Herby Lemon Greek Rice Pilaf Recipe

Fragrant, comforting, and wonderfully simple – this Greek Rice is the kind of side dish that turns everyday ingredients into something special. Long grain white rice gently simmers in a savory broth infused with olive oil, shallots, garlic, fresh lemon zest and juice, and fresh herbs. This classic rice side dish captures the bright, sunny flavors of the Mediterranean. 

For a complete meal ❤︎ Make these amazing Greek Chicken Meatballs that go perfect with this lemon greek rice pilaf. 

Greek Lemon Rice Recipe

This lemon rice is so good, you’ll want to eat it plain, straight from the pot! This Greek rice is made with sautéed shallots in olive oil, and long grain white rice cooked in chicken broth, and finished off with fresh lemon zest and juice, and fresh herbs. 

The fresh lemon juice and lemon zest add so much bright flavor to this rice side dish. It makes for a perfect side side for any Greek recipe, grilled meats, meatballs, lamb dishes, and fish. 

How To Make Easy Greek Rice Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)

In a saucepan, over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the shallots and cook until they soften. 

Stir in the rice and garlic, and cook for another 1 minute, while stirring constantly. 

Add in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover the pan, and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer for 18-20 minutes or until the rice is soft and tender. 

Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, and dill. Serve and enjoy!

How to Store Leftovers and Reheating Instructions

• Refrigerator : Leftover greek rice should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Reheating : To reheat, warm it in a shallow skillet or saucepan with a splash of broth or water over medium/low heat, stirring frequently. You can also microwave individual portions until warmed through. 
• Freezing : I don’t recommend freezing this because when rice is frozen and then thawed, the texture of the rice becomes mushy or mealy once defrosted and reheated. 

Substitutions & Ingredient Notes

• Olive Oil : For added flavor, use a greek flavored olive oil or lemon flavored olive oil. You can use classic olive oil, light tasting, or extra-virign; whichever you prefer. 
• Long Grain Rice : It must be white rice and it must be long grain rice. No exceptions! This recipe was specifically designed for white rice and not brown rice. Also, you need long grain otherwise the rice turns out mushy on the stove top, when using a short grain rice. 
• Garlic Cloves : Fresh is best, but you can use chopped garlic from a jar or garlic paste. 
• Chicken Broth : Chicken stock, chicken bone broth, vegetable broth or stock, and even the low-sodium versions can all be used. I prefer using a full salted chicken bone broth when I make this rice recipe. If you want lower-sodium for preference or dietary restrictions, then make sure you are using a reduced sodium chicken broth. 
• Fresh Herbs : I highly recommend using the fresh herbs – but you can use dried if you must. If using dried herbs, then you will only need 2 teaspoons of dried parsley and 2 teaspoons of dried dill. 
• Lemon : Do not use bottled lemon juice! You need fresh lemon zest anyways, so grab a large lemon, zest it first and then juice it. So much bright, citrus flavor for this greek rice. 

Serving Suggestions For Greek Style Rice Pilaf

I always make this greek rice when I am making these Greek Chicken Meatballs for dinner – it is such a perfect pairing alongside some tzatziki sauce.

Another option is to make my Crockpot Greek Chicken Gyros and serve the rice inside of the gyros (my family likes it this way) or serve it as a side dish. 

Recipe FAQs

How Can I Get The Most Juice Out Of The Lemon?

To get the most juice out of a lemon, firmly but gently roll the lemon on the counter before cutting and juicing it. I would recommend zesting the lemon first and then rolling it. They also make citrus juicers and squeezers that help extract all the juice from a lemon. 

How Can I Keep My Rice From Being Sticky?

It is essential to wash your rice before cooking. Use a fine mesh strainer or a rice sieve strainer. Not only does this help remove starches to presenter the rice from sticking, but it also clears away debris and lowers arsenic levels. 

Is This Dish Allergy-Friendly?

Yes, this rice dish is very allergy-friendly as it avoids the top five allergens; nuts, dairy, gluten, soy, and eggs. To make it vegetarian, you would just need to replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. 

How Do I Zest A Lemon?

You will need a microplane or box grater. If using box grater, choose the smallest grating side. Grate the yellow part of the lemon, avoiding the white pith underneath, as it is bitter and unappealing. For this recipe, use all the yellow zest from the whole lemon. After zesting, cut the lemon in half and juice it. 

More Rice Recipes To Try

• Ham Fried Rice
• Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup
• Turkey Taco Rice Skillet
• Rice Pilaf
• Oven Baked French Onion Soup Rice
• Easy Mexican Rice
• Perfect Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe