My French onion soup rice recipe comes together with only five ingredients and is the perfect side dish for almost any meal. A dump-and-bake that I have made over a dozen times. Picky eater approved and an instant family favorite.

This French Onion Rice is the cozy comfort food you didn’t know your weeknight lineup was missing. It takes everything you love about a classic bowl of French onion soup—rich flavor, caramelized onion goodness, and cheesy vibes—and transforms it into a one-pan, no-fuss side (or main) that pairs with just about anything. The best part? It’s made with simple pantry staples but tastes like you spent all day over the stove.

As a mom to picky eaters who’s been testing family-friendly meals for over a decade, I can confidently say this dish checks all the boxes: easy, crowd-pleasing, and loaded with flavor. I’ve made this more times than I can count, and it never lasts long at the dinner table. Whether you’re feeding picky eaters or need a low-effort win, this one’s a guaranteed favorite.

Want more rice recipes, be sure to try this copycat Texas Roadhouse seasoned rice and cheesy rice. Also this forgotten chicken with Lipton Onion Soup Mix is a must try!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Simple ingredients. You might already have the 5 ingredients needed to make this recipe.
• Dump and bake. This is a great hands off recipe. Combine all of the ingredients in the baking dish and bake.
• Flavorful side dish. The flavor of this rice is next level.

Ingredients

This recipe keeps things super simple—just five ingredients and you’re on your way to bold, comforting flavor with zero stress. Here’s what you’ll need to make this French onion soup and rice, along with a little tip for each to make sure it turns out just right.

• Long grain rice – Use long grain white rice for this recipe. Be sure not to use instant rice.
• French onion soup – You can find the canned French onion soup in the soup aisle.
• Lipton onion soup mix – I like adding this soup mix for extra onion flavor.
• Beef broth – Beef broth or beef stock will work. You can substitute with low-sodium broth to control the sodium.
• Butter – Unsalted butter is sliced and placed on the rice for rich flavor.

That’s it! These pantry staples come together in the oven while you kick back, and the result is a crave-worthy dish that tastes like you did way more than toss a few things in a baking dish.

How to make French onion soup rice recipe

This recipe is seriously easy—just mix everything together, pop it in the oven, and let it do its thing. I’ve broken it down step-by-step with photos so you can see exactly how it comes together. No fancy techniques, just cozy, delicious stick of butter rice with tons of flavor.

Step one: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Heather’s recipe tips

• Cover the rice with liquid. Be sure to cover the rice with the liquid. This will help cook the rice perfectly.
• Cover the rice with foil. You will want to cover the baking dish tightly with foil for the first 30 minutes of cooking. This helps to actually cook the rice.
• Feeding a crowd. You can double the ingredients and bake in a 9 x 13 if you are serving a crowd.

Variations and substitutions

There are a few alterations you could make to this french onion soup and rice recipe. Here are a few suggestions:

• Broth – You can substitute the beef broth with chicken or vegetable broth for a slightly different flavor. You could also use beef consomme.
• Rice – I like long grain white rice for this recipe. You could substitute with basmati or jasmine rice. You could use brown rice but you will need to add about 15-20 minutes extra cook time.
• Vegetables – Try adding sliced onions or frozen peas and carrots.
• Cheese – If you want to make this cheesy rice, you can add shredded provolone or Swiss cheese to the top of the rice for the last 5 minutes of cook time.

What to serve with French onion rice

I like serving this rice with a variety of things like baked pork tenderloin, Lipton onion soup meatloaf, and slow cooker BBQ beef.

Storage and make-ahead instructions

Store: Let any leftover rice cool and then cover and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can reheat in the oven, microwave, or on the stove.

Freeze: Freeze any leftovers in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheat: You can reheat this dish in the microwave or covered in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. I recommend adding a small splash of beef broth to moisten the rice when reheating.

Frequently asked questions

More easy side dish recipes

• Buttered noodles
• Seven layer salad
• Corn pudding
• Baked Velveeta mac and cheese

If you try this recipe please let me know in the comments below. I enjoy hearing from you.