If you’re looking to take your plain rice from forgettable to downright irresistible, one simple ingredient may be all you need. According to popular home cook and recipe developer Katie Cooksey, butter is the not-so-secret key behind her viral Famous Butter Rice recipe, a dish that’s won over thousands with its rich flavour and comforting texture.
“This recipe is always a hit because the secret is butter, folks. You can’t go wrong with that,” Cooksey wrote in her original post on Lauren’s Latest, which has garnered more than 97 comments and a 4.4-star rating from over 60 reviewers.
Originally shared on her blog in 2018, the recipe continues to make the rounds on social media, especially among fans of quick and cozy side dishes.
The appeal is in its simplicity with just six ingredients and 30 minutes of cooking time are all that stand between you and what many are calling “the most delicious rice ever.”
The key ingredients include butter, finely chopped yellow onion for a subtle savoury base, long-grain white rice, good-quality chicken stock, a few bay leaves, and a touch of salt and pepper.
Cooksey recommends sautéing the onion in butter first, allowing the flavours to meld and the rice to toast slightly before simmering it all in stock for maximum depth.
The use of butter in rice isn’t a new trick, chefs have long used it to finish pilafs, risottos, and even plain steamed rice for added richness and mouthfeel. But Cooksey’s version puts butter front and centre, not just as a garnish, but as the heart of the dish.
“Rice is often treated as an afterthought,” Cooksey said. “But when you cook it with intention, and butter, it becomes something you genuinely crave, not just something you serve next to the main dish.”
Whether paired with roast chicken, grilled steak, or served on its own in a comforting bowl, Famous Butter Rice proves that the most transformative cooking secrets are often the simplest.