Name: Greek Lemon Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil (or unsalted butter); ¼ cup finely diced yellow onion (about ½ small onion); 1 garlic clove, finely minced or pressed; 1 cup long-grain white rice, washed and drained (I use Basmati); 1½ cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth (or water); ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, or to taste; 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest, or more to taste; Juice of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons); 1-2 tablespoons finely chopped dill (or parsley)

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This Greek Lemon Rice is full of bright, citrusy flavor! It’s quick and easy to make with onion, garlic, broth, long-grain rice, fresh lemon juice, and fresh herbs. Serve this as a side dish alongside grilled chicken, seafood, roasted vegetables, or any Mediterranean-inspired meal.

This is one of my favorite rice dishes to make because it goes with almost any weeknight dinner. It’s inspired by the rice served at a local Greek restaurant that my husband and I love.

It took a few attempts of testing this recipe to get the taste and texture just right. I tested it by cooking the rice with a mixture of broth and lemon juice, but I felt like the lemon flavor wasn’t showing through enough.

In another test, I added more fresh herbs, but it overpowered the rice. We enjoyed this rice best by adding the fresh lemon juice and zest after cooking the rice and stirring in just enough herbs to create little flecks of green in the dish.

I hope you will love this Greek lemon rice as much as my family does!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Greek Lemon Rice Recipe

Fluffy, tender rice every time. This lemon rice recipes gives you light, separate, non-sticky grains. It’s fluffy and has plenty of delicious flavor from the onion, broth, garlic, and fresh herbs.

Bright and fresh lemon flavor. This wouldn’t be Greek lemon rice without having that tasty bright lemon flavor. The key is to use both freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh lemon zest. Each bite tastes vibrant and yummy.

Quick to make for busy weeknights. This recipe comes together on the stovetop without any complicated steps or special equipment.

Easy to make with pantry staples. You only need a handful of everyday ingredients like yellow onion, garlic, broth, lemon, and fresh herbs.

Perfect side dish for meals. We love serving this rice with Greek chicken, baked salmon, or any Mediterranean-inspired meal.

Greek Lemon Rice Ingredients

Olive oil or butter: Using olive oil or butter to sauté the onion and garlic prevents the grains of rice from sticking together while cooking. It also gives the rice better texture and flavor.

Use olive oil for a classic Mediterranean flavor or butter for a richer taste.

Yellow onion: This adds a little sweetness and savory flavor that goes well with the garlic and fresh lemon juice.

Garlic: This gives the rice good flavor.

Long-grain rice: I like using Basmati rice to make this recipe. I have not tested it using other types of rice.

Vegetable or chicken broth: This gives the rice better flavor than using water. I use Better Than Boullion seasoned chicken or vegetable broth for this recipe.

If you’re not using low-sodium broth, omit the added salt.

Salt: This helps season the rice as it cooks. I use fine sea salt.

Fresh lemon juice and zest: I HIGHLY recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh lemon zest to make this recipe. Avoid using bottled lemon juice.

This is what gives the Greek lemon rice its signature bright, citrusy flavor. This lemon juice adds a tangy, refreshing taste while the zest provides a concentrated aroma without adding more acidity.

Fresh dill or parsley: Adding a little fresh dill or parsley to the rice gives it a light, herby flavor that pairs well with the fresh lemon juice and garlic.

I LOVE using dill in this recipe, but if you don’t like dill, chopped parsley works great too.

How to make Greek lemon rice

Soak the rice (optional step): If using Basmati rice, add the uncooked rice to a bowl and cover with 1 to 2 inches of cold water.

After 20 minutes, drain and rinse the rice until the water is mostly clear. Set aside. Soaking the rice before cooking leads to more even cooking and fluffier rice.

Heat the olive oil (or butter) over medium heat in a medium saucepan or pot. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and cook for 3 or 4 minutes, or until translucent and tender.

Add the garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds, or until fragrant.

Add the rice and gently stir for 1 minute. Pour in the vegetable or chicken broth (or water if using) and add the salt. Bring to a boil, cover, then immediately reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove the pot from the heat and let rest (with the lid still on) for 10 minutes.

Remove the lid. Stir in the fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and fresh dill or parsley. Serve warm.

Tips for making fluffy, flavorful rice pilaf

Soak and Rinse the Rice Before Cooking. This removes the excess surface starch from the rice, which helps prevent it from clumping or becoming sticky.

Use Chicken or Vegetable Broth for More Flavor. This adds a savory flavor and makes the rice taste more delicious.

Measure the liquid carefully. Too much liquid can make the rice mushy, while too little can leave it undercooked.

I’ve tested this recipe with Basmati rice. If using another type of long-grain rice, such as Jasmine, you may need to adjust the amount of broth or water.

Keep the Lid on While the Rice Simmer. Avoid lifting the lid while its simmering. Keeping the lid on is essential for trapping steam to cook the rice evenly.

Let the Rice Rest Before Fluffing. Once the rice finishes cooking, it’s important to rest before fluffing. Remove the pot from the heat and keep the lid covered. Let stand for 10 minutes.

What to serve with Greek lemon rice

This is a simple side dish that pairs well with grilled meats, baked chicken, seafood, roasted vegetables, or fresh salads.

Greek chicken or grilled meats – Greek sheet pan chicken and veggies, chicken souvlaki, chicken gyros, grilled pork, or lamb kebabs.

Grilled fish and seafood – Baked lemon garlic salmon, air fryer maple Dijon salmon, grilled shrimp, or baked cod.

Roasted vegetables – Crispy roasted chickpeas, roasted zucchini and bell peppers, Greek roasted potatoes, Mediterranean stuffed peppers, or grilled eggplant.

Fresh salads – Mediterranean chickpea salad, Mediterranean orzo salad, Greek lettuce salad, traditional Greek salad, or cucumber and feta salad.

Greek dips and sauces – Homemade tzatziki sauce, creamy hummus, whipped feta dip, or warm pita bread.

Can you make Greek lemon rice ahead of time?

Yes, this Greek lemon rice recipe is an easy make ahead side dish. You can cook the rice a day in advance and reheat it when you’re ready to serve.

For the best flavor, wait until just before serving before adding the fresh lemon zest and dill or parsley.

How to store and reheat leftover Greek rice

If you have leftover rice, let it cool slightly, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the fridge within 1 to 2 hours of cooking. The rice will keep for up to 2 or 3 days.

To reheat the rice, transfer the leftover rice to a microwave-safe bowl. Add a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon of water) per cup of rice.

Cover loosely with a paper towel or microwave-safe lid. Microwave until steaming hot, stirring halfway through if needed. Add an extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice if desired.

Frequently asked questions

Is Greek lemon rice the same as Rice Pilaf? Greek lemon rice is a type of rice pilaf. The rice is toasted slightly in olive with onion and garlic, the cooked by absorbing savory broth.

What makes it Greek lemon rice is that it specifically emphasizes the bright, lemon flavor and fresh Mediterranean herbs.

Can You Make Lemon Rice Without Chicken Broth? Yes, you can make this lemon rice with vegetable broth or plain water.

Why Is My Lemon Rice Mushy? If your rice turned out mushy instead of fluffy and light, it’s probably because you used too much liquid, you didn’t rinse and drain the rice properly before cooking, you opened the lid to stir the rice while it was simmering, or you didn’t let it rest after cooking.

How Much Lemon Juice Should You Add to Rice? I add the juice of 1 lemon, which is about 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice.You can add more or less lemon juice, depending on your taste preferences.

Is Greek Lemon Rice Gluten-Free? Yes, it’s naturally gluten-free when made with gluten-free broth or water.

Please let me know how you like this Greek Lemon Rice recipe in the comments below! Your feedback and review encourages me to keep creating new and yummy recipes. I hope you love this lemon rice as much as I do.