Greek rice is actually very simple to make and with my quick and Easy Greek Rice (with lemon) recipe, it's even simpler! This easy recipe is a shortcut recipe made with instant rice, quick, microwaved onions, and fresh herbs! It's one of my go-to side dishes or rice pilaf for any meal.
I learned to make this Lemon Greek Rice back when I worked in Greek restaurants many years ago. Fresh lemon and fresh herbs are key to spectacular Greek-style rice. Greek Rice is ideal for any time of the year, a great side dish, and pairs perfectly with my Greek Ribs (grilled) and Greek Chicken Souvlaki recipes!
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For this Greek rice recipe, you only need a handful of simple ingredients:
- Garlic. I usually use minced garlic from a jar because it's quick and easy!
- Rice. The easiest way to make this recipe is with instant rice. * I use Minute Rice
- Lemon juice. I use lemon juice from concentrate.
- Fresh parsley and fresh dill. Using fresh herbs in this recipe makes a HUGE difference. You will want to use both the fresh parsley and fresh dill.
- Fresh lemons. The fresh lemon slices on top (garnish) are critical;!
*see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Rice - you could use instant brown rice instead of white rice or a different type of rice *(but you will have to adjust the amount of liquid you are using according to the package directions on the type of rice you are using)
- Lemon juice - you could use fresh lemon juice instead of lemon juice from concentrate, but you'll need to double the amount and remove the same amount of water from the recipe
- Vegetarian - you could use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and make it into a vegetarian dish
- Garlic - you can use fresh garlic or minced garlic from a jar
- Add-ins - feta cheese or spinach
🔪How to Make Greek Rice
Cook onion and garlic in the microwave with water on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds- 4 minutes until soft (depending on the wattage of your microwave)
Alternatively, you could sautée the onions and garlic in a teaspoon of olive oil, in a skillet, on the stovetop.
Add the rice, broth, lemon juice, cooked garlic, and onion to the pot.
On the stovetop, bring rice to a boil in liquid (without a lid) stirring at regular intervals. Then cover with a lid, and turn down to a simmer (3-4) for 5 additional minutes.
Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for another 5 minutes. The liquid should be fully absorbed.
Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh Herbs for the Best Flavor. Fresh parsley and dill are key to achieving authentic Greek flavor. If you must use dried herbs, use ½ of the fresh amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated.
- Use Fresh Lemon Zest for More Citrus Punch. While lemon juice gives the rice its signature tang, adding lemon zest boosts the fresh citrus flavor without making it overly acidic.
- Let the Rice Rest Before Fluffing. After cooking, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. This allows the grains to fully absorb the moisture, resulting in light, fluffy rice.
- Enhance Flavor with a Bay Leaf. For added depth, toss a bay leaf into the rice while it cooks. Remove before serving. This is a common trick in Mediterranean cooking!
- Make It Creamier. For a slightly creamier texture, stir in a tablespoon of butter or a drizzle of olive oil after cooking.
- Turn It Into a One-Pan Meal. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to the rice for a complete, protein-packed dish.
🥗 Main Dishes to serve with Greek Rice
You could serve this Classic Greek lemon rice with many dishes, but it pairs best with Greek Ribs (grilled(shown below), Maple Cider Grilled Chicken Kabobs (as a Greek rice pilaf), Easy Cornish Hens with Rosemary Wine Sauce, or Greek Chicken Souvlaki (as a Greek lemon rice pilaf).
And if you're looking for something light, try it with my Greek Chicken Burger recipe!
🌡️Storage
Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can freeze this rice for up to 3 months, but don't put the garnish on until serving.
👪 Serving Size
This recipe makes 8 servings. However, you can half, double or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
Recipe FAQ's
While fresh parsley and dill give the best flavor, you can substitute dried herbs if needed. Use 1 teaspoon of dried dill and 2 teaspoons of dried parsley in place of fresh.
If your rice is too dry, stir in a little extra broth or lemon juice and let it steam with the lid on. If it’s too wet, let it sit uncovered for a few minutes so some of the excess moisture can evaporate.
Definitely! You can stir in cooked chicken, shrimp, or even chickpeas to make it a more filling meal.
You will be surprised at how this quick and easy recipe produces such fluffy rice. If you love Greek food and are looking for an easy side dish, you'll love this recipe!
📋More Greek Recipes
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📋Easy Greek Rice (with lemon) Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced * I use from jar
- 1 ½ tablespoons water
- 4 cups instant white rice * I use Minute Rice
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup lemon juice (from concentrate)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
Garnish:
- lemon wedges or lemon zest
- additional fresh herbs
Instructions
- Cook onion and garlic in microwave with water on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds- 4 minutes until soft (depending on the wattage of your microwave)
- Add the rice, broth, lemon juice, and cooked garlic and onion to pot.
- On stovetop, bring rice to a boil in liquid (without lid) stirring at regular intervals. Then cover with lid , turn down to a simmer (3-4 on control) for 5 additional minutes.
- Remove from heat, keep the lid on, and let it sit for another 5 minutes. The liquid should be fully absorbed when it's ready.
- Uncover the saucepan and stir in the parsley and dill.
Garnish
- Garnish with additional herbs and lemon slices (optional) and serve.
Notes
-
- Use Fresh Herbs for the Best Flavor. Fresh parsley and dill are key to achieving authentic Greek flavor. If you must use dried herbs, use ½ of the fresh amount, as dried herbs are more concentrated.
-
- Use Fresh Lemon Zest for More Citrus Punch. While lemon juice gives the rice its signature tang, adding lemon zest boosts the fresh citrus flavor without making it overly acidic.
-
- Let the Rice Rest Before Fluffing. After cooking, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes. This allows the grains to fully absorb the moisture, resulting in light, fluffy rice.
-
- Enhance Flavor with a Bay Leaf. For added depth, toss a bay leaf into the rice while it cooks. Remove before serving. This is a common trick in Mediterranean cooking!
-
- Make It Creamier. For a slightly creamier texture, stir in a tablespoon of butter or a drizzle of olive oil after cooking.
-
- Turn It Into a One-Pan Meal. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to the rice for a complete, protein-packed dish.
Terri Gilson
I've been making this Greek rice ever since I picked up the recipe working in Greek restaurants years ago. It's become one of my favorite side dishes - so quick and easy with the instant rice, but still packed with flavor from the fresh lemon and herbs. I love serving it with grilled meats, especially my Greek ribs or souvlaki.