If you landed here with and/or because of bafflement or curiosity, we get it: who needs a recipe to make rice, right? And for kids, no less! Seriously.
But this isn’t a toddler rice recipe; this is a blueprint to get your toddler to eat whatever else you put on the plate with the rice. Research is clear that the presence of familiar and loved foods on a plate is more likely to get toddlers to try new ingredients and dishes–so why not make your kid a rice so good that he/she will be game to test out, say, a stir fry or curry? This rice has that power. This rice can do–and side with–anything.
Maybe you saw this coming: this toddler rice recipe will require a bit more of a commitment from you than a microwavable pouch of or boil-in-a-bag rice otherwise would. The effort and skill level required are still low, promise; the approach that follows, however, does demand more time and attention–but no more than the rest of your dinner plans might require (and can be made concurrently with it). The results are worth it, especially if your child is not always a rice person: falling somewhere between sticky and sushi rice, the results have a remarkably soft texture and faintly sweet flavor, reminiscent of the seemingly perfect rice you get at your go-to Thai takeout spot. It makes eating rice a pure joy–and everything else that comes along with it, too.
Why This Toddler Rice Recipe Works So Well
- Soft and fluffy – Easy for toddlers to chew and swallow
- Sticky texture – Ideal for self-feeding and baby-led weaning
- Picky eater approved – Mild flavor helps kids warm up to new foods
Even better? This kid-friendly rice recipe makes a great base for introducing new ingredients. Kids who might resist mixed dishes often love trying new foods when served alongside this comforting, familiar rice.
Ingredients
- White jasmine rice or short grain rice
- Coconut Milk
- Chicken Stock
How to Make Toddler Rice
- Rinse your rice thoroughly for the fluffiest texture.
- Combine rice with coconut milk and chicken stock
- Cook at low temperature in a rice cooker, Instant Pot, or stovetop—whichever method works for you.
- Let it steam in pot/container for 10 minutes after cooking, then fluff with a fork.
Serving Suggestions for Kids
Pair it with:
- Chicken stir fry
- Beef and Cucumber stir fry
- Simple sauces or dips toddlers already love
This easy rice recipe for kids is the kind of side dish you’ll return to again and again.
The Most Perfect Toddler Rice Recipe
Description
It only takes a few extra minutes to make restaurant-quality rice that will make your toddler or young kid excited to eat everything else on his/her plate.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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Rinse the rice until the water coming off it is clear, roughly 30 seconds.
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Place the rice in a small(ish) pot and cover with chicken stock and coconut milk; allow to sit for 30 minutes, if possible.
Cook
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Heat the pot to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low; cook until rice grains are soft and liquid has evaporated, roughly 10-15 minutes.
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Turn off heat but keep the pot on the stovetop and covered. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
Serve
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If you already have a preferred way of serving rice, don’t change it; if not, and if your child is likely to be more excited about the white stuff and not what’s adjacent to it, try making a mound of rice and sliding your protein and/or vegetables next to it (as in the recipe photo). If your child is comfortable eating foods on top of rice, though, don’t hesitate to mix it up right from the get-go.
Adapt
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You can add more flavor to the rice by adding bits of garlic, ginger, and/or herbs (i.e., cilantro) to the pot while cooking–just be sure to remove any big chunks before serving. The same technique that guides this recipe also forms the backbone of our ginger and scallion poached chicken (AKA, Hainan chicken), which is on near-weekly rotation in our house.
