Greek Lemon Rice Recipe (Easy Oven Method)

This Greek lemon rice recipe is fluffy, tangy, and packed with flavour. It is the perfect side dish for your favourite main dish. Oven-baked to perfection, this easy to make recipe is infused with fresh lemon juice, garlic cloves, and fresh herbs. If you haven’t had it before, you’re going to love it!

If you love Greek flavours and are looking for a main dish to pair with this, try my Greek lemon chicken or Greek lamb. Both go perfectly with this great recipe! Or throw it into the oven with my papoutsakia for an easy, next level Mediterranean feast. 

Jump to:

• Why you will love this recipe
• Overview of the key steps
• Watch the short video tutorial
• Ingredients
• Preparation
• Step-by-step Cooking Instructions
• Top Tips
• Serving suggestions
• Storage
• 📖 Recipe

Why you will love this recipe

• Light, fluffy rice every time: No mushy rice here, just perfectly cooked grains without any guesswork. The oven method produces flawless texture every single time!
• Traditional Greek taste: An authentic recipe featuring fresh lemon juice, garlic cloves, and fresh herbs. The balance of zesty citrus and savoury garlic gives this dish its signature Greek flavour.
• So easy to make: No stirring, no stress. Just pop it in the oven and let it do the work while you prepare the rest of your meal!
• Pairs beautifully with everything: Made with simple ingredients, this is one of those go-to side dishes that complements all your favourite Greek food. Whether you’re serving it with chicken souvlaki, pork chops, or a fresh Greek salad, it fits right in!

Overview of the key steps

Here’s a quick look at the steps to make this famous Greek rice dish, otherwise known as rizi lemonato. 

1. Sauté the aromatics: Heat butter and olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic cloves until soft and fragrant.
2. Mix in the rice & season: Stir in washed long-grain rice, coating it in the buttery mixture to enhance the nutty flavour. Season with salt and pepper and mix well to ensure every grain is evenly coated.
3. Bake to perfection (uncovered): Pour in the chicken stock, spreading the rice evenly in the pan. Place in a preheated oven at 180°C (fan-forced) and bake uncovered for 30 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is light and fluffy.
4. Finish with fresh flavour: Stir in lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, parsley, and dill for a zesty, herby finish that brings everything together.

Watch the short video tutorial

Watch the video below to see just how simple and easy it is to make one of the best Greek style lemon rice recipes. It’s the perfect way to follow each step in action, helping you get the best results!

If you enjoy the video, hit the like button, drop a comment, and share it with someone who loves Greek cuisine!

Ingredients

Let’s take a closer look at what makes this easy lemon rice recipe so delicious! Like all my posts, see the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

• Long-Grain Rice: The best choice for light, fluffy rice with separate grains. You can use jasmine rice or basmati rice, and honestly, if you’re struggling, medium-grain rice works well too!
• Unsalted Butter & Olive Oil: This combination adds richness and depth while giving the rice a beautiful texture. Honestly, don’t skip the butter, it makes such a difference!
• Onion & Garlic Cloves: These create a savoury base and infuses every bite with bold flavours. I use brown onion, but if you prefer, red onion works too!
• Chicken Stock: The key to flavourful, well-seasoned rice. If you’re making it vegetarian, swap it for vegetable broth or stock.
• Fresh Lemons: Using both the juice and zest, this adds a tangy brightness that’s so refreshing. Taste and adjust the amount of lemon juice and zest if you want more kick!
• Fresh Herbs: Fresh parsley and fresh dill bring amazing flavour and beautiful colour to the dish.
• Salt & Pepper: A simple but essential touch that enhances every ingredient. If your stock is high in salt, feel free to reduce the amount.

Preparation

​Here’s what I do to get everything ready so it’s smooth and stress-free.

• Rinse the rice: Wash it well in cold water to remove excess starch. This prevents the rice from becoming mushy and helps achieve that light, fluffy texture. You can even let it soak while you prepare everything else! Just make sure to drain it well!​
• ​Measure the ingredients: From the olive oil to the salt and pepper, having everything measured out means you can move quickly once you start cooking!
• ​Mince the garlic & chop the onion: Get it all sorted and pop it onto a plate next to your measured-out butter.
• Chop the parsley and dill: I like to finely chop them and then add them to a bowl.
• Prepare the lemons: Zest your lemon directly into the bowl with the herbs, then cover it to keep everything fresh and ready to go! Squeeze the juice, and you’re all set!

Pan/ Pot

You’ll need an oven-safe dish that’s also great for frying, since this recipe starts on the stovetop before finishing in the oven.

• Cast Iron Skillet: I like using this because it presents well if I leave it in the dish and serve it straight to the dinner table. It also holds heat well, keeping the rice warm for longer.
• Large Stainless Steel Saucepan: A great option that works just as well! It distributes heat evenly and is perfect for baking and frying.
• Other Oven-Safe Dishes: As long as your pan is oven-proof and big enough, it will work!
• Note: If using a non-stick pan, check that it’s oven-safe at high temperatures before placing it in the oven.

Step-by-step Cooking Instructions

Follow these simple steps to bring this Greek lemon rice pilaf to life, using the images for guidance! If you get stuck, watch my video for extra help.

Sauté the Aromatics

1. Heat butter and olive oil in your oven-safe dish over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic cloves, cooking for 2-3 minutes until soft and fragrant.

• Note: Don't use high heat, we don’t want to burn the melted butter or olive oil.

Mix in the rice

1. Turn off the heat, then add the uncooked long-grain rice to the dish.
2. Season with salt and pepper to ensure the perfect flavour.
3. Mix well, making sure all the rice is evenly coated in the buttery mixture.
4. Spread everything evenly in the dish for consistent cooking.

Add the liquid and bake

1. Pour in the chicken stock, and if needed, use a spoon to ensure the rice is still evenly layered.
2. Place in a preheated oven, uncovered, at 180°C (fan-forced).
3. Bake for 30 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy and tender.
4. Once out of the oven, gently fluff the rice with a fork.

Finish with fresh flavour

1. Add the freshly chopped herbs and lemon juice.
2. Mix well to ensure everything is evenly distributed.
3. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with lemon slices.
4. Serve and enjoy!

Top Tips

• Rinse the rice well: Washing it in cold water removes excess starch, preventing it from becoming mushy and ensuring a light, fluffy texture.
• Cooking time: All ovens are slightly different, so have a peek earlier, but mine is always perfect at the 30-minute mark!
• Type of rice: Long-grain rice works best for this recipe, but I’ve used medium-grain rice many times, and the result is almost identical.
• Trust the process: I almost never cook rice on the stovetop unless I’m making spanakorizo, Greek spinach rice. This oven method gives consistent results every time, never lets me down, and tastes just like Greek restaurant rice!
• Fluff the rice gently: Once baked, use a fork to separate the grains without breaking them. This keeps it light and airy.

Serving suggestions

The reason this is such a great side dish is that it’s so versatile and goes with pretty much everything. Here are some ideas based on how I cook and serve it at home:

• Cook alongside other easy sides: Pair this rice with my Greek lemon potatoes, peppers stuffed with feta cheese, or even mix it up by cooking my other Greek rice pilaf or Cypriot pourgouri pilafi! The best part? They can all bake in the oven at the same time. For a bold appetiser, try my bouyiourdi recipe, a spicy baked feta dish that’s packed with flavour!
• Classic Greek mains: Serve this rice with biftekia, gemista, or even a whole roast. Because of it's simplicity and ease of cooking, these combo's are a staple in my house!
• Add a fresh salad: Put this on the table with a classic Greek salad, or try something different like my Cypriot potato salad or chickpea beetroot salad for a unique flavour twist.

Storage

• Refrigerate: Store any leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in the oven: Transfer the rice to an oven-safe pot, cover with foil or a lid, and reheat in the oven at 160°C (fan-forced) for 10–15 minutes.
• Reheat in the microwave: If using a microwave, heat the rice for about 2 minutes.

📖 Recipe