Italian Herb Rice – Barefeet in the Kitchen

Fluffy Italian rice cooked in chicken broth and then tossed with warm butter and generous herbs makes a terrific side dish for any meal.

This is a flavorful and hearty side dish that will nicely round out any weeknight dinner. And with simple, common ingredients, it’s easy to make extra.

Rice with Herbs

If you’re looking for a quick and easy side dish, this Italian rice recipe can be made in only twenty minutes. Paired with Lemon Garlic Tilapia or Spicy Chicken and Bacon Stir Fry, it’s sure to be a hit.

And the best part? This recipe scales easily, making it a great dish to prep in bulk for future meals. My kids love it anytime there is extra rice on hand.

We add it to burrito bowls, stir fry dinners, or toss it with a bit of leftover grilled chicken or taco meat. There really is no wrong way to use leftover rice.

Italian Rice

With minimal effort and simple spices, this flavorful Italian rice adds something special to any meal.

Don’t let the fact that this recipe is so easy to make fool you; this dish is packed with flavor. Chicken stock (or broth) gives the rice a hearty, rich boost; paired with a handful of herbs, this rice is going to take your weeknight dinner to the next level.

One quick note about the herbs used in this recipe: you can use fresh or dried herbs in this recipe (or both!).

When using dried herbs, add them to the saucepan as soon as you start cooking the rice. When using fresh herbs, wait until after the rice has been removed from the heat before stirring them in. Waiting until the end to add the herbs makes a big difference with fresh herbs.

Oh, and don’t make the same mistake I made when I first made this recipe. If you’re using store-bought chicken stock/broth, make sure you adjust the amount of salt you use accordingly. Trust me, you don’t want the rice to turn out extra salty! So, wait and taste the rice before adding salt.

Herbed Rice

• Jasmine rice
• Chicken stock or broth
• Chopped fresh basil OR dried basil
• Chopped fresh thyme OR dried thyme
• Chopped fresh oregano or dried oregano
• Butter
• Kosher salt (be sure to reduce this amount if you are using a store-bought chicken broth)
• Black pepper
• Chopped fresh Italian parsley

Italian Rice Recipe

You’ll want to start by combining the rice, chicken stock, and any DRIED herbs in a large saucepan. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the heat to low and cover with a lid.

Keeping an eye on the skillet, you can let the rice simmer covered over low heat for 16 minutes. All the liquid should be absorbed and the rice should be tender. Once the rice is done, remove it from the heat and stir in the herbs, if using FRESH herbs.

Stir in a tablespoon or two of butter and fluff with a fork. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Finally, sprinkle with parsley before serving.

This recipe pairs well with this Lemony Garlic and Herb Halibut and with this 15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken. You’ll have dinner on the table before you know it.

Looking for more delicious and easy rice recipes? With barely two minutes of effort, this Chipotle Lime Rice can elevate dinner from boring to something special.

Mexican Fried Rice is filled with ground beef, bell peppers, black beans, corn, and green chile. This is a kid-favorite dinner that the whole family enjoys.

Easy to make and versatile, this Simple Asian Rice recipe is one you’ll never get tired of; it makes the perfect accompaniment to any Asian-inspired meal. Likewise, any Mexican-inspired meal instantly becomes better with this Easy Spanish Rice.

{originally published 4/2/13 – recipe notes and photos updated 6/13/23}