Great for busy people, rice pilaf (or pilau) dishes don’t take too long to whip up and can be eaten as a side, snack, or even as a meal in itself (just add some seafood or meat to bulk it up). Because you can prepare rice pilaf in a single pan, you don’t have to do too much cleaning up afterward, either. Uncooked rice pilaf also has a good shelf life, so it’s excellent for stockpiling.
We reviewed dozens of rice pilaf brands to find the ones that are sure to leave you satisfied. During our research, we took into consideration factors such as flavor, ingredients, price, customer reviews, nutritional information, and preparation time. In the end, we narrowed our search down to five top-rated rice pilaf products. All five rice pilaf products are available on Amazon.
Following our extensive research, we chose the Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix as our top choice. This rice pilaf contains all-natural ingredients and is GMO-free and Kosher certified. We love that the spices and herbs for this pilaf come in a separate packet, which gives you greater control over how your pilaf tastes. Conveniently, you can prepare this pilaf both on the stovetop and in the microwave. You get 12 packets of rice pilaf in total.
[toc]
The 5 Top-Rated Rice Pilaf
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Rice Pilaf Overall | Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix | 4.7 |
| Best Healthy Rice Pilaf | RightRice Medley Harvest Pilaf | 4.0 |
| Best Budget Rice Pilaf | Uncle Ben’s Chicken Flavor Rice Pilaf | 4.6 |
| Best Vegetarian Rice Pilaf | Casbah Authentic Grains Seasoned Rice Pilaf Mix | 4.1 |
| Best Microwavable Rice Pilaf | Wild Garden Heat and Serve Rice and Potato Pilaf | 4.1 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Rice Pilaf Overall: Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix
The Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix consists of long grain rice, toasted orzo pasta, and a mix of herbs and spices (salt, dried yeast extract, dried garlic, dried onions, and turmeric). The spices and herbs come in a separate seasoning packet so you can add in as much or as little as you like. All the ingredients are Kosher certified and non-GMO Project Verified. This pilaf contains wheat ingredients and is therefore not gluten-free.
You can cook this pilaf both on the stovetop (in about 30 minutes) and in the microwave (around 20 minutes). One serving (about a quarter cup of dry rice and a tablespoon of seasoning mix) has 190 calories, 770 milligrams of sodium, and no sugar.
Each box contains about three servings (just over six ounces). You get 12 boxes in total. The Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix claims to have a 12-month shelf life (but don’t forget to check the “Best Before” date on the packaging just in case).
Near East Original Rice Pilaf Mix Key Features:
- Pack of 12 (6.9 ounces each)
- Stovetop and microwave compatible
- Kosher and non-GMO
- Spices and herbs come in a separate packet
Best Healthy Rice Pilaf: RightRice Medley Harvest Pilaf
If you’re all about maintaining a healthy diet, you’ll want to check out RightRice Medley Harvest Pilaf. A quick glance at the ingredients list highlights the fact that this pilaf is incredibly healthy. The ingredients include RightRice (lentil flour, chickpea flour, rice flour, and pea fiber), sorghum (a nutrient-packed grain, also known as great millet), quinoa, dehydrated carrots, sunflower oil, pumpkin seeds, spices, and sea salt.
This pilaf is vegan, non-GMO, and Kosher, as well as gluten and allergen-free. According to RightRice, this pilaf contains more protein (8 grams instead of 4 grams) and more fiber (5 grams instead of 0 grams) than white rice. RightRice also claims that its rice contains 25% less net carbs than white rice.
Each serving (about a third of a cup) of RightRice Medley Harvest Pilaf has 190 calories, 290 milligrams of sodium, and 3 grams sugar. Each packet contains about four servings. You get six packets (seven ounces each) in total. This pilaf rice is ready in just 12 minutes (when cooked on a stovetop), tastes great, and has a nice texture. If stored properly, this pilaf should last you for about 12 months.
RightRice Medley Harvest Pilaf Key Features:
- Pack of 6 (7 ounces each)
- A blend of RightRice, ancient grains, and vegetables
- Ready to eat in 12 minutes
- Non-GMO and Kosher as well as gluten and allergen-free
Best Budget Rice Pilaf: Uncle Ben’s Chicken Flavor Rice Pilaf
With Uncle Ben’s Chicken Flavor Rice Pilaf, you won’t need to worry about buying more rice pilaf any time soon. This chicken-flavored rice pilaf comes in packs of 12 with each pack containing almost 25 ounces of pilaf. For that reason, this rice pilaf is popular with commercial kitchens. That being said, nothing is stopping you from stocking up on it, either.
Since this pilaf is chicken flavored, the ingredients list is somewhat longer than that of other rice pilaf products. The ingredients include enriched parboiled rice, salt, vegetables (red bell pepper, onion, carrot, and garlic), autolyzed yeast extract, potassium chloride, onion powder, garlic powder, sugar, chicken, modified corn starch, parsley, spices, soy flour, turmeric, caramel color, and natural flavor. This pilaf contains soy allergens.
You can make this rice pilaf either on the stovetop (in 15 minutes) or in the oven (20 minutes). Each serving (a quarter of a cup) has 190 calories, 840 milligrams of sodium, and 1 gram of sugar. There are about 12 servings in each box, so you can rest easy knowing that you’ll always put food on the table no matter how many people are coming to dinner.
Uncle Ben’s Chicken Flavor Rice Pilaf Key Features:
- Pack of 12 (25 ounces each)
- Chicken flavor
- Stovetop and oven compatible
Best Vegetarian Rice Pilaf: Casbah Authentic Grains Seasoned Rice Pilaf Mix
The Casbah Authentic Grains Seasoned Rice Pilaf Mix is made from 100% animal-free ingredients. The ingredients list includes parboiled long grain rice, whole durum wheat flour, granulated onion, granulated garlic, celery, spices, sea salt, silicon dioxide, canola oil, natural flavors with yeast extract, and turmeric. This pilaf also contains wheat. It’s non-GMO Project Verified and Kosher.
This pilaf comes in a pack of 12. Each pack contains seven ounces of pilaf and about four servings. One serving (a quarter cup) has 160 calories, 550 milligrams of sodium, and less than 1 gram of sugar. You can prepare this pilaf on the stovetop (in about 25 minutes) or in the microwave (about 20 minutes, depending on your microwave oven).
If you need some inspiration on how to use this pilaf product, Casbah has a ton of rice pilaf recipes on their site, including Spanish Pilaf Lettuce Wraps and Chicken and Sausage Rice Pilaf.
Casbah Authentic Grains Seasoned Rice Pilaf Mix Key Features:
- Pack of 12 (7 ounces each)
- 100% animal-free ingredients
- Non-GMO and Kosher
- Stovetop and microwave compatible
Best Microwavable Rice Pilaf: Wild Garden Heat and Serve Rice and Potato Pilaf
The Wild Garden Heat and Serve Rice and Potato Pilaf comes fully cooked, so all you have to do is pop the microwaveable pouch in the microwave for about 90 seconds to enjoy the rice pilaf as a delicious side dish or a snack. However, you can prepare this pilaf in the skillet, as well. Since this rice pilaf is so easy to make, it’s great for bringing with you to work or school.
This rice pilaf has a delicious, slightly spicy rice and potato flavor. The rice pilaf includes natural ingredients like potatoes, cooked basmati rice, vegetable stock, onion, garlic, coriander leaves, sunflower oil, salt, and red chili. You can get this pilaf in other flavors, too, such as dill and fava or wheat and tomato. This rice pilaf is gluten-free.
The Wild Garden Heat and Serve Rice and Potato Pilaf comes in a pack of six, with each pack containing almost nine ounces of pilaf rice (or two and a half servings). Each serving has 127 calories, 560 milligrams of sodium, and 1 gram of sugar. This pilaf rice product doesn’t need to be refrigerated (unless you open it).
Wild Garden Heat and Serve Rice and Potato Pilaf Key Features:
- Pack of 6 (8.8 ounces each)
- Ready in 90 seconds
- Rice and potato flavor
- Natural ingredients
When it comes to preparing rice pilaf, the variations are endless — so you’re very unlikely to get bored of it. You can eat rice pilaf for lunch, dinner, or as just a snack and save the leftovers for another meal (rice pilaf reheats pretty well). Can’t get enough of rice-based dishes? Check out our review of the best rice cookers.
