This Ranch Rice recipe is a super versatile side dish that will add gentle flavor to any dish you are serving. A great way to use a pantry staple!
Calling all ranch fanatics! This Ranch Rice is super easy to make and adds fun flavor to your meals. No more boring rice recipes!
So I might be a ranch convert. I never used to be a big fan (and I still don’t use it by itself on a salad,) but I’ve found new and exciting ways to use it.
Some of my favorite ways to use ranch (or ranch seasoning) are:
- Ranch Butter
- Ranch Kale Chips
- Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Ranch Pumpkin Seeds
- Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes
- Ranch Roast Potatoes
Which brings me to this simple ranch rice recipe. With our pantry stocked with rice and the need to stay in as much as possible, I needed to upgrade our usual plain rice recipe.
This rice is still really easy to prepare, but it’s super flavorful and delicious! You can make it on its own or as a bed for chicken, fish or meat. From what I’m told, ranch goes with anything, right?
Even though the flavors of ranch seasoning can be a little overwhelming when actually made into dressing, the spice mix alone is fairly tame. The right amount of flavor for a verstile rice so it can be paired with nearly any dinner recipe.
Before you get started making this easy ranch rice, here are a few tips for making perfect rice.
A couple of tips for perfect rice every time:
ONE. Rinse your rice in a colander before cooking. This removes all of the debris and surface starches, will prevent rice from getting mushy.
TWO. Soak your rice. Soaking it gives the grains a head start to absorbing water which makes it cook more evenly.
THREE. You might need to experiment with a brand of rice to get it just right. The package directions aren’t always correct. Also check your package against these instructions. If they vary greatly, go with the package to make your ranch rice perfect.
FOUR. Give your rice a quick stir to prevent clumping after adding to liquid, but do not continue to stir through the cooking process. stirring releases more starch and will leave you with mushy rice.
FIVE. Make sure you bring the rice and the liquid to a bowl. This ensures the water it hot enough to create the steam needed to make your ranch rice.
SIX. Don’t peek! I know it is hard not to peek, but opening the lid lets the steam, which is the key to cooking rice, to escape.
SEVEN. When you do check your rice at the end, press a grain between two of your fingers. It should be firm enough that the exterior holds together, but soft enough to mash with slight pressure.
EIGHT. Always fluff your rice with a fork. Stirring with a spoon naturally mashes it and makes it gummy.
NINE. Allow the ranch rice to sit, off heat, for at least 5 minutes after it is done. Just like meat, it needs to rest.
While I don’t use one, a rice cooker is also a great way to get fabulous rice. Any Asian chef will tell you that having will is as basic as having a stove. If you own an Instant Pot, it also has a rice cooker function.
Need more rice recipes?
20-Minute Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Spanish Rice
Fiesta Rice
Cheesy Bacon Rice
Wild Rice Pilaf
Ranch Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry medium grain rice
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine rice, dry ranch mix, butter and water. Heat over medium-high heat until it comes to a full boil.
- Place a cover on and reduce to low until just simmering.
- Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes.
- Remove cover and fluff with a fork.
- Turn off heat, returning the lid and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was!
I have made this rice with the hidden valley ranch and also added a packet of dry italian dressing to it and the flavor is incredible. My kids loved it and ask for it over and over again.
This is very tasty! I also used minute rice and chicken broth to cook the rice in. I also made pan seared ranch chicken to go with it…yum!
This came out perfect!! I used chicken broth instead of water, very tasty!
I used minute rice for a quick side dish with dinner. I doubled the rice and butter but not the ranch mix. I melted the butter and then mixed the ranch mix into on the side, then mixed in after the rice was cooked. I did have to add a little bit extra salt but it came out really good. I would make this again.
Thanks for the feedback! I’ve never tried it with minute rice, so that it good to know!
I used HV dry ranch. I first rinsed the rice, drained, then placed butter in pot and browned the rice. Rice won’t brown as much when its wet from rinsing. Add water & I also added a drop of lemon juice to cook the rice. It was good and springtime.
I made this tonight for our main dish (added browned ground beef, and used broth instead of water). Delicious!!!!
Yummy! Thanks for coming back to let us know!
So delicious! My granddaughter loves ranch. I thought i would try it and we both love it! It is a keeper and we make it often. Thank you so much!
So glad you loved it and thank YOU for coming back to let us know!
This is such a great recipe to do when you want something just a little different with your rice. It’s quick and easy too! Thanks for sharing!!
Thus rice was so great. My husband loved it
Thank you!
How would I make Zesty Ranch Rice with a rice cooker?
Hi Greg, I don’t own a rice cooker, so I can’t give accurate instructions, but I would suspect that you’d add the rice, liquid and seasonings to the rice cooker and cook it for as long as the instructions on your model say to for this amount of rice.
This was easy to make and delicious. I will say that the ranch flavor is very mild. The one cup of rice made enough to feed at least 5 adults maybe 6. Will definitely make this again.
Haven’t tried this yet, but will substitute water with chicken broth. I always have a shaker of ranch seasoning on hand! Sounds yummy.
I will probably serve it with my next beer can chicken
Sounds like a great idea!
This would go well with so many recipes! Wow I love this idea thank you!!
What a great idea to take boring white rice to the next level. This zesty ranch rice will make a great side to so many dishes.
I have seen a lot of rice flavors but this one is new to me! I love it! You can never go wrong with ranch AND I love how simple you made the recipe!
Why have I never had this before?! New favorite way to enjoy rice, thank you!
Have made this several times now in the instapot. I sub chicken broth for water using the 1-1 ratio for cooking rice In it. Comes out perfect every time. Winning recipe.
Awesome! Thank you so much for that feedback!
This is an amazingly simple and a really flavorful way to cook plain white rice.
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
This recipe pairs so well with so many things! Love it!