rat Poison”!
Grace says
November 4, 2018 at 1:34 pmArsenic is naturally occurring in many foods, brown and white rice.
Stephanie says
July 5, 2015 at 1:03 amMade this rice as a side for dinner tonight with chicken. My husband, teenaged daughter, and I loved it. It was very tasty. It tastes like the rice pilaf they serve at many nice dine-in restaurants. My first time cooking with turmeric. (I had some in my pantry for a sore throat remedy.) The turmeric added a nice flavor and of course color. Only change I made was that I did not add the cilantro at the end because I needed to get dinner on the table. Will add it next time though because we love cilantro. Thank you.
Echo says
July 6, 2015 at 9:28 amWe’re so glad you liked the recipe! Thank you!
Nicole says
July 31, 2015 at 7:20 amThis rice was excellent! Was looking for a simple recipe to serve to guests that was a little more “gourmet” than white rice. This was awesome! So flavorful and easy! Everyone raved about it. Will definitely make again.
Erica says
July 31, 2015 at 9:13 amThank you so much Nicole! Glad you liked it! 😀
pam says
August 25, 2015 at 10:18 amMade it the other day, super easy and good, nice change from the other rice, I too left out the cilantro, we don’t care for it…. but my daughter was hoping it was greek yellow rice ( lemon rice) that they serve in Ogden close to the college where she is going to school.
Lori Johansen says
December 30, 2015 at 4:38 pmMade this tonight using bagged Minute Rice and it turned out great! I substituted vegetable broth for the chicken. YUM!
Debbie says
January 10, 2016 at 9:11 amIf I do not have chicken broth, can I just use regular water or will it come out bland?
Erica says
January 13, 2016 at 9:49 pmIt might come out a little bland. If you don’t have chicken broth you can add chicken bouillon or add a little salt to the water. It won’t be as “rich” tasting but it probably still taste fine
Serena Daniel says
January 27, 2016 at 11:59 amI love how mexican rice turns out so light and fluffy when you saute it first. I just knew there had to be some orher variations. Your rice confirmed that and was just what I was looking for! It will be on my table tonight!!
Brenda says
February 17, 2016 at 4:32 amI made this tonight. Very nice. Not a very strong flavour but nice nonetheless. Used 1 teaspoon dried coriander instead of fresh and added it with the other spices. Also used dried onion flakes. Sauteed rice, herbs, spices and butter in rice cooker then added stock and cooked on Risotto setting. Next time might add a little extra coriander, garlic and maybe fresh onions instead of flaked. Family rated this 10/10. Thanks for a lovely recipe.
Zahra J says
May 27, 2017 at 12:03 pmSuch a favorite this rice! We call this “Khichuri” in Bangladesh, and we usually add different types of lentils, potatoes and carrots (basically any vegetable). Because we mix in so many things, the word “khichuri” has come to mean ‘mess’ in our daily lives. To say someone’s mixed up things and made a mess, we just say someone’s made a khichuri.
Erica says
May 28, 2017 at 9:25 pmSuch a great idea! We will have to try it using all types of vegetables. Thanks for your comment!
Brianna Vodicka says
June 14, 2017 at 5:38 pmWhat, if anything, do I need to do different if I’m using minute rice?
Favorite Family Recipes says
June 15, 2017 at 9:12 pmYou will definitely want to use less time. I don’t use minute rice but I would say go for the count of time indicated on the packaging. Hope this helps!
Cai says
July 16, 2018 at 1:21 amHow can I make this for a party of 100
Favorite Family Recipes says
July 17, 2018 at 10:08 amWe actually have a great “rice for a crowd” recipe! You can adjust the seasoning in this recipe and apply it to the crowd recipe found here: https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/cook-rice-crowd-easy-oven-method/
Let us know how it turns out for you!
Laura S says
October 22, 2018 at 2:48 pmThis looks so easy and tasty! Question: would using dried cilantro instead of fresh work? I definitely appreciate the taste of fresh herbs, but I hate buying fresh when I only need a little for a recipe but have to buy a whole package.
Favorite Family Recipes says
October 23, 2018 at 9:37 pmYes, absolutely! Dried should work just fine, just reduce the amount. Hope this helps!
BERNICE MCPARLON says
November 17, 2018 at 6:29 pmI made this tonight & tried the Indian style version you gave. Served it with chicken & it was wonderful! Thank you
Favorite Family Recipes says
November 18, 2018 at 8:01 amI am so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the 5-star rating!!
Lindsay says
December 17, 2018 at 10:20 amRice cooker virgin!! If I want to use it, I just put all the ingredients in at once and let it go? Looking to add this to Christmas dinner.
Favorite Family Recipes says
December 18, 2018 at 7:23 amFor this recipe – yes, except the cilantro. Stir it in after the rice is cooked! Hope this helps!
DeAna says
February 13, 2019 at 10:17 pmJust made this tonight with enchiladas. The only thing I changed is I used sauteed onion instead of powder. It was so good. I’m doused to be eating healthy so I’m going to tinker with different oils, but this will definitely be made again.
Favorite Family Recipes says
February 14, 2019 at 12:46 pmSo glad you enjoyed this recipe! Who says healthy food has to be boring 😉 right? Thanks for the 5 stars!
Ant says
February 24, 2019 at 11:58 amHi, just a clarification we should cook the white rice before we add it to the pan, correct.
Favorite Family Recipes says
February 24, 2019 at 1:26 pmThe rice goes into the pan UNcooked. You brown the rice while it is still uncooked and hard. It will cook through after you add liquids and let it simmer. Hope this helps!