Stick of Butter Rice (ORIGINAL VIRAL RECIPE)
If youโve ever wondered what recipe officially launched Melissa Jo Real Recipes into the worldโฆ this is the one. Stick of Butter Rice! The BEST side dish you will ever MAKE! Want to make it a meal? Try my Stick of Butter Chicken & Rice or my Stick of Butter Beef & Rice!
Back in 2020, I was just five recipes into posting on TikTok. I filmed this super simple rice bake with a stick of butter, a can of beef consommรฉ, a couple cans of French onion soup, and somehowโฆ it hit 10 million views.
And that was it โ my life changed. People made it for holidays, weeknights, potlucks, and I knew right then I wanted to keep creating real, simple, insanely delicious recipes for busy people who love good food.
Since then, the โStick of Butterโ series has grown โ Iโve now made:
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But THIS is the original. The one that started it all. The viral recipe I still make today โ because not only is it nostalgicโฆ itโs seriously that good.
๐ How to Store Leftovers
Fridge: 3โ4 days in airtight container
Reheat: Microwave or 300ยฐF oven, add splash of broth if dry
Freezer: Up to 3 months
๐ Substitutions & Variations
| Swap | Notes |
|---|---|
| Parmesan cheese | Works if you canโt find Locatelli |
| Unsalted butter | Just add a pinch more salt if needed |
| Fresh mushrooms | Sautรฉ first โ wonโt have liquid, so add ยผ cup extra broth |
| Brown rice | Does not work โ different cook time + liquid ratio |
| Add-ins | Sliced onions, Worcestershire, or fresh thyme on top |
Tips for Perfect Stick of Butter Rice
Donโt stir too much โ keeping the rice distributed but not overmixed helps it bake evenly
If using glass instead of ceramic, check 5โ7 minutes earlier
Locatelli gives a salty, nutty, punchier flavor than Parmesan โ highly recommended
Tight foil = tender rice; loose foil = crunchy edges (also yum)
๐ค Common Questions
Not the same. The depth of flavor comes from the soups.
Yes โ use a 9×13 and increase bake time to 1 hr 10โ15 mins.
Stick of Butter Rice
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375ยฐF. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish.
- Add rice straight into the dish โ no rinsing needed.
- Pour in the beef consommรฉ, French onion soup, and both cans of mushrooms with the liquid.
- Melt butter and pour it evenly over the top. Donโt overmix โ a gentle โswishโ or light zhuzh with a spoon is all it needs.
- Top with grated Locatelli Pecorino Romano cheese.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake 1 hour.
- Check to see if thereโs excess liquid. If so, bake uncovered 8โ10 more minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve!
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I don’t like mushrooms, can I just leave that out? Or should I substitute something else?
Absolutely! ๐ If you donโt like mushrooms, you can leave them out completely and the recipe will still turn out great. The liquid from the mushrooms does add a tiny bit of moisture, so if you skip them, just add an extra splash (about ยผ cup) of beef broth or water to make sure the rice has enough liquid to cook.
Some yummy swap ideas if you do want to replace them:
โข ๐ง sautรฉed onions or shallots
โข ๐ฅซ a little extra French onion soup
โข ๐ง jarlic or roasted garlic cloves
โข ๐ฅฉ diced cooked beef tips (for extra beefy flavor!)
Hello, is boil in the bag rice considered instant rice?
Yes! Because itโs par cooked!
Can you make this in a crockpot?
Now you know Iโm gonna figure it out!! Iโll be testing over holiday! Iโll update my blog when I figure out exact method to get best result! Stay tuned! ๐
Can you make this ahead of time then just warm it up in the oven or will it not be as good?
You can fully cook! And heat up! But, definitely best served freshly baked!