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 yellow rice recipe is one of our favorite side dishes. It truly is “super easy” and 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 turmeric 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 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
Delish! I like it much better than the yellow rice packet you can buy at the store. I can control the amount of salt plus make it vegan with vegan butter and veg broth (the store one has chicken powder in it). I serve with black beans, diced red onion, cilantro, vegan sour cream, and diced avocado.
Annika says
I don’t know what I did wrong. I cooked it exactly how instructed but it soaked up all the broth burnt to the bottom of the pot and still isn’t cooking all the way through.
Favorite Family Recipes says
I am so sorry! It sounds like maybe the heat was too high. What temperature were you cooking it at?
Renae says
I’m a bit lazy and mix all the ingredients (minus cilantro) together in my glass casserole, cover, and microwave on high for 15 mins. Turns out great! I’ve tried doing the microwave method with brown rice and all attempts are fails so I don’t recommend it (needs much more time and liquid). This is a go-to easy side for our family. Everyone enjoys it!
Renae says
I also use garlic powder instead of fresh minced garlic and I personally find the flavor is better with powder.
Dani says
Super yum!! I would normally buy the yellow rice from the store, but everything made from scratch tastes so much better.; plus I had everything on hand. I sautéed an onion and some garlic in EVOO before toasting the rice. Absolutely delicious!
cezi72 says
Wonderful recipe, cooked it twice already. The family, specially my toddler loves it. I added spinach to the rice because I am always trying to find ways to give veggies to my family. So I sneaked them in anywhere I can.
David Hume says
First time making, didn’t have a garlic clove to mince so I substituted 1tsp garlic powder and fresh turkey stock from thanksgiving for the chicken stock. Turned out great! Not spicy at all.
Angela says
YES!
Sarah says
Very good!!
Melissa says
Yum – I love you yellow rice! Great recipe
Beth says
My husband and daughter are going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this!
Betsy says
I absolutely love yellow rice. The turmeric flavoring is excellent. Especially good with a little squeeze of lime! Yum! I think I’ll have to make this again tonight!
Brian says
This recipe is very tasty, but be sure to check the cooking instructions of the particular brand of long grain rice you use. My brand specified 15 minutes of simmering, whereas this recipe calls for 20 minutes. I didn’t realize this the first time, so the rice ended up cooking 5 minutes longer than needed and it turned out kind of dry.
Sandy says
Love love love this rice recipe
Tricia says
Mine turned out way too salty. Wondering what I did wrong? Maybe it was the chicken broth I used 🤷♀️
Favorite Family Recipes says
That’s so weird! Maybe try using low sodium chicken broth and omitting the Kosher salt. Did you use salted butter?
Tia says
I made this rice for the first time and it tasted Amazing. I doubled the recipe since I had a feeling my family would love it!
kashish food says
Nice and simple. Thank you
Jessica Witherspoon says
I enjoyed the rice as is, but it was buttery to me, and I wasn’t really in the mood for a buttery rice. I think I might just use oil next time, or go half and half.