This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Are you looking for a quick and easy way to cook a single serving of rice? Our Baked Rice Recipe is the answer! Learn to achieve perfect rice in the oven every time with this easy guide. Ideal for busy days when you need just a small portion of rice.
Enjoy your baked rice with any of these single serving meals: Chicken Tagine, Chickpea Curry, a savory Baked Pork Chop, Chicken Caprese, and Red Beans and Rice. This versatile base lets you create endless delicious meals!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Rice Recipe
- Simplicity: The recipe only requires four staple ingredients and minimal prep time.
- Convenience: No need for constant stirring or watching over a boiling pot.
- Consistency: The rice turns out perfectly cooked and fluffy every time.
- Versatility: This rice makes an excellent base for numerous dishes, allowing for lots of culinary creativity.
- Portion Control: This single serving recipe eliminates food waste and helps manage portions.
What Is Baked Rice?
Baked rice is simply cooking rice in the oven instead of being boiled on a stovetop. For our purposes, we’ll be baking the rice in a convenient 5×5 inch baking dish. The result is a deliciously fluffy and evenly cooked serving of rice that pairs well with a multitude of dishes.
RELATED: How To Make Brown Rice In The Oven
Ingredients
- Long-grain rice: Use any long-grain white rice such as American long-grain rice, Basmati, or Jasmine.
- Water: It is important to use hot water to kickstart the cooking process in the oven. For more flavor, substitute hot broth.
- Salt: I use 1/4 teaspoon of salt for flavor, but you can adjust according to your taste.
- Butter: You can substitute with oil if you’re dairy-free.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
Recipe Variations
This simple oven-baked rice recipe serves as a versatile base that you can easily modify to create a variety of new dishes. Don’t hesitate to try these suggested variations:
- For a veggie rice dish, stir in cooked peas and carrots.
- Create a quick and easy fried rice by mixing in scrambled egg and a protein.
- Give it a Mediterranean flair by adding sautéed onions, pine nuts, and raisins.
- For a vibrant yellow rice, infuse it with flavors by adding saffron or turmeric.
How to Bake Rice For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to bake rice in an oven. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Place 1/2 cup of white rice (not instant rice) in a small baking dish or ramekin. I use a 5×5-inch oven-safe dish that has a base of 25 square inches. You can use a 4×6-inch dish as well. Add the butter and salt.
- Pour in 1 cup of hot water.
- Stir and cover the baking dish with foil. Place the dish on a baking sheet and bake in a 375-degree F oven for 30-35 minutes until water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Cooking rice in the oven guarantees a perfectly cooked batch each time.
By baking your rice, you free your stovetop for other culinary tasks, eliminating the need for constant check-ins on your rice’s progress. Simply place your dish in the oven and let it do the work while you focus on the rest of your meal.
Expert Tips
- Measure the rice and liquid precisely.
- Always use boiling water.
- Choose a baking dish that can accommodate the rice’s expansion – typically, a 5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch oven-safe dish works well.
- Tightly cover the dish with foil to keep moisture in.
- If the rice is still firm and there’s liquid left, bake it for an additional 5-10 minutes.
- After baking, let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes before fluffing it with a fork.
Frequently Asked Questions
The success of this recipe depends on the size of the baking dish you use. I use a 5×5 inch baking dish with a base area of 25 square inches. The dishes we use in our recipes can be found on our Store page.
Absolutely! If you’d like to double the recipe, simply double the ingredient amounts and use either two 5×5-inch baking dishes, one 6.5-inch square baking dish, or one 6×8-inch baking dish. These dishes can be found on our Store page.
Absolutely! Feel free to add your favorite spices or herbs before baking.
After you’ve cooked your rice, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says to cool the leftovers quickly to avoid having it remain in the temperature danger zone of 40°F to 140°F for an extended period. Do not leave cooked rice sitting out for more than 1 hour.
Store the cooked rice in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Fluff the rice with a fork and moisten with a small amount of water. For each 1/2 cup of cooked rice, add 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of water. Cover and microwave until hot throughout.
If you would like additional 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.
If you’ve tried this baked 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.
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 oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place white rice (not instant rice) in a oven safe ramekin or small baking dish. Add the butter and salt.
- Pour in hot water.
- Stir and then cover the baking dish with foil. Place the dish on a baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes until water is absorbed and rice is tender.
Notes
- Measure the rice and liquid precisely.
- Always use boiling water.
- Choose a baking dish that can accommodate the rice’s expansion – typically, a 5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch oven-safe dish works well.
- Tightly cover the dish with foil to keep moisture in.
- If the rice is still firm and there’s liquid left, bake it for an additional 5-10 minutes.
- After baking, let the rice rest for 5-10 minutes before fluffing it 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.
Joanie, does the foil covering on the dish offer any quality advantage over using a glass or ceramic lid? I sometimes use small lidded casseroles or Corning Ware to make your recipes. So far, the lids seem to work fine.
Perfect results when I made this, and it felt easier than using my mini rice cooker. I love having multiple ways to make a simple dish.
Thank you! Using a lid instead of foil works just fine, especially with small lidded casseroles or Corning Ware. The main goal is to keep the moisture in, and both foil and lids do that effectively. I’m so glad to hear you had perfect results—having multiple ways to make a simple dish is always a plus!
I absolutely LOVE…LOVE…LOVE this rice. Easy to prepare and comes out perfect every time. My question is…if I make it with long grain brown rice are the ratios of rice to water the same? Just an increase in baking time?
Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so glad you love the baked white rice recipe—thank you for your kind words! If you’re planning to make it with long grain brown rice, the ratios of rice to water are different, and the baking time will also need to be adjusted. We have a separate recipe on our website specifically for baked brown rice that includes all the details. You can find it here: https://onedishkitchen.com/baked-brown-rice-for-one/.
I hope you enjoy the brown rice version just as much!
This is now the only way I make rice. Didn’t really want the oven on for one serving. Wasn’t sure about making in toaster convection oven. Set temp 5° less and it was perfect.
Thank you!
I’m so happy you love this rice recipe, thank you so much for sharing your feedback.
Great recipe ! I used garlic butter, a sprinkle of desiccated coconut and a little chicken stock into the water, perfect rice, I couldn’t stop eating it 👍
Easiest rice ever! Turned out tender and fluffy!
Can I use the air fryer instead of the oven?
We have not tested this recipe in an air fryer.
I used my Ninja Foodi, multipurpose cooker that includes air frying. I selected the bake mode and my jasmine rice turned out perfectly.
Have you ever used chicken broth instead of water? I’ve done it that way several times and it is always delicious.
This recipe is great! I feel like I have never been a person that has been able to cook rice well on the stovetop! Thank you so much for this recipe!!!
I have been following you for a while now. I tried your chicken casserole last night outstanding again. And to night did baked rice. All i can say is awesome.like so many others my amazon dish always came broken so was never able to try your cooking. I use a 6 inch round pan from amazon works great pass it on .