Lemon Rice is the perfect side dish for chicken, fish, or meat and it is so easy to make! This lemony yellow rice is delicious, made on the stovetop, and only requires 5 ingredients.
If you’re looking for an easy side dish that will brighten up your dinner, this is the one. Lemon Rice is an elevated classic and it will soon become one of your favorites.
You are going to love the bright and fresh flavor that lemon brings to a simple stovetop boiled rice. If you can boil water, you can make this simple side dish. All you need to do is throw the ingredients in a pot and set a timer.
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Rice: White, long-grain rice is my go-to. Basmati, Jasmine, or just plain rice all work well.
- Stock: I usually use Vegetable Stock to make this rice. I make this homemade vegetable stock often and usually have some ready in the freezer. You can use chicken stock as well.
- Butter or Oil: You can choose which you use. If you use butter, I suggest using unsalted so that your final dish is seasoned perfectly.
- Lemon juice, ground turmeric, and salt: These three simple items season the rice. The addition of turmeric adds a slight bit of warmth and creates the beautiful yellow color of this lemon rice.
How to Make Lemon Rice
- Wash/Rinse the Rice: Add the rice to a bowl, cover with water, and let it soak for 15 minutes. In a colander, rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear.
- Cook Rice: Add the rice to a saucepan, cover with vegetable stock, and add butter, and lemon juice. Season with salt and turmeric. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. No peeking!
- Fluff and Serve: Remove the rice from the heat after 15 minutes, remove the lid, and fluff with a fork. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Tip!
Use freshly squeezed lemon juice in this recipe for the best flavor.
What to Serve with Lemon Rice
With Grilled Meats or Vegetables: The bright flavor of lemony rice pairs well with grilled foods like Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Steak, or Grilled Veggie Kabobs.
With Seafood: Lemon and seafood are so good together. Try this rice with Pan Fried Tilapia, Air Fryer Fish, Baked Shrimp, Baked Tilapia, or Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Salmon. Don’t forget to make this Creamy Salmon Sauce to go with it.
With Chicken: Jazz up any simple chicken dinner with a side of lemony rice. Garlic Herb Butter Roast Chicken is the best roast chicken you’ll ever make. I love this Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks recipe for a fast and delicious dinner.
More Easy and Delicious Rice Dishes
Turmeric Rice is similar to lemon rice but with more turmeric flavor.
You might also like this Greek Rice with lemon and herbs.
Keep going with different rice side dishes like Mushroom Rice, Cumin Rice, Vermicelli Rice, and Cilantro Lime Rice. There are many amazing rice dishes to try!
FAQs
The key to rice that has separated grains is to soak and then rinse the rice very well in cold water before cooking. Rinsing makes a huge difference in the texture of cooked rice.
The recipe for Lemon rice will work with any long-grain white rice. I often choose Basmati rice because I enjoy the flavor it brings. Regular white long-grain rice will be fine too.
This recipe is designed to work with white rice. Since the cooking time and liquid amounts for brown rice is different, I don’t suggest using it here.
More Rice Recipes To Try:
Enjoy lemon rice with dinner tonight, or Pin the recipe so you can make it later.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice I used basmati, rinsed well
- 1 ⅓ cups vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric
Instructions
- Add the rice to a bowl, cover with water and let it soak for 15 minutes. In a colander rinse the rice under running water until it runs clear.
- Add the rice to a saucepan, cover with vegetable stock, add butter, lemon juice, season with salt and turmeric. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to the lowest setting possible, cover and cook for 15 minutes. No peeking!
- Remove from heat, remove the lid, and fluff with a fork. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Notes:
- The key to rice that has separated grains is to soak and then rinse the rice very well in cold water before cooking. Rinsing makes a huge difference in the texture of cooked rice.
- The recipe for Lemon rice will work with any long-grain white rice. I often choose Basmati rice because I enjoy the flavor it brings. Regular white long-grain rice will be fine too.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Susann Codish says
Am making this right now for Rosh Hashanah dinner tonight (the start of the new Jewish year). I hope to report back but wanted to say that I think it’s going to be a lovely complement to the sweet cherry sauce I’m making for a roasted duck.
Diana says
I’m happy to hear that you’re trying the lemon rice recipe for such a special occasion! The combination with a cherry sauce and roasted duck sounds absolutely wonderful. I hope it adds a bright and citrusy note to your festive meal.
Elizabeth Ann Birt says
I have been looking for this recipe for years! A rice dish with simple, already on-hand ingredients that tastes good, really good. This is that recipe. Thank you and thank you.
Diana says
You are very welcome! So glad you liked the recipe!