This fried garlic butter rice is loaded with golden garlic chips, buttery grains, and fresh green onion in a rich chicken broth base.
The crisp garlic on top is the star, adding crunch and deep flavor. It takes thirty five minutes and turns plain rice into a side that disappears fast.
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Why This Fried Garlic Butter Rice Recipe Works
Slicing the garlic thin and frying it gently in butter gives a sweet, toasty flavor and crisp chips for topping. Cooking the rice in the same flavored fat carries that garlic through every grain.
Chicken broth replaces water for savory richness, and a spoon of butter stirred in at the end adds a creamy finish. Green onions brighten the dish with a fresh, mild bite.
Each element can be prepared ahead, so the dish is simple to finish while the main course rests.
Ingredients for Fried Garlic Butter Rice
- Rice base: one cup of long grain white rice, two cups of chicken broth, two tablespoons of butter, and four cloves of garlic, minced and sliced.
- Finish: two tablespoons of crispy fried garlic, two sliced green onions, and one more tablespoon of butter added at the end.
Rice. Long grain white rice cooks up light and separate. Rinse it first.
Butter. Adds rich flavor and helps toast the grains.
Garlic. Both minced and thinly sliced garlic give layers of flavor.
Fried garlic. Golden chips add crunch. Fry them slowly so they do not burn.
Green onions. Add fresh color and a mild, peppery bite.
How to Make Fried Garlic Butter Rice
1. Fry the garlic. Slice two cloves very thin and fry them in two tablespoons of butter over medium low heat for four minutes until golden, then remove them with a slotted spoon.
2. Cook the rice. Stir the rinsed rice and the minced garlic in the flavored butter for two minutes.
3. Add the broth. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil.
4. Simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for eighteen minutes.
5. Rest. Rest covered for five minutes, then stir in the extra butter.
6. Top. Top with the fried garlic and green onions and serve hot.
How to Serve Fried Garlic Butter Rice
Serve the rice hot beside sheet pan garlic butter salmon, steak with creamy garlic sauce, or air fryer steak. A simple side of olive oil green beans adds a fresh green plate partner. You might also enjoy garlic butter cheeseburger rollups. You might also enjoy buttery garlic rice.
How to Store and Reheat Fried Garlic Butter Rice
Cool the rice quickly and refrigerate it within one hour of cooking in an airtight container for up to four days. Cooked rice can carry bacteria if left at room temperature, so do not leave it out on the counter. Reheat it with a splash of water in a covered skillet or the microwave until it is steaming hot all the way through. Freeze portions in flat bags for up to two months and thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Spreading the rice on a tray before packing helps it cool faster and keeps the grains from clumping. Keep the fried garlic in a separate container so it stays crisp. For extra depth, stir a spoon of soy sauce or a pinch of white pepper into the broth, and use a rice cooker if you prefer a hands off method. The fried garlic oil left in the pan is full of flavor, so spoon a little over the finished rice instead of throwing it away. Serve it warm.
Tips and Variations for Fried Garlic Butter Rice
Flag the allergens. The rice contains milk from the butter. Check the broth label for allergens such as celery and soy.
Fry garlic gently. Garlic burns fast and turns bitter, so keep the heat at medium low and watch closely.
Season smartly. Add the salt in small amounts, then adjust the salt to taste once everything is combined.
Rinse the rice. Rinsing removes extra starch for separate grains.
Cool rice quickly. Refrigerate leftover rice within one hour and reheat until steaming hot.
Keep chips crisp. Store the fried garlic separately and add it just before serving.
Try a swap. Use olive oil for part of the butter, or add a soft cooked egg on top for a full meal.
Check trusted guidance. For food safety basics, including safe handling and storage, read the FDA safe food handling guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fried Garlic Butter Rice
How do I make fried garlic butter rice with crisp garlic?
Slice the garlic thin, fry it gently in butter until golden, and add it right before serving.
Can I make fried garlic butter rice ahead of time?
Yes. Cook the rice ahead and reheat it, and fry the garlic fresh for the topping.
Can I freeze fried garlic butter rice?
Yes, for up to two months, but keep the fried garlic separate.
Can I use jasmine rice?
Yes. Jasmine adds fragrance and cooks the same way.
Can I use vegetable broth?
Yes. The flavor will be lighter but still good.
Fried Garlic Butter Rice
Equipment
- Medium saucepan with lid
- Small skillet
- Slotted spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice rinsed
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic minced and sliced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp crispy fried garlic for topping
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter stirred in at the end
Instructions
- Fry. Fry 4 cloves sliced garlic in 2 tablespoons butter until golden and set aside.
- Toast. Stir 1 cup rice in the butter for 2 minutes.
- Simmer. Add 2 cups broth, cover, and cook on low for 18 minutes.
- Rest. Rest for 5 minutes and stir in 1 tablespoon butter.
- Top. Top with 2 tablespoons fried garlic and 2 green onions.
