Easy Seasoned Rice Pilaf

Brown serving bowl with cooked rice in it. There is finely chopped red pepper, onion and green parsley in the rice. There is a silver spoon resting in the bowl. The bowl is on a light gray surface.

Rice pilaf is a great alternative to baked potatoes to serve the next time you cook salmon fillets or steak.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Preparation Level: Beginner +

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients – Made with kitchen staples.
Budget Friendly – Low cost side dish.
Great Alternative – switch up from a baked potato
Kid-Friendly – It’s mild but flavorful!
Restaurant Taste at Home

Fun Fact

Longhorn Steakhouse was founded in 1981 in Atlanta, GA and now has over 580 locations nationwide with the majority of its locations in the state of Florida.

It is best known for serving the highest quality of beef, ribs, chicken, and seafood. The Longhorn menu is filled with so many tasty dishes like the popular Parmesan crusted chicken, the outlaw ribeye, Flo’s filet, and Redrock grilled shrimp. Some of Longhorn’s popular side dishes are: fresh steamed broccoli, fresh steamed asparagus, and the Longhorn steakhouse mac.

It is one of my favorite restaurants for a delicious steak and mixed green salad combo meal!

Even if you have never been to a Longhorn Steakhouse, I know the whole family will love this simple and tasty recipe!

Ingredients

There is a large white bowl with light brown liquid - broth in it. There is a half of onion, a stick of butter, 3 garlic cloves, a tin measuring cup with dry white rice, a small clear dish with salt and pepper in it, a red pepper and fresh parsley. All items are on a light gray surface.

What You Will Need

Dry white rice
Onion
Garlic
Red pepper
Unsalted butter
Chicken stock
Parsley
Salt
Black pepper

Equipment / Tools

Large skillet with lid or large heavy pan with lid
Large sharp kitchen knife
Garlic press (if using cloves)
Cutting board
Measuring cups
Mesh strainer
Wooden or silicone spoon
Large bowl or serving dish

Let’s Talk Ingredients – Variations And Substitutions

Butter: use salted butter or olive oil.

Red bell pepper: yellow or orange pepper will have pretty much the same flavor. Green bell peppers have a stronger pepper flavor but definitely can be substituted.

Rice: long grain rice such as Jasmine or Basmati rice are the best to use. Brown rice can be substituted but it will take longer to cook, usually 45 minutes. Check the package cooking time and follow it.

Garlic: if you don’t have any fresh garlic cloves in the pantry, jarred minced garlic or garlic powder will work. If you use garlic powder remember, 1 clove of garlic equals about 1/8th of a teaspoon of powder.

Chicken stock: you can use broth instead. Both beef or vegetable broth can be substituted (I prefer the lower sodium but regular is fine).

Fresh parsley: fresh tastes best but dry parsley can be used. If you do use dry, you won’t need as much. The ratio for herbs is 1 to 3 (example: 1 dried teaspoon to 3 fresh teaspoons).

How To Make

There is a wooden cutting board with a mound of chopped onion, a mound of chopped red bell pepper, a mound of finely chopped green parsley, and a small mound of minced garlic. There is a silver garlic press laying on the side of the cutting board. The board is on a light gray surface.

There is chopped onion and red bell pepper cooking in a large gray skillet.

Rinse and drain the rice.

Finely chop the onion, red pepper and fresh parsley. Mince the garlic.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes.

There is chopped onion, red bell pepper, and white rice cooking in a large gray skillet.

There is chopped onion, red bell pepper, garlic, and white rice in chicken broth cooking in a large gray skillet. The skillet is on a gray surface.

Add rice to skillet and saute for an additional 5-7 minutes.

Pour in the stock and add the garlic. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

There is a large gray skillet with cooked rice, chopped onion, chopped red pepper, chopped fresh parsley, and minced garlic in it. There is a wooden spoon in the skillet. The skillet is on a light gray surface.

There is a large brown bowl with a rice mixture of herbs and chopped vegetables. Bowl is on a light gray surface.

Remove lid and stir.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

What to Serve with Rice Pilaf

More Longhorn Steakhouse Recipes

Longhorn Steakhouse White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe (Copycat)
Longhorn Steakhouse Mashed Potatoes by Simply Side Dishes
Steamed Broccoli

There is a brown bowl with cooked rice, chopped onion, chopped red pepper, chopped fresh parsley, and minced garlic in it. The bowl is on a light gray surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Rice Pilaf?

Rice pilaf is made with dry rice. It is sauteed in a hot skillet with cooking oil and a combination of different blends of seasoning, then simmered in a broth.
Plain rice is usually cooked in boiling water with no seasoning.

What Is The Difference Between Stock And Broth?

The difference between stock and broth is that stock is generally made from bones and broth is made from meat (flesh).
Stock and broth are very interchangeable and can be substituted for each other in many recipes.

Can I Use Leftover Cooked Rice In Rice Pilaf?

Absolutely! Saute the onions, red pepper, and garlic in the butter. Add the cooked rice and parsley, and a couple tablespoons of liquid (broth, stock, or water). Heat throughly and serve.

Yield: 4 servings