Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice

This delicious and easy Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice recipe is a healthy side dish made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley. It’s a no-frills dish that goes well with nearly everything!

Love easy side dish recipes? Then you need to try my Pesto Risotto recipe and my Creamed Corn recipe!brown rice in a white bowl sprinkled with parmesan cheese and parsley

Healthy and Easy Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice

Brown rice is a staple in my kitchen. It is easier for your stomach to digest and unlike white rice has a quicker cooking time. Brown rice has a wonderfully nutty flavor and a nice bite.

Brown rice also known as the “unrefined” version of white rice is loaded with health benefits. 1 cup of brown rice equals 5g of protein and 4g of fiber! Brown rice has much more fiber and nutrients than white.

For this Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice recipe, I added fresh squeezed lemon juice, chopped parsley, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese to the cooked rice. Season with salt and pepper, and you’re done! How easy is that?

TIP: If you like this rice you will love my Cilantro Lime Brown Rice!

Key Ingredients

It’s not easy to get excited over a side dish, but this one is worth the hype! You only need a few fresh ingredients and pantry staples to make this healthy and delicious Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice.

You’ll need some olive oil, brown rice, a small onion (yellow or white), chicken broth (homemade is always best!), a lemon (for the juice and zest), a bay leaf, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese (freshly grated, if possible).

Reserve some lemon wedges, parsley, and parmesan to garnish before serving.

fluffing rice in silver saucepan

How To Make Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice

This Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice could not be easier to make!

Brown rice and onion: Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add in rice and onion and saute for 2-3 minutes to get some color on the rice and onions.

sautéing brown rice and onion in skillet

Simmer rice: Once rice and onions are slightly browned and toasted add in chicken broth, lemon zest and bay leaf. Cook for 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and all of the liquid is absorbed.

adding broth and bay leaves to pot

Fluff rice: Take off of the heat and stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with parmesan cheese on top of each bowl and enjoy!

adding parsley to the cooked rice

Serve alongside fish, chicken, or grilled vegetables. It goes well with everything!

How To Make Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice | chefsavvy.com

Serving Suggestions

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions

  • Store leftover cooled rice in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze cooked and cooled rice in a freezer-safe, airtight container or plastic bag for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat thawed or chilled rice in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until warmed through. Add some chicken broth if it seems dry.

lemon parmesan brown rice in medium saucepan

More Rice Recipes To Try

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Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice

4.41 from 5 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice. A healthy side dish made with fresh squeezed lemon juice, Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 whole bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

Images:
  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add in rice and onion and saute for 2-3 minutes to get some color on the rice and onions.
  • Once rice and onions are slightly browned and toasted add in chicken broth, lemon zest and bay leaf. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and all of the liquid is absorbed.
  • Take off of the heat and stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with parmesan cheese on top of each bowl and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

*Note: This rice was originally made with 5 minute brown rice. I have updated the recipe to use regular brown rice since more people have that in the pantry. However this recipe can be made with minute rice to shorten the total recipe time to 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts
Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice
Amount per Serving
Calories
219
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Sodium
 
434
mg
19
%
Potassium
 
268
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
39
g
13
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
187
IU
4
%
Vitamin C
 
16
mg
19
%
Calcium
 
33
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Brown Rice, Easy side dish, Healthy Recipes, Lemon Parmesan Brown Rice

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Recipe Rating




Comments - page 1/2

  • What a lovely recipe. My kids have been turning up their noses at brown rice lately, but this recipe (especially since it has CHEESE!) looks really nice, and I think it would get their approval. Bookmarking to try soon.

  • Judith Cryderman

    I loved this as a side dish when I served it with baked salmon.. I did add some celery to mine as well!!! Yummy

  • Tammy

    This was an excellent recipe!!!! Everyone one in my family loved it! It was our first time having brown rice over white rice! This recipe is a definite keeper!

  • Laura

    Hey Kelley! Looking forward to trying this recipe. Do you use a block of parmesan cheese and coarse grate it yourself? Or would shredded parmesan work as well?

    Thanks!

    • Hi Laura,

      For this recipe I used pre-grated parmesan cheese but you can grate it from a block as well. Whatever is easier for you!

      Thanks & Enjoy!

      Kelley

  • Elisha Cole

    If I wanted to do it in a rice cooker, what ingredients (besides the rice and water, of course) do I need to put in the cooker while the rice is cooking and what do I need to leave out?

    • Hi Elisha,

      I would just cook the water and rice in the slow cooker. When the rice is done I would drain the water and toss the rice with the rest of the ingredients.

      Thank you!

      Kelley

  • Bethany

    Perfect side dish to a lemon garlic pork roast! I used traditional rice and added a little garlic pepper to mimic roast flavors. Love it it cooked in the same time as roast so everything was ready to go all at one time!!

  • Elaine

    How much uncooked brown rice do I use if I am NOT using the quick cooking type?

    • Hi Elaine,

      I would do enough for 4 servings so probably 2 cups uncooked brown rice.

      Thanks!

      Kelley

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