If you want the color and flavor of boxed yellow rice without paying boxed-rice prices, this simple pantry mix gets the job done. You stir together rice and a handful of spices, stash it in a jar or bag, then cook it with water and olive oil whenever you need an easy side dish.
It makes a mild, savory yellow rice with turmeric for color, cumin for warmth, and just enough onion and garlic to keep it from tasting flat. Pair it with chicken, beans, grilled pork, or tuck it into your jar-gift rotation alongside Curried Rice Mix or Dill Lemon Rice Mix.
Ingredients for Yellow Rice Mix
- 1 cup rice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
To cook the mix, you will also need:
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
How to Make the Mix
- Measure the rice, onion powder, turmeric, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and sugar into a zip-top bag, vacuum-seal bag, or small jar.
- Seal tightly and shake until the seasonings are evenly distributed through the rice.
- If you are giving it as a jar gift, layer the ingredients in a small jar instead of shaking them together.
How to Cook the Rice
- Pour 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons olive oil into a saucepan and bring them to a boil.
- Stir in the prepared yellow rice mix.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 5 minutes if needed to finish absorbing the liquid, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Tips for Best Results
Use a tight-fitting lid. Rice behaves better when the steam stays in the pan instead of wandering off to annoy you.
Keep the heat low once the pot is covered. A hard boil after that point can scorch the bottom before the grains finish cooking.
Fluff with a fork, not a spoon. A fork separates the grains without mashing them into a soft yellow lump.
Easy Variations
- Richer flavor: Cook the rice in broth instead of water.
- Brighter finish: Stir in a squeeze of lemon juice right before serving.
- More savory depth: Add a spoonful of minced onion to the pot with the water and oil.
- Simple meal starter: Fold in cooked chicken, black beans, or peas after the rice is done.
If you like homemade pantry shortcuts, MYO: Minute Rice is another handy one to keep around.
Storage and Shelf Life
Store the dry mix in an airtight jar or sealed bag in a cool, dry cupboard for up to 1 year for best quality. That estimate is conservative and based on the spices losing strength before the rice truly becomes unusable. Keep moisture out of the container, and if the mix smells dull or the spices have faded, make a fresh batch.
Once cooked, refrigerate the rice within 2 hours and use it within 3 to 4 days. The USDA notes that cooked rice should be kept refrigerated and used within that window, which is the safest bet for leftovers. You can read the guidance here: USDA food storage guidance for rice and pasta.
For longer storage, freeze cooked rice in airtight portions for up to 3 months for best quality. Reheat it until it is steaming hot all the way through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve yellow rice with grilled chicken, roasted pork, baked fish, or a skillet of black beans. It also works well beside spicy mains because the mild seasoning balances the plate instead of competing with it.
If you want to turn it into more of a meal, spoon it into burrito bowls, use it under shredded chicken, or serve it with a simple green salad and dinner rolls. It is a reliable side dish, which is code for it plays nicely with almost everything.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Yellow Rice Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rice |
$3.42 |
1 C. |
$0.28 |
|
Onion powder |
$1.24 |
1 t. |
$0.03 |
|
Ground turmeric |
$1.98 |
1/4 t. |
$0.02 |
|
Ground cumin |
$1.24 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Salt |
$0.62 |
1/2 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Garlic powder |
$1.24 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Sugar |
$2.98 |
1/4 t. |
$0.01 |
|
Water |
– |
2 C. |
$0.01 |
|
Olive oil |
$5.94 |
2 t. |
$0.12 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$0.50 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.08 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Long Grain White Rice, 32 oz
- Onion Powder, 3.25 oz
- Ground Turmeric, 2 oz
- Ground Cumin, 2.5 oz
- Iodized Salt, 26 oz
- Garlic Powder, 3.4 oz
- Granulated Sugar, 4 lb
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 17 fl oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Yellow Rice Mix
You can, but don’t swap it straight across and expect the same cook time. Brown rice needs more liquid and a longer simmer, usually closer to 40 to 45 minutes, so the spice mix works fine but the stovetop directions need to change with it.
Plain long grain white rice is the safest choice here because it cooks evenly in about 20 minutes and stays fluffy instead of sticky. Instant rice cooks too fast for these directions, and short grain rice tends to turn softer and clumpier.
That usually means the lid let too much steam escape or the heat was either too high or too low. Add 2 to 4 tablespoons of hot water, cover tightly, and cook another 5 minutes before you judge it too harshly.
You can use another neutral cooking oil or even butter if that’s what you have. The fat helps separate the grains and rounds out the flavor, so skipping it entirely can leave the rice a little plainer and more prone to sticking.
One cup of uncooked long grain rice usually gives you about 3 cups cooked, which works out to roughly 6 side-dish servings at 1/2 cup each. If you serve bigger 3/4-cup portions, plan on 4 servings instead.
Absolutely. Double every mix ingredient and cook it with 4 cups water and 4 teaspoons olive oil, but use a larger pot so the rice has room to expand without boiling over like it owns the stove.
Turmeric is what gives the rice its yellow color, and it adds a mild earthy note in the background. This recipe only uses 1/4 teaspoon, so you get color and warmth without pushing the flavor too far.
Shake the sealed jar or bag well right before cooking, especially if it has been sitting a while. Fine spices naturally drift downward through the rice over time, so a quick shake fixes the problem in about 5 seconds.
Yes, and it is an easy way to build a fuller savory flavor. Use the same 2-cup amount, but taste before adding extra salt anywhere else because broth can push the finished dish from nicely seasoned to salty in a hurry.
It pairs well with roasted chicken, pork chops, black beans, grilled sausage, or baked fish because the seasoning is mild and flexible. Think of it as the dependable side dish that fills the plate without starting an argument with the main course.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Yellow Rice Mix
Yellow Rice Mix
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Equipment
Instructions
- Combine the rice, onion powder, turmeric, cumin, salt, garlic powder, and sugar in a zip-top bag, vacuum-seal bag, or small jar.
- Seal and shake to combine.
- To cook, bring the water and olive oil to a boil in a saucepan.
- Stir in the prepared mix.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Let stand 5 minutes if needed, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Cooked yield is estimated at about 3 cups, or 6 servings at 1/2 cup each.
Store the dry mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year for best quality.
Refrigerate cooked rice within 2 hours and use within 3 to 4 days.
i made this rice, yesterday, and it was delicious…..it was a little funny because i take turmeric herbal capsule a day, so i just opened 3-4 capsules and poured it in the baggie with all the other seasonings…..I did need to put a little extra salt and garlic powder in it, but overall it was very good…..nice to know if you want yellow rice and don’t have any on hand, I can just make some up…..