We’re here to teach you how to bake brown rice, white rice and quinoa with a no fail method. Perfect rice and quinoa every time without the hassle of stove top cooking! Once you try this method you will be hooked, all you need is an oven, some foil, and an oven safe dish.
This recipe works for brown Rice, white rice and quinoa! It is basically the same quantity and yield you use for your stove top only in a baking dish. We eat all 3 in my house, particularly white rice when I have digestive issues, brown rice when I’m being healthy, and I love me a cold scoop of quinoa on my salads for a little something extra.
Tips for Perfect Fluffy Oven Baked Rice
- The trick is heating up your water in the microwave before adding to your grain.
- This gives a kickstart to the cooking process resulting in tender, fluffy rice.
- Heat water for 2 minutes in the microwave before pouring over your chosen grain.
- Rinse your grains before using.
- This gets all of the remaining starch off. Quinoa can have a bitter taste if you don’t rinse.
- How much water do I add to cook Brown Rice, White Rice or Quinoa?
- It’s all the same! 2 to 1. Two parts water, one part grain. Boom now that was easy!
How to Make Oven Baked Rice
Step One: Measure and rinse your grain of choice (brown rice, white rice, quinoa).
Step Two: Add rinsed grain to baking dish and pour in hot water. Add salt, pepper, butter. This is a great time to add some fresh chopped veggies or herbs as well!
Step Three: Cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees. White rice & quinoa will need about 25 minutes to cook, where as brown rice will need 50-60 minutes.
Let rest covered for 5 minutes. Carefully remove foil. It’s hot and there is steam!
VOILA! – perfectly cooked Brown Rice, Quinoa or White rice EVERY SINGLE TIME!
More Recipes Featuring Rice:
- Asian Cashew Salad
- Rice Salad
- Mushroom Baked Rice
- Baked Honey Mustard Chicken and Rice
- Sushi Bake
- Quinoa Pilaf
- Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
LET’S EAT!
Kathi and Rachel
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How to Oven Bake Quinoa, White or Brown Rice!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice white or brown rice, or quinoa
- 2 cups water or broth heated in microwave for two minutes
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil optional
- 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Rinse grain under cool water in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear. Don't skip this step for the Quinoa - it can be bitter without rinsing.
- Heat 2 cups water or broth in microwave for 2 minutes. (I use a microwave safe measuring cup).
- Add grain to 8 x 8 baking dish. (9 x 9 will work as well).
- Pour hot liquid over the grain.
- Add salt, pepper and butter if using. Stir and cover tightly with foil or glass lid if you have it to fit.
- Bake Quinoa or White rice for 25 Minutes. Bake Brown Rice for 50-60 minutes.
- Remove from oven - LET REST 5 MINUTES.
- Carefully remove foil - its hot in there!
- Serve!
Notes
Nutrition
wendy hampton says
I love this! was just wondering, what if i make this ahead, do you think i could freeze in lunch size portions? what do you think?
Kathi & Rachel says
Quinoa, white and brown rice all freeze well! Great idea for meal prep!Kathi
Cheryl says
Have you tried cooking the rice in an air fryer toaster oven? I just bought one and hope to be able to do some of the recipes in it in order to avoid the big Oven in summer. Timing and temperature must change.
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Cheryl – We are huge Air Fryer lovers but have never tried cooking grains in them. Love to hear back if you try it!
Adobe says
When you remove the foil after the quinoa has been out of the oven for 5 minutes, do you usually see any excess liquid in the pan? I had some excess liquid and tried to mix it with the quinoa upon fluffing it. I then put the foil back on for a few minutes to help it absorb all the liquid. Is the excess normal, or should I have checked the liquid when I took it out of the oven after 25 minutes and if there was excess, return it back to the oven? Thank you!
Kathi & Rachel says
Yes return it to the oven. Your oven could be a few degrees less than what your setting it for. Its perfectly normal for it to vary 25 degrees or so. Mine was off my 50! If you find things not cooking according to directions buy an oven thermometer to check. Hope that helps! Kathi
Jana Ball says
I always cook my rice this way so I don’t know why it took me so long to do quinoa! Came out perfectly, thanks!
Clara says
Will it be the same amount of cook time using a disposable 8×8 pan?
Kathi & Rachel says
Yes Clara, same amout of time.
Melissa Gnyp says
Made this for dinner tonight. I sautéed up some shallot and added fresh cranberries that I chopped up and added it the quinoa before covering with tinfoil. Also added some toasted chopped pecans at the end. I plan on adding this to a Kale Salad with roasted sweet potatoes and beets. I have always made brown rice like this in the oven but never thought of using quinoa! thanks for the inspiration. It is so easy and versatile 🙂
Kathi & Rachel says
Hi Melissa – it works great on white rice too! So glad you liked it!
Rita says
Thank you for this,I’m also a pot stirrer and now I have a new method of making delicious quinoa,
Heidi says
Thanks for the recipe! I prefer my rice done in the oven ( no more boiling over on the stove top) and wanted to try quinoa!
Harvey James says
Thanks, this is such an easy and tasty way to prepare quinoa. Also, you mentioned protein on the side, but quinoa like soy beans is one of the very few plants that is a complete protein containing all of the essential amino acids, making it ideal for those trying to cut back on their meat intake. And while used as a grain it is actually a seed that comes from the goosefoot plant.
Sarah Baila Brown says
If i pre prepare the pan how long do you think quinoa in water will last in the fridge?
Natalie says
What kind of broth do you use?
Kathi @ LaughingSpatula.com says
Usually chicken. But beef broth is great with brown rice…toss in some uncooked sliced mushrooms before you bake and it’s super good!
jen says
Thanks Kathi … gonna give the baked quinoa a try.
Laura says
Is the cooking time the same when you double the batch.?
Kathi Kirk says
I have not tried a double batch but I would suggest using a 9 x 13 pan rather than trying to double it up in an 8 x 8. The cooking time would be slightly increased because of the extra volume. Total guess, 10 minutes. Just check after 30 minutes. Let me know!
RK says
Hmm, I probably should have read this comment before trying to double… After 25 minutes, it was cooked, but there was extra water. So I put it back in the oven (but it had already cooled) to try and use up that extra water.