Description
This French Onion Butter Rice transforms ordinary rice into something extraordinary by combining the rich, caramelized flavors of French onion soup with buttery, fluffy rice. The slow-caramelized onions infuse each grain with sweet, savory notes while Gruyère cheese adds a delicious finishing touch. Perfect alongside any protein or as a stand-alone vegetarian dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons butter (for onions)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained
- 3 tablespoons butter (for rice)
- 3 cups beef broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat 3 tablespoons butter and olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat until melted.
- Add thinly sliced onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften.
- Sprinkle onions with sugar, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden brown and caramelized.
- Add minced garlic and thyme to the caramelized onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add remaining 3 tablespoons butter to the pan and allow to melt.
- Add rinsed rice to the pan, stirring to coat each grain with the buttery onion mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Pour in beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Remove bay leaf and fluff rice with a fork.
- If using cheese, sprinkle over hot rice and allow to melt slightly.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- The key to this dish is properly caramelizing the onions – don’t rush this step! The deep flavor is worth the time.
- For the best texture, rinse your rice until the water runs almost clear before cooking.
- This dish can be made ahead – the flavors actually improve over time. Reheat with a splash of broth to maintain moisture.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute vegetable broth for beef broth and add 1 tablespoon soy sauce for depth.
- If onions start to burn during caramelization, add a tablespoon of water and reduce heat further.
- For extra richness, use European-style butter with higher fat content.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 50
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: French-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: french onion rice, caramelized onion rice, butter rice, savory rice side dish, french-inspired rice, one-pot rice recipe