French Onion Butter Rice (Printable)
Buttery rice with caramelized onions and herbs for a rich, comforting side dish.
# What You Need:
→ Rice & Broth
01 - 1 cup long-grain white rice (Basmati or Jasmine)
02 - 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
→ Onions & Aromatics
03 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 bay leaf
→ Seasoning & Garnish
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
12 - 1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese (optional)
# How-To:
01 - Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add sliced onions with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, for 18–20 minutes until deeply golden and caramelized.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add rice to the pan and toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly until grains are well coated and slightly translucent.
04 - Pour in vegetable broth and add bay leaf, remaining 1 tablespoon butter, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
05 - Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf and fluff rice with a fork. Let stand covered for 5 minutes. Stir in fresh parsley and top with Gruyère cheese if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Caramelized onions transform plain rice into something luxurious
- The butter and herbs make every bite feel restaurant worthy
02 -
- Rushing the onion caramelization is the biggest mistake you can make
- Letting the rice rest covered after cooking makes it perfectly fluffy
03 -
- Patience with the onions pays off in flavor
- Resist lifting the lid while the rice simmers