Lemon-Garlic Rice Pilaf with Fresh Herbs
Fluffy long-grain rice pilaf cooked with bright lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs for a fragrant side dish. This Mediterranean-inspired rice and grain recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs long-grain white rice, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh dill
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice under cold water until the water runs clear, then drain.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Add the drained rice to the saucepan and stir continuously for 2 minutes to coat the grains with oil and toast slightly.
- Step 4: Pour in 3 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Step 5: Remove from heat and let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in 1 tbsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill before serving.









