I’m just super pumped about this brown rice that you can make in the oven! I had to share. I love brown rice and eat it all the time. The problem with cooking it on the stove is that sometimes it doesn’t turn out great…certain kernels are crunchy and others are mushy. I found a way to make it in the oven that turns out perfect every time!
I love podcasts and listen to them all the time. One that is on my play list is America’s Test Kitchen. The other day as I was listening, Bridget talked about the way that she makes brown rice in the oven. I was intrigued and tried it that day. It turned out perfect. I’ve made it this way ever since. I love that you can just stick it in the oven and not worry about it. It does take an hour but it takes 45 minutes on the stove so it’s not that much longer than usual.
You can make plain brown rice with this method or you can make something a little more interesting. I decided to use the same ratios that they mentioned in the podcast but to add some ingredients to make it an interesting side dish to serve with chicken. I decided on parmesan cheese, diced mushrooms and some garlic. I loved the results. Perfectly cooked rice that had loads of flavor. I love this method and I am going to use it from now on.
Basically you’ll heat up some water. I use the microwave for this but you can also use a pot on the stove. Then you’ll pour the water and rice together into an 8 inch square baking dish and add in a few other ingredients and then you’ll cover it tightly with foil and bake.
It’s pretty much just as easy as that! Really the seasoning and flavoring options for this rice are endless. The other day I made a rice dish this way with green chiles and served it with our Cafe Rio Chicken Salad. I’ll have to post the green chile rice recipe soon.
Some ideas to serve with Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Brown Rice:
- Slow Cooker Tarragon Chicken
- Lemon Chicken Scallopini
- Slow Cooker Chicken Gloria
- Easy Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce from Foodie Crush
- Skillet Chicken and Veggies with Creamy Light Garlic Sauce from Sally’s Baking Addiction
- Garlic Chicken with White Wine Sauce from Simply Recipes
- Easy Recipe for Baked Pesto Chicken from Kalyn’s Kitchen
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How to Make Brown Rice in the Oven
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups of rice 1x
Ingredients
- 2 1/3 cups water
- 1 cup brown rice (medium or long grain)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375° F. Heat the water in the microwave (or on the stove) until almost boiling. I put mine in the microwave for 2 minutes.
- Pour the water and rice into an 8-inch square baking dish (I use a glass dish like this). Add in the olive oil and salt.
- Tightly cover the dish with foil. Bake for one hour. Remove the foil. If the rice still has liquid in it you can cook without the foil for a few more minutes (like 3-5 minutes).

Mushroom, Garlic & Parmesan Brown Rice
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups of rice 1x
Ingredients
- 2 1/3 cups water
- 1 cup brown rice (medium or long grain)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, divided
- 3 white mushrooms, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 375° F. Heat the water in the microwave (or on the stove) until almost boiling. I put mine in the microwave for 2 minutes.
- Pour the water and rice into an 8-inch square baking dish (I use a glass dish like this). Add in the salt, olive oil, half of the Parmesan cheese, the chopped mushrooms and minced garlic. Give a little stir. Sprinkle the dish with the remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Tightly cover the dish with foil. Bake for one hour. Remove the foil. If the rice still has liquid in it you can cook without the foil for a few more minutes (like 3-5 minutes).
Just for fun, here is a picture of the plain brown rice I snapped with my phone…
Sounds good! Cooking brown rice on the stove requires constant awareness that unless it is stirred frequently it might burn. Will try the recipe – and also the one with Parmesan cheese. Thank you
I hope you love this method!
Hi Karen, You mention medium and long grain brown rice. I’m familiar with long grain brown rice and short grain brown rice, but not medium brown rice. Can short brown rice be used?
Thanks.
Yes I think that would be just fine. You may have to cook a little longer.
Great idea to make it in the oven, Karen. Mushrooms, garlic & parmesan are delicious additions!
I cannot wait to try making rice in the oven; my stove top is usually quite full, and this is a great way to help