15 Easy Ways to Season Brown Rice

Easy and delicious ways to season brown rice for a healthy meal on a budget!

Boring Brown Rice to the Rescue!

Before you go any further, I recommend doing yourself a favor and just getting this book.! Seriously, best book ever if you want to cook lots of rice and not hear your family complain about eating the same thing every night. You know, cause I totally don’t do that 😉

Brown rice is a staple around here. We eat it ALL. THE. TIME. It’s cheap, easy, healthy and the kids and hubby will scarf it down. I’m kind of a rice nerd, and know a lot about the best brands so if you aren’t sure what kind of brown rice to get, go check it out.

Brown rice creates a good base for a lot of meals. You can do all sorts of fancy things and make delicious recipes with it. But that’s not what this post is about. This post is about plain ol’ rice…

The Secret is in the Seasoning…

Usually when we have rice, it’s leftover from the day (or two) before. Because I always make extra. Usually, we are in a hurry, or just plain HANGRY (ok, I mean I am hangry. And don’t want to cook). And usually, it’s the only thing we can find to eat in the fridge. And usually, it sounds kind of boring and unappetizing.

But that’s where a little creativity comes into play.

Seasonings. One or two simple ingredients. And we are good to go. Below are some of our most common go-to’s, but you variations are endless, so get creative!

(Need more recipes for brown rice? Be sure to check out my recipe for Magic Chicken Soup with Rice!)

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15 Easy Ways to Season Brown Rice

• Add in Garlic salt – So easy and really bumps up the flavor.
• Add in a bouillon cube or granules when you cook the rice for extra flavor.
• Mix in some salsa and some cumin for a tex-mex taste.
• Add an egg and fry it for a healthier fried rice.
• Add butter and lots of pepper – our neighbors make this pepper rice and it is GOOD! My personal go-to!
• Mix some black beans or lentils with it
• Mix in some pico or just plain chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
• A Dash of Soy sauce (don’t use too much)
• a Dash of Tabasco sauce or Taco sauce mixed in is good. To go all out, also add a little butter and parmesan!
• Sprinkle with salt and Parmesan cheese. This is an odd combination but very good.
• Mix in some cheddar cheese for cheesy rice
• After it is cooked sprinkle with apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar for a slightly sweet taste.
• Add crumbled tofu and broccoli to make it a one pot meal.
• Mix in raisins, chopped nuts, cinnamon and little honey for a quick rice pudding that kids love!
• Mix in some cilantro and a splash of lime juice for a very fresh tasting rice.