This recipe was a happy accident and I might never make rice another way ever again! Crispy Rice is cooked rice, toss with caramelized onions and dotted with butter that's then baked to perfection. It is actual perfection and the perfect thing to serve alongside some Shawarma Salmon or Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp along with some Cucumber Salad!
Table of Contents
After making a batch of rice and using the wrong amount of water one day, I wound up with way too much sticky rice. Rather than scrap the entire thing, I threw it into a skillet with some caramelized onions and zucchini and butter and tossed it into the oven to crisp up a bit. The result was perfectly flavorful Crispy Rice. It had a crispy bottom and I gave it a healthy dose of feta on top for a salty finish. You'll be utterly obsessed.
The recipe below calls for cooking rice according to the package directions and that's exactly what you should do. BUT... if you do happen to add a little too much water by chance, just know you'll still be golden and this is how to remedy the problem.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- White Rice – I’ve done it with jasmine and it’s amazing! You could also use sushi rice.
- Unsalted Butter – You could substitute the butter for olive oil.
- Yellow Onion – A sweet onion would also work well.
- Zucchini – Feel free to swap this for any other vegetables, red onion, carrots, or mushrooms would be delicious, just be sure to finely dice them.
- Feta Cheese – If you want to omit the feta cheese that's totally fine.
- Salt & Pepper – Goes without saying.
How to Make Crispy Rice
Step 1: In a medium braiser or skillet, melt 2 tablespoon butter. Add the onion and sauté until golden.
Step 2: Add the zucchini to the onion and sauté until soft. Then remove to a large bowl.
Step 3: Season with salt, pepper, feta and then toss in the cooked white rice.
Step 4: In the same skillet, melt ½ of the stick of butter over medium heat.
Step 5: Once melted, add the rice mixture to the skillet and carefully press down. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400º F.
Step 6: Remove and dot the top with the remaining butter. Transfer back into the oven and continue to cook for about 15 minutes more.
Step 6: Once the underside of the rice is crispy, remove from the oven and either invert to serve, or serve straight out of the skillet or braiser.
Tips & Tricks
- Use a heavy bottom cast iron skillet to ensure the rice crisps up.
FAQs
How is crispy rice made?
To make crispy rice melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Then add the rice mixture to the skillet and carefully press down. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove and dot the top with a few teaspoons of butter. Transfer back into the oven and continue to cook for about 15 minutes more until the underside of the rice is crispy.
What is the best rice to use?
I’ve done it with jasmine and it’s amazing! You could also use sushi rice.
Similar Recipes
- Grab the entire Salmon Shawarma inspired dinner menu here
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Crispy Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ - 2 cups white rice cooked according to the package directions
- 1 stick unsalted butter plus 2 tablespoons
- 1 yellow onion finely diced
- 1 zucchini finely diced or shredded
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a medium braiser or skillet, melt the butter. Add the onion and saute until golden. Add the zucchini and saute until soft. Remove to a bowl and season with salt, pepper, feta and then toss in the cooked white rice. Toss to combine.
- In the same skillet, melt ½ of the stick of butter over medium heat. Once melted, Add the rice mixture to the skillet and carefully press down. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove and dot the top with the remaining butter. Transfer back into the oven and continue to cook for about 15 minutes more until the underside of the rice is crispy. Remove from the oven and either invert to serve, or serve straight out of the skillet or braiser.
Notes
- If you don't have feta feel free to omit it
Nutrition Information
Skillet is from here for those who are curious!
Great recipe. Very easy. I substituted a Turkish spice blend instead of salt and pepper. Absolutely delicious and my family says it’s a keeper.
Please explain the butter? How much do I add, when? Looking forward to making... Love your recipes!
its in the recipe card!! xx
WOWZA! after making this it quickly became one of my go tos! Perfect side to compliment a variety of different dishes.
Love this recipe, easy to make. I used chopped onion, celery and carrots.
Please clarify step 2. I added all the butter from the ingredients as it didn’t indicate how much. I later realized I should have saved some so my recipe won’t turn out.
The best dang recipe on planet earth. This rice is requested weekly by my fiancé. If I make regular rice he is disappointed. I will say the first few times I made it, I accidentally doubled the butter, and it was incredible that way too, but a little too decadent??? If that’s possible. Be careful with the first instruction of melting the butter, it’s melting half the stick (I believe) other than that, no notes.
Do you cover the rice in the oven? Or leave the top off? Thanks!
cover!
What cheese can be substituted for feta?
you can omit it entirely if you want or use a cotija!
I add finely chopped broccoli and kale to bump up the veggies, my whole family loves it every time!
When you sauté the onions, what is the amount of butter you are melting - the 2 tablespoons? Then do you use the 1/2 stick of butter in step 3? Thanks!
Super delicious. Didn’t have time to make it crunchy but was still excellent.
What is the best rice to use? Can we use jasmine rice?
yes - I've done it with jasmine and it's amazing
Is the 1 1/2 - 2 cups rice before or after cooking! SO EXCITED TO MAKE THIS MEAL!
DRY RICE - cooked according to the package directions - so you'll have 3+ cups to cook with
Sounds delish!!