Cooking Rice With Chicken Broth Is The Best Rice Hack

Cooking rice with chicken broth is one of the simplest ways to make your favorite quick and easy recipes more interesting. I’ve made a lot of rice over the years using various recipes and cooking methods, and the tips and tricks in this post are some of the best advice I’ve come across about how to make white rice taste better.

A side-by-side image of a lady's hand pouring chicken stock into a pot of rice placed on a countertop. In the other side's image, the lady's hand is holding a cooking spoon filled with rice from the pot of cooked rice broth.

It’s part rice hack, part recipe — a “rice hack recipe,” if you will. I like the ease and consistency of doing it in my Instant Pot, so that’s the version you’ll see first, but I’ve also provided instructions for those who want to make it on their stovetop.

A bowl of cooked broth rice placed on top of a table mat with a fork.

The Secret To How To Make The Best Rice

Steamed rice and boiled rice taste pretty neutral, and cooking rice in broth instead of water is an easy way to amp up the flavor. The savory flavors and aromas of the stock get infused into the rice, and all it takes is swapping out your cooking liquid!

I’ll be featuring a chicken-flavored rice recipe below, but you could just as easily use vegetable broth, beef broth, or any other kind of broth you like. Vegetable broth rice would make a delicious addition to a Meatless Monday stir-fry!

You don’t even have to keep broth or stock on hand to use this rice hack. Add bouillon cubes or Better Than Bouillon to hot water to make a simple broth whenever you need it! (You can also make homemade broth from scratch, and it’s easier than you might think!)

Jillee’s Take:

Rice makes a great side dish because it’s filling and economical, but plain white rice cooked in water can get boring pretty quickly. After embracing chicken broth rice (and coming up with a few flavorful variations of my own), I have no trouble keeping dinner interesting without sacrificing one of our staple side dishes!
A jar of seasoned vegetable base, a packet of 8 Knorr chicken stock cubes, and a bottle of chicken broth placed on a countertop.

How To Cook Rice With Chicken Broth In An Instant Pot

I’ve been making rice in my Instant Pot for a long now — it’s so easy and turns out perfectly every time! Here’s how to cook rice with chicken broth (AKA chicken rice) in an Instant Pot, along with 4 tasty variations on the basic recipe.

Ingredients for basic broth rice:

  • 2 cups white rice (long grain rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice all work well here)
  • 2 cups chicken broth or stock (or vegetable broth/stock, or beef broth/stock)
Four groups of ingredients for different rice dishes: Mexican-style broth rice with garlic powder and tomato bouillon; Indian-style rice with coconut milk and spices; cheesy parmesan rice; pesto rice.

For Mexican-style rice, add:

  • 1 Tbsp diced onion, sautéed
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp tomato bouillon

For Indian-style creamy rice, add:

  • 2 cups canned coconut milk (replaces broth or stock)
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick

For cheesy Parmesan rice, add:

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese*
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice*

For pesto rice, add:

  • 1 Tbsp pesto*

*Stir these ingredients into the rice after cooking it, not before.

A side-by-side image of a lady's hand pouring chicken stock into a pot of rice placed on a countertop. In the other side's image, the lady's hand is holding a cooking spoon filled with rice from the pot of cooked rice broth.

Directions:

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear, then put it in your Instant Pot. Add the chicken broth or other cooking liquid (and additional ingredients, if using). Seal the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.

When the timer goes off, allow 10 minutes of Natural Release, then use Quick Release to release the remaining pressure from the pot. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

Instant Pot Brown Rice Variation

To cook brown rice in your Instant Pot, follow the instructions above, but increase the cooking time to 15 minutes and reduce the Natural Release time to 5 minutes.

A jar filled with uncooked rice placed on a countertop and a woman holding it with both hands.

How To Make Stovetop Chicken Broth Rice

No Instant Pot? No problem! Follow this recipe to make a savory, delicious pot of rice on your stovetop.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups white rice
  • 3 cups chicken broth or stock

Directions:

Rinse the rice until the water runs clear, then place it in a large pot and add the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer the rice for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, remove the pot from heat (but don’t remove the lid) and let it rest for 5 minutes, or until the liquid has been fully absorbed. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

“I also add black pepper, crushed garlic, a few drops of olive oil, and butter too […] So good.”

– OGT Reader Dee dee

Stovetop Brown Rice Variation

If you’re making brown rice, I highly recommend checking out my foolproof oven brown rice recipe. You can make it with broth or stock, and it’s so much easier to cook brown rice in an oven than on the stove!

A lady's hand is holding a cooking spoon filled with rice from the pot of cooked rice broth.

How to Enjoy Leftovers

To store leftover chicken broth rice, put it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the rice in your microwave before serving.

Use leftover chicken broth rice to make Chicken Fried Rice for a meal the whole family will love!

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Make White Rice Taste Better?

The best and easiest way to make white rice taste better is by cooking it in chicken, beef, or vegetable broth instead of water. You can also add spices to the broth like star anise, cloves, cumin, or coriander to enhance the flavor and aroma of white rice.

Is It Better To Cook Rice In Chicken Broth Or Add Broth To Cooked Rice?

Cooked rice will absorb a small amount of broth, but you’ll get much better results by cooking rice in broth, rather than adding it after the fact.

How Much Chicken Broth Should I Use For Two Cups Of Rice?

The right amount of liquid for rice depends on the cooking method. If you’re making it in a pressure cooker, use 2 cups of chicken broth and rice (1:1). If you’re cooking it on your stovetop, use 3 cups of chicken broth and 2 cups of rice (1.5:1).

Can You Use Broth When Cooking Minute Rice?

Yes! Cook the rice according to the directions on the package, but use chicken broth (or your broth of choice) where it calls for water.

Conclusion

While I’m still a big believer in putting butter in rice, I’m glad I’ve been able to expand my horizons and find new ways to make white rice more flavorful. Give this delicious rice hack a try and experience flavorful rice like never before!

How do you cook rice?

A bowl of cooked broth rice placed on top of a table mat with a fork.

Instant Pot Rice With Chicken Broth Recipe

Jill Nystul
Use this simple recipe to make flavorful, perfectly cooked rice in your Instant Pot, then try the easy variations when you're ready to mix things up!
3.17 from 131 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Pressure Release Time 10 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 230 kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups rice
  • 2 cups chicken broth or other broth

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the rice thoroughly, then add it to your Instant Pot with the broth.
    A person cooking rice by pouring broth into a bowl.
  • Cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes.
  • Use Natural Release for 10 minutes, then use Quick Release to depressurize the pot.
  • Fluff the rice with a fork and serve warm.
    A lady's hand is holding a cooking spoon filled with rice from the pot of cooked rice broth.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

Additional ingredients for Mexican-style rice:
  • 1 Tbsp diced onion, sautéed
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp tomato bouillon
Additional ingredients for Indian-style rice:
  • 2 cups canned coconut milk (replaces broth or stock)
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
Additional ingredients for cheesy Parmesan rice:
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese*
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice*
Additional ingredients for pesto rice:
  • 1 Tbsp pesto*
*Stir these ingredients into the rice after cooking it, not before.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 5gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 294mgPotassium: 85mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 2IUCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

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Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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