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.
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.
Pair it with:
This easy rice recipe for kids is the kind of side dish you'll return to again and again.
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.
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.
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.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
