Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice

Transform simple rice into a fragrant and flavorful side dish with this quick garlic butter rice. Each fluffy grain is infused with rich garlic and buttery notes, creating a comforting and satisfying accompaniment to any meal.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 20 min Total: 25 min Serves: 4

At a glance: This easy salads and sides recipe yields 4 servings in about 25 minutes (5 min prep, 20 min cook). It uses 7 ingredients — including uncooked long-grain white rice, water or low-sodium gluten-free vegetable broth, unsalted butter — and walks through 5 steps. Updated October 25, 2026. Browse more salads and sides recipes or return to all gluten-free recipes.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Shop links in the ingredient list are affiliate links and do not change the recipe.

Cross-Contamination Warning for Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice: When preparing this salads and sides recipe, start from plain long-grain rice rather than a seasoned rice mix, and if using broth, choose one labeled gluten-free. Melt the butter in a clean skillet.

Gluten-Free Notes for Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice: This recipe relies on naturally gluten-free rice and carefully selected ingredients. Ensure any broth used is gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination with gluten-containing grains.

Scale Recipe:

servings

Ingredient amounts update automatically

Ingredients

Shop links on this page are for uncooked long-grain white rice, water or low-sodium gluten-free vegetable broth. Buy the package that says gluten-free. A shared production line is the usual risk with these pantry items. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Confirm the product is labeled gluten-free before you buy.

2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice Shop
4 cups water or low-sodium gluten-free vegetable broth Shop
4 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)

Instructions

1 Rinse the uncooked long-grain white rice under cold water until the water runs clear, which helps remove excess starch for fluffier rice. In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice with 4 cups of water or gluten-free vegetable broth, and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
2 Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan tightly with a lid, and let it simmer for about 15-18 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Avoid lifting the lid during this time to ensure even cooking.
3 While the rice is simmering, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add the 4 minced garlic cloves to the melted butter and sauté for about 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter.
4 Once the rice has finished simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it stand, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. This steaming period allows the rice to become perfectly fluffy. Then, fluff the rice gently with a fork.
5 Pour the fragrant garlic butter mixture over the fluffed rice. Add the remaining 0.5 teaspoon of salt and 0.25 teaspoon of black pepper. Gently toss everything together until the rice is evenly coated with the garlic butter and seasonings. If desired, stir in the chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

304

Calories

12g

Protein

22g

Carbs

Fat

Fiber

268mg

Sodium

Tips & Notes

Cook the garlic gently over medium-low heat and pull the pan off as soon as it turns pale gold. It keeps cooking in the hot butter and turns bitter if browned.
Low-sodium broth, as listed, leaves room for the salt added in step 5. A full-salt broth can make the rice too salty.
For deeper garlic flavor, stir a spoonful of the garlic butter into the cooking water before the rice simmers and toss the rest in at the end.

Common questions

How long does Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice take?

Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice takes about 25 minutes: 5 minutes to prep and 20 minutes to cook, for 4 servings.

What should I check before making Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice with celiac disease?

Written with gluten-free ingredients. Use products labeled gluten-free, check labels, and ask your clinician about your own needs.

What cross-contamination risk is specific to Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice?

Check uncooked long-grain white rice, water or low-sodium gluten-free vegetable broth, unsalted butter before they go into Gluten-Free Garlic Butter Rice. Start from plain long-grain rice rather than a seasoned rice mix, and if using broth, choose one labeled gluten-free. Melt the butter in a clean skillet.

Learn More

Hidden Sources of Gluten You Never Knew Existed

Discover surprising foods and products that contain hidden gluten.

Share on X Save to Pinterest

Gluten Free Recipes team

Gluten-free recipe development since 2026

Recipes include certified gluten-free ingredient guidance and cross-contamination notes. Check every label and use certified gluten-free products. Learn more about us.

Recipes and images may be created with AI assistance. They pass automated checks, and the team reviews flagged items.