Thanksgiving Butter Rice Recipe: A Buttery Delight for Your Holiday Table

All the fancy dishes, sweet desserts, and cozy breakfasts aside, every cook needs a few go-to comfort food recipes for those days. I am talking about shorter prep time, basic ingredients, and a hearty flavor. This butter rice recipe fits the description and is a great comfort food. 

The origins of butter rice are somewhat mixed. There is a certain Asian influence, but it’s also common in Mediterranean cuisine. While the Asian version of the recipe calls for soy sauce, they usually swap butter with olive oil in the Mediterranean. Most people enjoy both versions. Regardless of the small changes, butter rice remains a hearty dish with hints of savory flavors. 

What’s even greater is that while it’s a filling dish, the pairing options are limitless. You can always have this butter rice with grilled chicken, but potatoes and leafy greens are great as well.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Thanksgiving Butter Rice Recipe: A Buttery Delight for Your Holiday Table
• Comments

Ingredients

• Butter — ⅓ cup
• Yellow onion — ½ cup, finely diced 
• White rice — 1 ½ cups, long-grain 
• Chicken stock — 3 cups 
• Salt — ½ tsp. 
• Black pepper — ½ tsp. 
• Bay leaves — 2

Instructions

1. Start by melting butter in a large pan. 

2. Add the onion and saute until tender, which should only take a few minutes. 

3. Add the rice and toss to coat with butter. 

4. Pour the chicken stock and give the mixture a good stir before seasoning the mixture with salt and pepper. 

5. Finally, add the bay leaves, cover, and bring to a boil. 

6. Reduce the heat to low and cook for about 15 minutes. 

7. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Substitutions

• Butter — Going with butter is the best option. With that being said, you could always add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture. 

• Chicken stock — While chicken stock provides a hearty, warm, and nutritious base to this butter rice recipe, all of those are provided by vegetable broth as well. Some people prefer the latter. 

• Bay leaves — While bay leaves do a fine job, you could get the same with dried oregano and thyme. Choose according to your taste. 

• White rice — You should definitely go with long-grain rice and stay away from short-grain and medium-grain. Using long-grain rice will result in a fluffy, light, and tender dish. 

Variations

• Savory — This butter rice recipe comes with lots of room for you to leave your personal touch. You can always add some minced garlic to the mixture for a savory twist.  

• Topping — While this butter rice recipe makes a great dish, it can be even better with the right toppings. Chopped fresh parsley is great, but you can adjust it according to your preferences. 

• Soy — In Japan, most butter rice recipes will call for soy sauce, with the amount depending on you. Soy sauce is a fine addition to this recipe, so you might want to consider it. 

Equipment

• Measuring cup 

• Large saucepan 

Storage

• Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container before refrigerating. 

• The leftovers will last for three days in your fridge.

Pro Tips

• The rice — Remember to rinse the rice in a fine sieve and drain well afterward. This butter rice recipe is great, but only if followed carefully. 

• The seasonings — Salt and black pepper get the job done, but that doesn’t mean you should stop there. Add more seasonings according to your taste.