Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice Recipe

This Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice is a fluffy and foolproof recipe, which calls for whole grain brown rice and a touch of butter. It’s the perfect hands-off side dish, ready in about 1 hour.

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Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice Ingredients

1 ½ cups brown rice (medium or long grain, not instant)
2 ½ cups water (boiling)
1 tbsp unsalted butter (or olive oil)
1 tsp kosher salt

How To Make Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice

Prep the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven.
Prepare the rice: Place the raw brown rice into an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
Boil the liquid: Bring the 2 ½ cups of water to a rolling boil (you can do this in a saucepan or an electric kettle).
Combine ingredients: Add the butter and kosher salt to the rice in the baking dish. Pour the boiling water over the rice. Stir once just to ensure the butter melts and the salt distributes.
Seal tightly: Cover the dish tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil. This step is critical: crimp the foil around the edges of the dish to create an airtight seal so the steam stays inside. If steam escapes, the rice will be crunchy.
Bake: Place the sealed dish in the oven and bake for exactly 1 hour. Do not check on it or open the foil.
Rest and fluff: Remove the dish from the oven. Carefully peel back the foil (watch out for hot steam). Fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips

The Foil Seal: The success of this recipe depends entirely on the seal. If you don’t have heavy-duty foil, use two layers of regular foil. The steam pressure cooks the rice; if it leaks, the water evaporates before the rice is tender.
No peeking: Do not open the oven or the foil during the hour. Brown rice needs consistent temperature and moisture.
Rice varieties: This works for long-grain brown rice, medium-grain, or short-grain brown rice. It does not work for white rice (which turns to mush) or instant brown rice.
Scaling up: You can double the recipe (3 cups rice, 5 cups water, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tsp salt) but bake it in a 9×13 inch baking dish. The timing remains the same.

What To Serve With Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice

This nutty, fluffy rice pairs with almost anything.

Stir Fry: Serve alongside chicken or veggie stir-fries.
Grilled Salmon: A healthy base for oily fish.
Burrito Bowls: Top with black beans, salsa, and avocado.
Roast Chicken: Soaks up gravy beautifully.

How To Store Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4–5 days.
Freeze: This rice freezes exceptionally well. Spread it on a baking sheet to cool, then bag it in portions. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Microwave with a teaspoon of water to re-steam the grains.

Alton Brown Baked Brown Rice Nutrition Facts

Calories: 160kcal
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 33g
Fat: 3g
Saturates: 1.5g
Sugar: 0g
Salt: 0.4g

Nutrition information is estimated per ½ cup serving.

FAQs

Can I use vegetable broth?

Yes, swapping the water for vegetable or chicken broth adds immense flavor. Ensure you bring the broth to a boil before pouring it over the rice.

Can I add aromatics?

Yes. You can toss a star anise, a clove of garlic, or a sprig of thyme into the dish before baking for scented rice. Remove them before serving.

Why is my rice still crunchy?

If the rice is crunchy, the foil seal likely wasn’t tight enough, allowing water to evaporate. Add 1/4 cup boiling water, reseal tightly, and bake for another 10 minutes.