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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 weeknights when you need just a small portion of rice.

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

rice, salt, butter and a cup filled with water on a wooden cutting board
  • 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.

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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.

  1. 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.
a white square bowl with rice and butter inside
  1. Pour in 1 cup of hot water.
pouring water into a bowl of rice
  1. 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.
aluminum foil covering a small square baking dish on a baking sheet

Cooking rice in the oven guarantees a perfectly cooked batch each time.

By opting to bake 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.

Recipe Variations

This basic recipe on how to cook rice in the oven can easily be transformed into a whole new dish with a few tweaks. Feel free to experiment with the following 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 sauteed onions, pine nuts, and raisins.
  • For a vibrant yellow rice, infuse it with flavors by adding saffron or turmeric.

Expert Tips

  • Accurately measure your rice and liquid.
  • Use boiling hot water.
  • Rice triples in volume so use a dish that will adequately hold the rice. I use a 5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch oven-safe baking dish.
  • Make sure to cover the baking dish tightly with foil to prevent moisture from escaping.
  • If the rice is not tender, and the liquid has not fully absorbed continue baking for 5-10 minutes longer.
  • Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes after baking before fluffing it with a fork.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Baking Dish Is Best To Use?

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.

Can I Double This Recipe?

Absolutely! If you’d like to double the recipe, simply double the ingredient amounts and use either two 5×5-inch baking dishesone 6.5-inch square baking dish, or one 6×8-inch baking dish. These dishes can be found on our Store page.

Can I Add Spices Or Herbs To The Rice?

Absolutely! Feel free to add your favorite spices or herbs before baking.

How Do I Store Cooked Rice?

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.

How Do I Reheat Cooked Rice?

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.

a bowl of gumbo with rice on a white napkin

Serving Suggestions

This versatile baked rice is a culinary chameleon and pairs excellently with a multitude of dishes. Here are a few suggestions to elevate your serving game:

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!


Your Cooking For One Source
Because you’re worth it

Baked Rice For One

5 from 16 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Cool: 5 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Cook perfect rice every time with this simple oven baked rice recipe. Made with just a small amount of rice, water, butter, and salt. So easy to make! Baking is the secret to making perfect rice.

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

Expert Tips
  • Accurately measure your rice and liquid.
  • Use boiling hot water.
  • Rice triples in volume so use a dish that will adequately hold the rice. I use a 5×5 inch or a 4×6 inch oven-safe baking dish.
  • Make sure to cover the baking dish tightly with foil to prevent moisture from escaping.
  • If the rice is not tender, and the liquid has not fully absorbed continue baking for 5-10 minutes longer.
  • Let the rice sit for 5-10 minutes after baking before fluffing it with a fork.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 219kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 243mg, Potassium: 55mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg

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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28 Comments

  1. 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 👍

  2. Have you ever used chicken broth instead of water? I’ve done it that way several times and it is always delicious.

  3. 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!!!

  4. 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 .