Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Easy Mujadara Recipe is a comforting, hearty dinner ready in 30 minutes. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly tender lentils and crispy onions. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Gluten-Free Orange Chicken Recipe for Dinner and Easy Korean Gochujang Butter Salmon Rice Bowl Recipe.
Why This Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy onions add a satisfying crunch
- Tender lentils and fluffy rice are perfectly cooked
- Comforting, hearty flavors that are better than takeout
- Easy to customize with your favorite vegetables
What You'll Need for Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
- Optional: Plain Greek yogurt
📝 Ingredient Notes
- lentils: Make sure to rinse and pick over lentils before cooking.
- broth: Vegetable or chicken broth can be used. For a richer flavor, use chicken broth.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks lentils perfectly tender in just 10 minutes. → See on Amazon
- High-quality non-stick pan — Ensures even cooking and prevents lentils from sticking. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
- Step 1: In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 10-15 minutes. Remove onions from pan and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pan, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add lentils, rice, cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Add broth to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Step 4: Fluff the lentils and rice with a fork. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with crispy onions and serve with optional toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
- : To prevent lentils from sticking, add a pinch of baking soda to the cooking water.
- Common mistake and fix: If lentils are not tender after 20 minutes, add more broth and continue cooking until tender.
- : For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- : To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free broth and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Storing & Reheating Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
Freezing Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño to the pan when cooking the garlic.
- Best substitution: Quinoa can be substituted for rice for a gluten-free and higher protein version.
- Make-ahead: Mujadara can be made ahead and reheated before serving. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the lentils are not tender after 20 minutes, add more broth and continue cooking until tender.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality cutting board — Provides a stable surface for chopping onions and prevents them from rolling around. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
- Plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 10-15 minutes. Remove onions from pan and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pan, add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add lentils, rice, cumin, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Add broth to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Step 4: Fluff the lentils and rice with a fork. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Top with crispy onions and serve with optional toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño to the pan when cooking the garlic.
- Best substitution: Quinoa can be substituted for rice for a gluten-free and higher protein version.
- Make-ahead: Mujadara can be made ahead and reheated before serving. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the lentils are not tender after 20 minutes, add more broth and continue cooking until tender.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 15g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner FAQs
Yes, Mujadara can be made ahead and reheated before serving. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
If the lentils are not tender after 20 minutes, add more broth and continue cooking until tender. If the lentils are still dry after cooking, add a little water or broth and cook for a few more minutes.
Yes, you can make Mujadara in the slow cooker. Cook the onions and garlic on the stove, then combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
Quinoa can be substituted for rice for a gluten-free and higher protein version.
Yes, Mujadara is naturally gluten-free. Just ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
