Rice With Mixed Vegetables is a simple, delicious, all-in-one side dish that everyone will love and one that you’ll want to make again and again!
I absolutely love this side dish of fluffy, flavorful long-grain white rice that has been cooked in broth and combined with a bag of mixed vegetables. It’s so easy to make and goes with just about anything (and it’s pretty to look at too)!
I always have a few bags of mixed vegetables in the freezer for making my Spicy Tomato Vegetable Soup. To be honest, until recently, that’s pretty much all I ever used them for. I never really enjoyed them as a side dish all on their own.
As I was shopping in the frozen vegetable section at the grocery store a few weeks ago, I noticed a bag of white rice with mixed vegetables. It was so colorful with all those veggies!
Since I’m always looking for new side dish ideas and I was excited to find a new way to use those frozen mixed veggies, I definitely wanted to try it. But instead of buying it, I – of course – decided to make my own homemade version.
I started by cooking the rice in a mixture of roasted chicken base and water (more flavor!) and a little butter. While the rice was cooking, I cooked the veggies. Then I just mixed everything together, and I was done! So easy!
It’s amazing how two very simple ingredients which are fine but not very exciting on their own turned into something that looks wonderfully appetizing and is so very tasty.
And this side dish goes with just about anything – chicken, pork, fish, seafood, and even beef. I’ve been making it a ton lately because I just can’t get enough of it!
Ingredients you need:
- Long-grain white rice
- Water
- Roasted chicken base (I use Better Than Bouillon (#notsponsored))
- Butter
- Frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, green beans, and lima beans)
- Salt and pepper
Here’s a look at how to make Rice With Mixed Vegetables:
Tips & Tidbits:
- Rinsing the rice is optional but it definitely helps keep the rice nice and fluffy rather than sticky. I think it’s worth the extra time to do it!
- I use roasted chicken base because that is my favorite, but you can change it up and use vegetable base or roasted beef base (or whatever flavor you like or whatever goes best with your main dish).
- You can use 2 cups of chicken broth instead of the water and roasted chicken base (but I think the roasted chicken base has much more flavor).
- You can also keep it super simple and just use water instead of broth.
- I cook my veggies in a pot on the stove, but if you get the steam-in-bag variety that you can put in the microwave, it’s even easier (and one less pot to clean!).
- You can change things up by using other varieties of mixed vegetables.
Want to make Rice With Mixed Vegetables in the Instant Pot?
I often cook white rice in my Instant Pot. It’s so simple and foolproof! To make this Rice and Mixed Vegetables recipes in the Instant Pot:
- Follow my recipe for Instant Pot Long-Grain White Rice except use 2 teaspoons of roasted chicken base mixed with 1 cup water in place of the water.
- Cook the veggies while the rice is cooking.
- Once the rice is done and the pressure has been released, fluff the rice with a fork, add the veggies, and stir to combine.
If you have leftovers, a great way to use it up in a different way is for breakfast! Heat up the rice and veggies in a pan with some butter, and then scramble some eggs in the same pan and mix it all together. SO GOOD!!
I hope you try this recipe for Rice With Mixed Vegetables and love it as much as I do. Thanks for visiting today!
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Rice With Mixed Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons roasted chicken base, I use Better Than Bouillon
- ½ tablespoon butter
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans, and lima beans)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rise in a fine mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear or mostly clear. It should take 3 to 5 minutes. Note: This step is optional, but rinsing the rice will remove excess starches on the outside of the rice, which helps you get fluffy rice rather than sticky rice.
- Combine the water, roasted chicken base, rice, and butter in a medium sauce pot (I use a 3-quart sauce pot). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
- While the rice is cooking, cook the frozen mixed vegetables according to the package directions either on the stove top or in the microwave. Drain any water.
- When the rice has finished cooking, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Fluff the rice with a fork, add the cooked mixed vegetables, and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper, to taste, if desired.
Notes
- I use roasted chicken base because that is my favorite, but you can change it up and use vegetable base or roasted beef base (or whatever flavor you like or whatever goes best with your main dish).
- You can substitute 2 cups of chicken broth or stock for the water and roasted chicken base (although I think the chicken base has much more flavor).
- You can also keep it super simple and just use water.
- You can change things up by using other varieties of mixed vegetables.
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