Mushroom Rice – Immaculate Bites

Why Mushroom Rice Works

• Mushrooms and rice are a match made in heaven. Adding bacon makes it better.
• Long-grain rice is the perfect blank canvas to paint with delectable flavors. The bacon, along with the drippings, unlocks the first level of flavor.
• Then, deglazing the pan with broth (water if you must) delivers a flavor the rice can soak up. The bits from the bacon and mushroom are amazing.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Bacon infuses the rice with layers of savory, smoky goodness.
2. Mushrooms – Button, cremini mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, baby bellas, shiitakes, and portabellas all work great for an umami-rich side dish.
3. Seasonings – Onions and garlic provide the aromatics that fill the kitchen with savoriness. Then jalapenos, thyme, smoked paprika, and Creole seasoning take this dish from great to extraordinary. Fresh herbs like green onions are a gorgeous garnish. Replace the jalapenos with bell pepper to reduce the spice level.
4. Broth – While you can use water if necessary, broth (vegetable or chicken) adds substance and additional flavor.
5. White Rice – Aromatic basmati and jasmine rice are my go-to. However, any long-grain, medium-grain, or short-grain rice also works for a variety of textures.

How to Make Mushroom Rice

• Bacon – Heat a large skillet over medium, and sauté bacon until brown and crisp. It may take about 5 minutes. (Photo 1)
• Drippings – Remove bacon from the skillet and transfer to a plate. There should be about 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings left in the pan. If not, add enough oil or butter to the pan to make 3 tablespoons.
• Mushrooms – Toss in the mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes. (Photo 2)
• Seasonings – Add onions, garlic, jalapenos, thyme, smoked paprika, and Creole seasoning. (Photos 3-4)
• Rice – Pour in the broth, then add the rice, bacon (reserving some for garnish), and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover with a lid, and simmer until rice is cooked (about 15 minutes or a little longer).
• Serve – Let rest for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Recipe Variations

1. One-pot meal. For a truly one-pot meal, toss in some shredded chicken or beef and heat through.
2. Vegan. Omit the bacon and replace the butter with olive oil for a vegan version.
3. Veggies. Feel free to add your vegetables of choice. Diced celery, carrots, and bell peppers are a beautiful addition. Then, toss in some spring peas or spinach for a nutritious finale.
4. Cream of mushroom chicken and rice – Replace half the broth with cream of mushroom soup for more mushroom goodness. Then, add shredded rotisserie chicken for a fast and easy one-pot meal.
5. Baked mushroom rice. Make the recipe up to mixing all the ingredients, then transfer them to a 9×13 baking dish. Bake at 350°F (175℃) for approximately 30 minutes or until cooked through.

Tips and Notes

1. Brown rice works for this recipe but needs 30-35 minutes to cook and may need a bit more liquid.
2. Rinse rice under cool running water before cooking for fluffy rice.
3. Slice the mushrooms as uniformly as possible for even cooking if your mushrooms aren’t presliced.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Mushroom rice is ideal for busy weeknight meals. You can make it ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for up to 3 months.

Defrost frozen mushroom rice in the refrigerator overnight. Then heat it on the stovetop on low, bake it in a 350°F (175℃) oven, or zap it in the microwave until hot. Leftover rice tends to dry out, so it may need a little broth to moisten it and bring it back to its fresh glory.

What to Serve With Mushroom Rice

Mushroom rice is a satisfying and wholesome side that pairs incredibly well with oven-baked chicken breast, smothered pork chops, and steak tips. Of course, warm, buttery, homemade breadsticks are a must-have.

More Hearty Rice Recipes to Try

1. Caribbean Rice and Beans
2. Charleston Red Rice
3. Easy Dirty Rice
4. Egg Fried Rice
5. Coconut Jollof Rice

This blog post was originally published in April 2018 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photos