Tomatoes and rice is a tasty combination of juicy tomatoes and cooked rice that makes a savory side dish fit for any Southern meal! This easy rice side is perfectly suited to serving with any and all proteins, from a hearty beef stew to roasted chicken!
An absolutely mouthwatering Southern side dish!
Tomatoes and rice are a classic Southern side dish for any entrée South of the Mason-Dixon line. Sweet and juicy tomatoes paired with buttery Basmati rice and the best Southern ingredient of all... BACON GREASE!
The bacon grease adds a succulent, smokey flavor to this simple dish, perfect for any occasion. The flavorful juice that you get from the canned tomatoes and the chicken broth in this recipe replace that boring old water to add more flavor into the rice itself!
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❤️ WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE!
So Versatile! While there are many Southern-style side dishes, this one can easily be paired with any protein of any style!
It's Simple! Literally chop, sauté, pour and leave alone on the stove, this is one of the easiest stove-top recipes.
It's Delicious! Sweet tomatoes, creamy rice, and salty bacon grease. Three perfect elements to make a delectable plate!
🥘 Ingredients
Tomatoes and rice couples with any entrée or side dish. From ribs to oven fried chicken, you simply can't go wrong with this staple dish.
- 2 tablespoons Bacon Grease – A staple in traditional Southern cooking, collecting all of the delicious, salty fat from frying up some bacon for your breakfast. This is an ideal fat for cooking.
- 1 medium Sweet Onion – Finely diced. Sweet and pungent, the onion adds flavor while also adding texture to this delicious side.
- 1 clove Garlic - Honestly, you can never go wrong with garlic, the more the merrier! Such an assertive flavor that only gets better while it cooks.
- 4 cups Chicken Broth – While most rice recipes call for plain water, using chicken broth adds a new dimension to an otherwise simple plate.
- 29 ounces Petite Diced Tomatoes – 2 14.5-ounce cans. Already diced, packed in with the tomato’s natural juices, nice and sweet with great acidity!
- 2 cups Basmati Rice – A longer grain, this rice provides a silky, buttery mouth-feel, mimicking the creaminess of the bacon grease, YUM!
- Salt & Pepper - You always need to season your food!
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Instructions
This recipe is the perfect quick and easy side, especially if you have a complicated main dish. You'll have 20 minutes while the rice cooks to perfect everything else for an amazing meal!
- Sauté. In a large pot on medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of bacon grease. Once melted, add the 1 medium diced onion and sauté until soft and glassy. Add in garlic and cook for another minute. Add in both 14.5-ounce cans of tomatoes as well as the ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, stir until well mixed.
- Simmer. Add 4 cups chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Add 2 cups basmati rice, lower heat to a simmer, stir, and cover. Cook for 20 minutes until rice is fork-tender and all liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff. Turn off heat, let the rice rest for about 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork before serving.
Tomatoes and rice sound super simple, and the recipe is very easy, but the flavors are deliciously complex! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Adjust cooking time if needed. Basmati rice is long-grain rice, if using rice of a different size you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Fresh tomatoes are good, too! If you prefer to use fresh tomatoes, add 3-4 chopped tomatoes to the pot after sauteing the garlic but 5-10 minutes before you add the broth so they have time to cook down some.
- No pork, no problem! If you can't, or prefer not to, eat pork, try a bacon seasoning and butter. The bacon flavor is essential to getting the smoky flavor of this dish just right.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
You can store this rice dish for up to 5 days in an air-tight container in the fridge.
I do not recommend freezing your leftovers, as the rice will lose its texture and become gummy.
Reheating Tomatoes and Rice
For best results, place your leftover tomatoes and rice into a baking dish with a small amount of broth or water. Cover with a sheet of aluminum foil and heat in your oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through.
The easiest reheating method is to pop one corner of your container and heat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until the rice is heated throughout.
🍖 More Tasty Southern Dishes!
- Southern Fried Corn
- Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Instant Pot Collard Greens
- Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes
- Texas Chili
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📖 Recipe Card
Tomatoes and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon bacon grease
- 1 medium sweet onion (finely diced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 29 oz petite diced tomatoes (2 14.5-ounce cans, undrained)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups basmati
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- To begin, melt the bacon grease over medium-high heat in a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Once melted, add the onions and sauté them until tender and translucent. Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the chicken broth into the pot and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the rice and stir well. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer, covered, until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice (20-25 minutes).
- Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, turn off the heat. Let the rice rest for 5 additional minutes so that it can soak up any remaining liquid. Use a fork to fluff the rice and serve.
Notes
- Basmati rice is long-grain rice, if using rice of a different size you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- If you prefer to use fresh tomatoes, add 3-4 chopped tomatoes to the pot after sauteing the garlic but 5-10 minutes before you add the broth so they have time to cook down some.
- If you can't, or prefer not to, eat pork, try a bacon seasoning and butter. The bacon flavor is essential to getting the smoky flavor of this dish just right.
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