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Learn how to cook brown rice with this very simple single serving recipe. Baking brown rice in the oven is the best way to cook brown rice so it comes out perfect every time.

Many years ago I discovered how to cook brown rice in the oven and it’s been my go-to method for making rice ever since.

Why I Love This Recipe

  • Since stumbling upon Alton Brown’s recipe, I find no reason to cook brown rice on the stovetop anymore. Baking brown rice in the oven guarantees the rice is perfectly cooked every time. The oven heats the rice on all sides as it cooks. The foil which covers the top of the baking dish traps in all the steam. This means the rice cooks at the same rate on all sides.
  • Although baking brown rice takes a little longer than using a rice cooker, it’s totally worth it. When baked, the rice becomes tender and fluffy. You won’t ever have to worry about gummy rice with this method.

Ingredient Notes

  • Brown rice: Use 1/3 cup of medium-grain or long-grain brown rice.
  • Water: Use 2/3 cup of boiling water.
  • Butter: I use 1/2 tablespoon of salted butter.
  • Salt: Add just 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt.

How To Bake Brown Rice

  1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  2. Pour rice into a small baking dish.
  3. Pour boiling water over the rice.
  4. Add butter and salt.
  5. Stir and cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake for 45 minutes.

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Brown rice baked in a small baking dish next to a blue cloth napkin

Expert Tips

Here are a few recipe variations:

  • Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water. Regardless of what liquid you use, make sure it’s boiling. You might need to reduce the salt or leave it out altogether, depending on how salty the broth is.
  • Feel free to leave out the butter.
  • Add fresh herbs and/or black pepper to the rice. Also try a Cajun spice blend or other favorite spice blend recipe, you might also need to reduce or leave out the salt from the recipe if the seasoning already contains salt.
  • Try chopped parsley and a squeeze of half a lemon or lime juice and chopped cilantro for a Mexican side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Cook Brown Rice In The Oven?

* Baking rice in the oven gives the rice even heat as it cooks. Unlike rice cooked on the stove, where the only heat comes from the bottom, the heat surrounds the pan when it’s baked in the oven. This means the rice cooks evenly and will come out perfect and not mushy.
* When you bake brown rice in the oven, it frees up your stove.
* Cooking brown rice in the oven leaves you free to prepare the other parts of your meal. You don’t need to “keep watch” over the pan. Just put the rice in the oven and focus on other things.

What Size Baking Dish Is Best To Use?

When I bake brown rice, I use a 5-inch baking dish. For best results, use a dish of similar size. For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

Serving Suggestions

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Other Single Serving Rice Recipes

If you’ve tried baked brown rice or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!


Your Cooking For One Source
Because you’re worth it

Baked Brown Rice For One

5 from 6 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Resting time: 5 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 1 person
Master the art of cooking perfect brown rice with our simple single serving oven-baked recipe. Discover the best method for flawless brown rice every time.

Ingredients 
 

  • cup medium-grain or long-grain brown rice
  • cup water
  • ½ tablespoon salted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Place the rice in a small 5-inch baking dish or dish of similar size.
  • Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan or tea kettle.
  • Pour boiling water over the rice and add the butter and salt.
  • Gently stir to combine and cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  • Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 45 minutes.
  • After 45 minutes, remove the cover and fluff the rice with a fork.
  • Serve.

Notes

Expert Tips
Here are a few recipe variations:
  • Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water. Regardless of what liquid you use, make sure it’s boiling. You might need to reduce the salt or leave it out altogether, depending on how salty the broth is.
  • Feel free to leave out the butter.
  • Add fresh herbs and/or black pepper to the rice. Also try a Cajun spice blend or other favorite spice blend recipe, you might also need to reduce or leave out the salt from the recipe if the seasoning already contains salt.
  • Try chopped parsley and a squeeze of half a lemon or lime juice and chopped cilantro for a Mexican side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 278kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 644mg, Potassium: 137mg, Fiber: 2g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 0.9mg

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.

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I’m Joanie and I’m incredibly happy you’re here! Our aim is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes, education, and a supportive community that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul.

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12 Comments

    1. I’d recommend using either a 6.5×6.5 inch baking dish that holds about 32 fluid ounces or a 6×8 inch dish or a dish that is similar in size.

  1. Joanie, in this recipe you don’t rinse the rice first as in other recipes. Is that because this is cooked in the oven or should the rice be rinsed here as well?

    1. I don’t rinse the rice in this recipe but you certainly can if you’d like. Brown rice’s bran is still intact, so it doesn’t have starch build up on the outside as white rice does. See your package of rice to see if it has specific instructions on whether or not the rice in the package needs to be rinsed before use.

  2. I’ll never make brown rice any other way again! It comes out perfect, light and fluffy, without having to watch it constantly on the stove top. I added 3/4 tsp. Better Than Bouillon vegetable stock and reduced the salt to 1/8 teaspoon for increased flavor. One serving makes enough for a side dish for my husband and me, but I can double it and freeze half in a Ziploc bag for future use.

    1. Hi Gail, I agree that baking rice is the way to go! I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe, thank you for taking the time to let me know.

  3. I love the idea of baking brown rice! I always forget about it on the stove top and burn it to the bottom of the pot 😂

  4. My husband was out of town and I had to have rice… I couldn’t believe there was a recipe for just one person! It was so easy, and I didnt have to eat rice for way too many meals! The fact it was perfectly cooked was icing on the cake!