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This single serving Baked Rice cooks up perfectly every time – fluffy, tender, and full of flavor. Just mix the ingredients, bake, and let the oven do the work, no stirring or watching a pot. It’s a simple, perfectly portioned side that pairs well with so many meals.
Featured Comment
“I absolutely LOVE…LOVE…LOVE this rice. Easy to prepare and comes out perfect every time…”
– LuAnn
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with just four pantry staples.
- Hands-Off Cooking: No stirring or watching, just bake and let the oven do the work.
- Perfectly Cooked Every Time: Fluffy, tender rice without the guesswork.
- Great for Any Meal: A versatile base for countless dishes
- No Waste: A small portion with no leftovers.
Baking rice in the oven is an easy, hands-off way to make perfectly cooked rice. Instead of simmering on the stove, the rice bakes in a small dish, absorbing liquid evenly for a fluffy, tender texture every time.
I love this method because it’s reliable, requires no stirring, and frees up the stovetop for cooking other parts of the meal. It’s perfect for anyone cooking for one or two, just pop it in the oven and let it do the work while you focus on everything else.
Enjoy your small serving of cooked rice with bang bang shrimp for one, chicken tagine for one, chickpea curry for one, a Greek chicken bowl, or single serving red beans and rice. You can also use this rice in our single serving rice pudding or single serving fried rice recipes.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving rice recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Long-grain rice: Use any long-grain white rice, such as Basmati, Jasmine, or standard long-grain white rice.
- Water: Use hot water to help the rice start cooking right away in the oven. For more flavor, substitute hot broth.
- Salt: I use 1/4 teaspoon for seasoning, but adjust to your taste.
- Butter: I use salted butter for a touch of richness, but you can leave it out if you prefer.
Recipe Variations
Customize this oven-baked rice with different flavors:
- Herbed: Add dried herbs like thyme, oregano, or parsley to the water before baking.
- Broth-Based: Replace water with chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth.
- Spiced: Add cumin, paprika, or curry powder to the water.
How to Bake Rice
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to bake one serving of rice in the oven. See the recipe box below for full recipe instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add 1/2 cup of white rice (not instant) to a small oven-safe dish. I use a 5×5-inch baking dish (25 square inches), but a 4×6-inch dish works too.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the rice.
- Pour in 1 cup of hot water and stir to combine.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil, place it on a baking sheet, and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
RELATED: How To Make Brown Rice In The Oven
Expert Tips
- Measure the rice and liquid accurately for the best results.
- Use hot, boiling water to kickstart the cooking process.
- Cover tightly with foil to trap moisture.
- If the rice is still firm and there’s liquid left, bake for 5-10 more minutes.
- Let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes after baking, then fluff with a fork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Use either two 5×5 inch baking dishes or one 6×8 inch baking dish and double all ingredients.
Let it cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Add a splash of water and microwave in 30-second intervals, fluffing in between, or reheat in a covered oven-safe dish in the oven at 300°F for about 10 minutes.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serve rice recipe or any One Dish Kitchen recipe, please let me know how you liked it! Rate the recipe and share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Baked Rice For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup long-grain white rice
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add white rice (not instant) to a small 5×5 inch oven-safe dish.
- Add butter and salt to the rice.
- Pour in hot water and stir to combine.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil, place it on a baking sheet, and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Notes
- Measure the rice and liquid accurately for the best results.
- Use hot, boiling water to kickstart the cooking process.
- Cover tightly with foil to trap moisture.
- If the rice is still firm and there’s liquid left, bake for 5-10 more minutes.
- Let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes after baking, then fluff with a fork.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I have never made rice this way, but it turns out perfectly each and every time! Recently I added frozen peas, a BUNCH of fresh dill and veggie better than bouillon-so, so tasty! Thank you Joanie, another staple!
So glad this has become a staple for you! The frozen peas, fresh dill, and bouillon sound like wonderful additions. Thanks so much for letting me know!