Sweet bell pepper rice is a sweet and savory rice dish that’s perfect as a side for your next meal. It’s quick, easy, and sure to be an instant hit. The rice is soft and sweet while the bell peppers and onions have their own natural sweetness and savory flavor going on and when it’s all combined together it tastes like magic.

We always, always, always, make this bell pepper rice to serve alongside our honey lime chicken enchiladas. They marry together perfectly, and honestly it’s a main course and side dish combo made in heaven. It just works!

A spoon in a baking dish full of Sweet Pepper Rice that is studded with diced red peppers and chopped cilantro.

Why This Recipe Works

This bell pepper rice dish is baked in the oven instead of on the stovetop. What’s great is that it comes together both easily and beautifully. The bursts of color really make this sweet rice look special but nothing compares to that first bite when the flavor hits you.

To amp up the flavor we use chicken broth as our liquid of choice. Doing so provides extra flavor that water just doesn’t deliver.

Ingredients

  • Onion: Onions are big when it comes to cooking because they have a great natural sweet and savory flavor. They’re also considered aromatic, which means your food will smell fantastic. We need only a small amount of onion, and preferably a sweet onion.
  • Bell Pepper: We want to use a red bell pepper because it adds color and flavor to the dish.
  • Sugar: To help give assistance to the natural sweetness of flavors in this recipe we will need a bit of granulated sugar. Don’t worry, this recipe won’t become too sweet as a result.
  • Long Grain White Rice: We want to use long-grain white rice as the rice base for this dish. Other grains will vary in bake time and how much liquid is needed.
  • Chicken Broth: Instead of cooking our rice in the water we’re making a simple switch and cooking it with chicken broth. This will help to cook the rice while infusing it with a ton of wonderful flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a 9×13 baking dish, combine all of the ingredients listed and stir to combine.
  1. Cover the top of the pan with foil and bake in the oven for 60-65 minutes, stirring halfway through the bake time.
A glass baking dish full of Sweet Pepper Rice with red and green studded peppers and cilantro throughout.

Recipe Tips

Dice the onion, cilantro, and bell pepper into small pieces. They will cook and meld with the rice better when chopped fine.

Storing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-6 days. To reheat, place on a microwave-safe plate and heat in short intervals until warmed throughout.

FAQs

Can bell pepper rice be cooked on the stovetop?

You can combine the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil, reduce heat and place a lid on top. Cook for the recommended time on the package of rice and check doneness, adjusting time as necessary.

How long is bell pepper rice good for?

Leftover rice can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. For best result eat sooner rather than later.

Do I have to rinse my rice before using it?

You can rinse your rice if you would like to, this would help to remove extra starches. That said, if you want to skip rinsing the rice you can as well. It turns out great either way!

A gold spoon in a pile of red pepper studded Sweet Pepper Rice.

Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a rating and review, or scroll below the recipe card and do so there.

A spoon in a baking dish full of Sweet Pepper Rice that is studded with diced red peppers and chopped cilantro.
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5 from 4 votes

Bell Pepper Rice

This delicious sweet bell pepper rice is studded with chopped red peppers and cilantro. We love to eat this rice with my sweet lime chile enchiladas!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
 

  • 3 tablespoons butter - cubed
  • 1/2 small sweet onion - finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper - finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup cilantro - finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups long grain white rice
  • 3 cups chicken broth

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Place all of the ingredients in a 9×13 pan. Stir to combine. Cover with foil and bake at for 60-65 minutes, stirring once halfway through bake time. 
  • The finished rice should have all of the liquid absorbed and will be soft and tender when biting into it.

Notes

Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-6 days. To reheat, place on a microwave-safe plate and heat in short intervals until warmed throughout.
Serve with my Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas. 

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcal (9%)Carbohydrates: 33g (11%)Protein: 3g (6%)Fat: 5g (8%)Saturated Fat: 3g (15%)Trans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 11mg (4%)Sodium: 509mg (21%)Potassium: 151mg (4%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 8g (9%)Vitamin A: 400IU (8%)Vitamin C: 17mg (21%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
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