By Becky Hardin
Published May 10, 2019
Rice Pilaf is a great side dish for any meal. Make it better by spicing it up with some cinnamon, apples, and raisins like we did in this easy rice pilaf recipe! It’s perfect for holidays or any hearty dinner.
Spiced Rice Pilaf Recipe
Looking for a fun and flavorful side dish for your next holiday meal or dinner? This Spiced Rice Pilaf recipe is exactly what you need!
Rice mixed with cinnamon, apples, raisins, allspice, onion, and more make one delicious rice dish that can be served on any occasion. I just love the mix of flavors in this dish, and it’s so easy to make too! All you need are a few things from your pantry.
I love this rice pilaf dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas , and other holidays. It fits in perfectly with all the other side dishes on the table! But it’s just as good with some chicken or pork for a regular weeknight dinner. Try it as a side dish for this Pork Tenderloin with Honey & Herbs , Prime Rib Roast , Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb , or our Baked Fried Chicken !
Rice Pilaf with Apples & Raisins is an easy and delicious side dish for any meal!
Rice Pilaf with Apples & Raisins
The combination of ingredients and flavors in this rice pilaf dish is a little bit sweet, a little bit savory, a little bit “spicy” (spiced, not hot), and a whole lot of TASTY. It’s the perfect side dish for holidays because of that warm flavor from the cinnamon and allspice. I’ll definitely be making this next Thanksgiving!
What’s in this spiced rice pilaf recipe?
- Jasmine or Basmati Rice
- Gala or Granny Smith Apple
- Chicken Stock or Water
- Golden Raisins
- Ground Allspice
- Dried Thyme
- Ground Cinnamon
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Yellow Onion
- Butter
- Salt
How to Make Rice Pilaf with Apples & Raisins – Step by Step
This rice pilaf is just as easy to make as any rice dish. Add all the ingredients to a skillet and let it cook! This recipe will be ready in about 20-30 minutes to serve with your meal.
How to Make Spiced Rice Pilaf:
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet. Then add in the apples and onion and sautee about 5-6 minutes.
- Add in the rice and stir regularly for about 6-8 minutes until it’s browned.
- Now stir in the rest of the ingredients and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover, and let it cook for 15-20 minutes (or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid).
- Fluff it up with a fork and serve!
It’s such a simple recipe, and so darn good!
Easy Rice Dishes
Rice is a pantry staple, so it’s likely you always have some on hand. You can do so much with it, from sides to casseroles to full meals. Most dinners can benefit from an easy rice dish, and this spiced rice pilaf recipe is a delicious addition. Try some of the recipes below for more ideas on what to do with that rice in your pantry!
I hope you enjoy this rice pilaf with apples & raisins as much as I do. It’s such a comforting dish and tastes so good with pork, chicken, or beef.
See the recipe card for details on how to make Spiced Rice Pilaf. Enjoy!
If you like this recipe, be sure to try these other delicious side dishes :
- Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Crunchy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Caprese Farro Salad
- Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Wild Rice Sausage Stuffing
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ▢ 1 medium yellow onion about 1 cup, diced
- ▢ 1 Gala or Granny Smith apple cored and diced
- ▢ 1½ cup uncooked Jasmine or Basmati rice
- ▢ 2½ cups chicken stock or water
- ▢ ½ cup golden raisins
- ▢ 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ▢ 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add butter and stir until it melts.
- Add diced onion and apple; sauté until onion is translucent and apple and onion are tender, 5-6 minutes.
- Add rice and stir often until lightly browned; 6-8 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Fluff with a fork, serve and…
- Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Rice Pilaf with Apples and Raisins
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion about 1 cup, diced
- 1 Gala or Granny Smith apple cored and diced
- 1½ cup uncooked Jasmine or Basmati rice
- 2½ cups chicken stock or water
- ½ cup golden raisins
- 1½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add butter and stir until it melts.
- Add diced onion and apple; sauté until onion is translucent and apple and onion are tender, 5-6 minutes.
- Add rice and stir often until lightly browned; 6-8 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Fluff with a fork, serve and…
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
