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Home » Recipes » Rice

Easy Oven Baked Rice Pilaf Recipe (Risotto Rice)

Published: Jun 6, 2019 · Modified: Jul 29, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Recipe Jump to Video
oven baked rice pin
oven baked rice pin
This baked rice recipe is the perfect side dish for a dinner party. It can be combined with almost anything and it is quickly cooked in the oven in 20 minutes. You can enjoy your guests while a delicious dinner is cooking.

This oven-baked rice pilaf recipe is made with risotto instead of Basmati rice. The uncooked rice is sauteed with onion and butter, then baked in the oven with chicken broth instead of boiling water. This amazing recipe is an easy version of risotto, made with the same ingredients but a different cooking process. Its mild flavor and versatility make this rice recipe a quick side dish for dinner parties. It is quickly cooked in the oven for only 20 minutes and can be combined with almost any main dish to make a complete meal.

Oven Baked Rice Pilaf served with daube provencal
Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • How to serve it
  • Why it is a perfect side dish
  • Top tips
  • Difference between pilaf and risotto
  • Recipes you might also like
  • 📋Easy Oven Baked Rice Pilaf Recipe (4 Ingredients)

Rice is a very versatile ingredient, it can be made in many different ways, and it goes with everything, vegetables, meat, or seafood.

It is a perfect option for dinner parties, especially if you have celiac guests.

Everyone loves risotto, but it has to be stirred while cooking, so it is not practical for dinner parties as you don't want to be in the kitchen while your guests have arrived.

I have seen and heard so many non-stirring risotto options, like instant pot or pressure cooker, but they are not the same.

As you add the stock at once, it is practically boiled rice in stock.

Alternatively, I prefer to make this foolproof method and bake this risotto rice in the oven.

This easy baked rice recipe is made with risotto rice like Carnaroli or Aborio and uses the same ingredients onion, butter and chicken broth.

Follow the instructions strictly, including ingredients quantity, oven temperature, and baking time, and you will get perfect rice each time.

Although do not expect the same creamy risotto as the rice is baked in the oven, its grains remain firm with some texture.

For more easy side dishes to make at dinner parties, you can read: Gratin Dauphinoise Recipe, Yorkshire Pudding, Light and Fluffy Italian Homemade Gnocchi, Gnocchi alla Romana or Fried polenta

Baked rice pilaf served on a plate

Ingredients

  • Carnaroli or Aborio rice: the type of rice is very important, do not substitute with long grain rice. It has a different cooking time and will absorb less water. Alternatively, you can use Spanish rice for paella
  • homemade chicken stock: you can substitute with brown beef stock for extra flavor or vegetable stock for vegetarian version
  • butter: you can substitute with olive oil, but the butter gives this dish a special flavor
  • Diced onion
  • freshly grated Parmesan is optional for serving

Hint: it is essential to keep the same ratio of rice vs stock to make sure that the end result is not too watery or too dry

ingredients for baked risotto rice pilaf

Instructions

  1. Stir fry the onion with the butter at very low heat; the onion should not burn.
  2. Once the onion becomes translucent, add the rice and increase the heat.
  3. The rice has to be toasted in butter to seal the grains. It will turn golden brown
  4. Place it into a covered larger baking dish or ceramic dish and add the warm stock
  5. Cook it covered in a hot oven at 430 F - 220 C for 20 minutes.
  6. Serve immediately by sprinkling fresh parsley and/or Parmesan cheese

Hint: the ratio of rice vs stock, baking temperature, and cook time is gauged for risotto rice. If you are using Basmati rice or wild rice the cooking time may change and you may have to reduce or increase the amount of stock a different kind of rice will absorb a different amount of liquid when cooking.

Step by step baking rice in the oven

How to serve it

As I mentioned before, this baked rice can be served with almost anything.

If you serve it with the main dish with a nice sauce, the rice will give a nice texture without overpowering it with flavor.

For example, it will go very well with the orange sauce of the Magret de Canard a l'Orange , Italian chicken with peppers or the creamy chicken marsala.

Also a good companion to lamb ragu, fish pie or baked swordfish.

When I made this video I served it with Daube Provencal

For a vegetarian version, you can use vegetable stock and serve it with a rich vegetable stew like Italian baked ratatouille or giambotta.

Daube provencal served on a plate with baked rice

Why it is a perfect side dish

The uncooked rice is first toasted in butter with onion. Once the grains are toasted and sealed, they are cooked in the oven at a very high temperature and immersed in stock.

Because the grans are sealed, the rice doesn't absorb all the stock immediately so the grains will remain nicely firm.

You will have nice fluffy rice to combine with juicy main dishes like stews or casseroles.

If you want to make it creamier, mantecato, you can add some parmesan at the end.

baked rice out of the oven

Top tips

  • For this baked pilaf, I use Carnaroli or Arborio rice for risotto. You cannot use other types of rice as the cooking times will be different.
  • Toast the rice in butter until it becomes slightly brownish
  • You can toast the rice ahead of time and bake it just before serving it
  • Use the exact quantities of rice vs. stock, baking time, and temperature; it will be perfect each time
  • Use a baking dish with a tight fitting lid; otherwise, you can cover the baking pan with aluminum foil
  • Store the leftover rice in a airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge
baked rice before cooking it

Difference between pilaf and risotto

The difference between pilaf and risotto is in the cooking technique.

Pilaf, also known as "pilau" or "pulao", is a dish that originated in the Middle East and Central Asia. It is made by sautéing long-grain rice with various spices and often adding vegetables, meats or dried fruits before cooking it in broth or water. The rice is typically cooked until all the liquid is absorbed and the grains are fluffy and separate.

On the other hand, risotto is an Italian dish that originated in the northern region of Lombardy. It is made by toasting short-grain rice in butter or oil and then adding hot broth while stirring. This method creates a creamy texture and releases starch from the rice, giving it a rich and velvety consistency. Risotto is often finished with parmesan cheese, butter, and other ingredients such as mushrooms, seafood or vegetables.

This recipe is short grain rice cooked with the pilaf technique

oven baked risotto rice pilaf

Recipes you might also like

For more rice recipes, check out the category: Rice

Also check the recipes below:

  • Easy Italian Rice Salad Recipe To Serve Cold
    Easy Italian Rice Salad Recipe To Serve Cold
  • Perfect carnaroli risotto
    The Perfect Carnaroli Risotto Recipe
  • Lemon shrimp risotto
    Traditional Lemon Shrimp Risotto
  • Fried rice balls
    Fried Risotto Balls From Calabria

If you are making this Oven Baked Rice Pilaf Recipe, leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, or sign up to my newsletter.

Baked rice pilaf served on a plate

📋Easy Oven Baked Rice Pilaf Recipe (4 Ingredients)

It is the perfect side dish to substitute risotto at a dinner party. Suitable for gluten free and vegetarian diets.
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
⏲️Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Print Rate SaveSaved!
Author: Laura Tobin

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ½ cup Carnaroli rice Riso Gallo
  • 2 cup homemade stock
  • ⅓ cup butter
  • 1 onion diced
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan
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Equipment

  • Measuring mugs
  • Glass Casserole Dish with lid 3 quart
  • Shallow Dutch Oven, 2.75 quart
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Instructions

  • Stir fry the onion with the butter at very low heat, the onion should not burn.
    ⅓ cup butter, 1 onion diced
  • Once the onion becomes translucent, add the rice and increase the heat. The rice has to toast in the butter so that the grains are sealed.
    1 ½ cup Carnaroli rice
  • Place it into a covered Pyrex or ceramic dish and add stock
  • Cook it covered in a hot oven at 430 F - 220 C for 20 minutes.
    2 cup homemade stock
  • When ready add the Parmesan, the rest of the butter and stir
    ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan

Video

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Notes

  • For this baked pilaf, I use Carnaroli or Arborio rice for risotto. You cannot use other types of rice as the cooking times will be different.
  • Toast the rice in butter until it becomes slightly brownish
  • You can toast the rice ahead of time and bake it just before serving it
  • Use the exact quantities of rice vs. stock, baking time, and temperature; it will be perfect each time
  • Use a baking dish with a tight fitting lid; otherwise, you can cover the baking pan with aluminum foil
  • Store the leftover rice in a airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 494kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 435mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 3.6mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sally

      June 07, 2019 at 1:39 am

      5 stars
      I love a good rice pilaf, but I have not yet made it at home. This looks like just the simple recipe to get me started. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 07, 2019 at 11:26 am

        Yes, it is very simple

        Reply
    2. Sara Welch

      June 07, 2019 at 2:22 am

      5 stars
      This will be perfect to serve at my nieces graduation party this weekend! Looks amazing; looking forward to giving this a try!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 07, 2019 at 11:26 am

        thanks, good idea for a graduation party

        Reply
    3. Caitlyn Erhardt

      June 07, 2019 at 2:45 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Such a perfect and delicious side dish for a variety of meals!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 07, 2019 at 11:25 am

        Thanks, yes it goes with almost everything

        Reply
    4. Anita @ Daily Cooking Quest

      June 07, 2019 at 4:05 am

      5 stars
      I never knew it is this easy to make pilaf at home, this will be perfect for my coming pot luck. 🙂

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 07, 2019 at 11:24 am

        Oh yes, very easy

        Reply
    5. Veena Azmanov

      June 07, 2019 at 4:38 am

      5 stars
      I am a lover of cheese and this combination to making such an amazing dish is yum. This baked rice looks amazing and delicious.

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 07, 2019 at 11:24 am

        thank you, Parmesan cheese makes it creamier

        Reply

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    Laura Giunta Tobin

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