How to Cook Rice In The Oven (White, Brown, or Converted Rice)

Cooking rice in the oven is perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, and holidays when your stovetop is already full.

If you’ve ever burned rice, ended up with mush, or just don’t want to babysit a pot, this is the method to use.

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Once you make oven-baked rice, it’s hard to go back, it’s just too darn easy.

Ingredients Needed

To make rice in the oven, you only need the basics:

• Rice (white or brown)
• Water or broth
• Salt
• Optional butter or oil

Best Dish to Use

Use a baking dish that you can cover tightly. If you’re using 1 cup of rice, an 8×8 baking dish is recommended.

Best options:

• Glass baking dish, like Pyrex.
• Ceramic casserole dish. I really like my 9×13 Ikea casserole dish (or an 8×8 for 1 cup).
• Dish with an oven-safe, tight-fitting lid or foil

Covering the rice tightly is key. This traps steam, allowing the rice to cook properly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not covering the dish tightly, you want the steam to cook the rice.
• Using the wrong liquid ratio.
• Not letting it rest long enough, don’t skip this part!
• Opening the foil too early and releasing steam.

The rice should be tender, fluffy, and all the liquid should be absorbed. If it looks wet, let it rest longer.

How to Cook White Rice in the Oven

This method works for long grain white rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice.

Oven Temperature

350°F

Rice to Water Ratio

• 1 cup white rice (I tested this using basmati rice)
• 2 cups water or broth
• ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Add the rice, water, and salt to a baking dish. Stir to combine.
3. Cover tightly with foil or a lid.
4. Bake for 35 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
6. Fluff with a fork and serve.

How to Cook Brown Rice in the Oven

Brown rice takes longer than white rice, but this oven method is just as hands-off and reliable.

• Use a little more liquid; for one cup of rice, use 2 1/2 cups of water or broth.
• Bake longer (about 60 minutes).
• Let it rest for double the time as white rice (10 minutes).

How to Cook Parboiled Rice in the Oven

Parboiled rice is also known as converted long grain rice.

Rice to water ratio

• 1 cup parboiled rice
• 2¼ cups water or broth
• ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Add the rice, water, and salt to a baking dish and stir.
2. Cover tightly with foil or a lid.
3. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
4. Let rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
5. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Why Parboiled Rice Is Great

• Less sticky than regular white rice
• Holds up well for meal prep
• Forgiving if slightly overcooked
• Great for casseroles

Ways to Use Oven Baked Rice

This rice works well in so many meals.

• Sheet pan dinners
• Casseroles
• Stuffed peppers
• Burrito bowls
• Stir fry (like this Turmeric Chicken Stir Fry)
• Meal prep bowls
• Soups and stews

It is a great base to have ready in the fridge for easy dinners.