Pellet Grill Rice Pilaf

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Making a simple Rice Pilaf Recipe can be tough at a tailgate if you don't have a stove. One Pan Rice Pilaf is the Solution! This recipe is made in an aluminum foil pan right on the pellet grill right along with all of your other meats.

This Pellet Grill Rice Pilaf is the perfect solution for tailgate cooking and its one that I have used in restaurants and backyard bbq's alike.

Why You Should Make Pellet Grill Rice Pilaf

• Convenience: When you are preparing multiple meats and recipes on the smoker you don't want to have to deal with cooking a pot of rice and stirring constantly. This recipe is made in one pan with no stirring will it cooks.
• Cost: Rice Pilaf is obviously a very affordable side dish and great for feeding a crowd. It goes great with seafood, pork, chicken and even steak. I make a pan of rice pilaf every time we have a group of people over.
• Taste: I absolutely love this rice pilaf because you can adjust the seasoning however you like. It can be customized to the other recipes you are preparing. You can make a spicy cajun rice or a very simple classic pilaf. I added curry powder for a vibrant yellow color with those unique curry flavors.
• Meal Prep: Even if you are not tailgating I recommend this recipe for meal prep. Its a super simple way to make a lot of rice at once so you can portion it out to serve along side proteins and veggies.

What You Will Need To Make Rice Pilaf in a Pan

• Rice: I use a short grain rice for this recipe, It cooks evenly and is quite versatile.
• Frozen Vegetables: There are different blends but most commonly you will find a mix of peas, carrots, corn and sliced green beans. feel free to add any other veggies you like.
• Garlic Cloves: I leave the cloves whole and my family loves them. we are Italian so what do you expect. I you don't want whole cloves of garlic you may want to chop them up so they are less noticeable.
• Dry Chives: I add this more for color, You can use fresh chives or scallions. If you don't like onion flavor parsley works great too.
• Seasoning: This is where you can get creative. Im using curry powder because I love the color and flavor it gives. you can use any seasoning blend you like or just use salt and pepper.
• Butter: this helps add richness and flavor to the recipe as well as helps the rice from getting too sticky. You can also use olive oil if you prefer.

How To Make Rice Pilaf In a Pan

1. Pour the rice along with the frozen veggies, seasonings and butter into the aluminum foil pan. Next pour in the water and stir to combine the ingredients
2. Preheat the Grill to about 350 degrees F. Cover the foil pan with aluminum foil tightly. Place on the grill and cook for 25 minutes.
3. Open a corner and check the rice, all of the water should be absorbed and the rice should have doubled in size. The rice can still be slightly undercooked. Remove from the grill and let sit cover for 10-15 additional minutes.
4. Once the rice is fully cooked stir the rice fluffing it up just before serving. taste for seasoning ad adjust as needed.

Tips to Make Sure Your Rice Pilaf is Perfect

• The only downside of this method is that you can overcook the rice if youre not paying attention. You may need to peek a few times to make sure the rice isn't cooking faster than it should. Its a small price to pay to make rice in a pan right on the grill.
• The ratio for this recipe is 2 to 1 water to rice so if you have 1 cup of rice you will need 2 cups of water. You can make as little or as much rice pilaf as you need depending on how many people you plan to feed.
• I recommend ¼ cup of uncooked rice per person so you can do the math based on the crowd
• If you think the rice might be slightly overcooked. Stir in a few ice cubes and fluff up the rice to cool the rice down as quick as possible. This will stop the cooking process.
• If you think the rice is slightly undercooked just place it back on the grill covered for another 5-10 minutes until it is fully cooked.
• Make sure to taste the rice once its done. If you think it needs more flavor you can add seasoning when you stir the rice.
• Using Broth instead of water is my biggest secret to adding more flavor to your rice pilaf. You can also use any fresh chopped veggies you prefer. Celery, Onion, Bell Peppers are a great addition to add freshness.
• I recommend storing your rice and veggies in quart or pint containers especially if you are cooking offsite. you can also use chicken bouillon powder to save space.

FAQ

Final Thoughts on Rice Pilaf

This is a great method for cooking a lot of rice at once with limited equipment. Lets be honest weather conditions, wind rain heat can change the temp of your grill and effect the timing of the rice. Keep an eye on it and check it a few times. Its easier to cook the rice a few minutes longer than deal with over cooked rice.

If you are gonna be off error on the side of underdone than overcooked. Even if you do over cook it slightly its still tasty and its not the end of the world.

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