Jollof Rice (Plus VIDEO)
Jollof Rice – This easy, flavorful, and flawlessly cooked African classic dish Jollof rice is simple whether you choose to make it on the stovetop or take the easy way out by putting it all in the oven. With its well-seasoned goodness, including onion, garlic, and tomatoes with some nutritious veggies thrown in, it’s perfect for regular nights or special occasions! The soul-satisfying flavors from thyme, paprika, and a Scotch bonnet round out this dish to perfection.
Jollof rice is a legendary one-pot dish that’s ubiquitous in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Togo, and Sierra Leone. In fact, this is the most popular party food in West Africa and has been gaining momentum elsewhere in East Africa.
Because of its popularity, there have been several debates about its origin. What I know for sure is that it is an amazing one-pot dish, and there is no argument when everyone is shoving it down their throat.
Contents…Recipe Ingredients |
What is Jollof Rice?

Jollof Rice, sometimes called jellof rice, is a classic rice dish cooked in a flavorful tomato-infused broth. With its several regional variations in name and ingredients, there is no absolute right or wrong way to cook this popular African rice recipe.
Jollof Rice Ingredients
I just want to say that jollof rice is great for entertaining, especially if you have picky kids. They always gobble it down.
It is fair to say that this delicious rice dish is pretty easy to make anywhere in the world because the ingredients are easy to find.
Despite its many variations, the most common ingredients in a jollof rice recipe are as follows:
- Rice – The starchy base for our dish, this filling ingredient is generally fragrant and soaks a lot of water. I prefer basmati, but you can use any long-grain rice.
- Onions – This veggie is excellent served fresh with its tangy flavor. However, I personally love it slightly caramelized for a bit of sweetness. Get the perfect cut for this ingredient with this easy-to-follow guide.
- Thyme – A deliciously aromatic herb from the incredible mint family is a delicious addition to just about any savory recipe. Fresh is good, but dried will work, and I have a list of the perfect substitutes if you don’t have thyme at all.
- Garlic – Ah, the wonderful garlic flavor makes this Jollof Rice recipe even better. And here’s my trick for mincing it.
- Paprika – This ingredient adds the fabulous pepper flavor without the heat.
- Tomato Puree or Sauce – The sweet, slightly acidic, and fresh flavors of tomato in a thick mixture is perfect for many starchy dishes.
- Chicken Broth (or water) – Basically, the flavorful water that chicken was simmered in. Not only is it full of flavor, but it’s also filled with healthy fats and collagen.
- Scotch Bonnet or Hot Pepper – My favorite hot pepper is a tear-jerker, but sometimes a good cry is good for ya. 🤣 Most of the time, I put it whole instead of chopping it to get the flavor from its skin and not the seed’s heat.
- Vegetables – Carrots, peas, green beans, and corn are all excellent choices to create a mix of colorful veggies to make it even more vibrant.
How to Cook Easy Jollof Rice
Traditionally, Jollof is cooked on the stovetop. However, that involves a lot of stirring, and sometimes the rice sticks to the pot, making the dish quite unappetizing.
In this blog post, I completely eliminated that problem by making it in the oven with just five minutes of prep time and no constant stirring involved.
But if you want to stick to the traditional method, I’ve also included the stovetop method. Here are the super-easy steps to make this simple dish.
- Rinse the rice – Make sure you clean it thoroughly with just water. Do not parboil!
- Put It All In! Add all the ingredients to the baking dish or pan.
- Cover and Cook – Lastly, cover it with aluminum foil and pop it in the oven.
Is that easy enough for you?
Now, if you are not vegan and want to throw in some meat or protein, by all means, do so.
Simply stir-fry shrimp, beef, or chicken and a medley of vegetables, mix with the rice and serve.

Serving, Storage & Make-Ahead
This dish is best steaming right out of the oven, but you may want to let it cool down for about five minutes before putting it on the table.
Store any leftover jollof rice in the fridge in an airtight container. It should last three or four days easily.
To have it ready ahead of time, make it, then let it cool. Store it the same way you would leftovers. Put it in a baking dish, add a splash of water or chicken broth, cover it, and bake it in a preheated 350℉/177℃ oven for around 20 minutes. Ready!
Tips & Tricks
- People say not to wash your rice because you remove the enriching vitamins. However, you really don’t lose that much, and washing your rice before cooking makes for fluffier rice.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan for the stovetop version to reduce the chances of your rice burning.
- Let the rice sit covered for about ten minutes after removing it from the heat so that the rice evenly absorbs the remaining moisture. Then fluff your deliciousness with a fork for perfectly fluffy rice.
FAQs
While I made cooking the rice easy-peasy by baking it, the real secret to amazing Jollof rice is taking your time on the sauce, especially caramelizing the onions.
You bet it is! Great food makes you happy, and happiness is healthy. Besides, rice is a healthy carb, and the tomatoes are fabulous.
It happens to the best of us. If there’s liquid still in the pan, just extend the cooking time. If your pan is dry and the rice is still hard, heat up some broth or water and stir it in. You want the liquid you’re adding to be hot so that it doesn’t cool your rice down and take even longer to cook.
What to Serve with Jollof Rice
This delicious rice dish can be served with just about any meat or non-meat recipe that you like. You can start with these few below and then explore other recipes to pair with this lovely dish:
- Chicken Stew (African-style)
- Suya Chicken
- Fried Plantains
- Asun (Spicy Roast Goat)
- Curried Goat Stew
- African Beef Stew
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
More Popular African Recipes You’ll Love
- Egusi Soup
- Eru
- Moin Moin
- Puff Puff (Please also see my list of Puff Puff Recipes)
- Fish Pepper Soup
- Okra Soup
- Maafe
How to Make Jollof Rice
Baked Method
- Prepare the rice and the oven – Preheat oven to 350℉/177℃. Rinse the rice with water and drain.
- Combine and Stir – In a half-sheet pan (approx. 13″x18″x 2½”), combine all ingredients and stir so that everything is fully incorporated. (See photos 1-2)
- Cover and Cook – Cover tightly with aluminum foil paper. Double the foil if you can because it helps cook faster. Gently place in the oven and cook for about 70-80 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and check after 70 minutes. Since posting, I have retried the recipe several times, and it works best for my oven after 75 minutes. (See photo 3)
- Open and Serve – When cooked, remove carefully from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Then carefully remove the aluminum paper. Fluff rice with a fork, throw in your add-ins, and mix evenly. Serve hot, but you can let it cool a tad if you prefer. (See photo 4)
Watch How to Make It
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It tried this yesterday and it came out so well. Because of the rice I was using I only used 3 cups of broth.
Thanks for a quick and easy way to make jollof.
If the shrimp are cooked, add them as you fluff the rice, the residual heat will warm them enough and they will not go rubbery.
I loooooove this recipe! I am watching Parts Unknown and trying to cook one of the dishes cooked in each episode. This has got to be my favorite so far! One thing, the shrimp turned out rubbery in the oven. Is it supposed to be cooked at a different point in the cook? Thanks!
Bit late to help you, but any shrimp or meat needs to be cooked separately and not added until the rice is done. I can’t imagine what that shrimp was like after that long in the oven!!
Same with veggies, remember rice takes much longer to cook completely so your veggies will turn to mush.
This recipe is a Godsend! Thank you for sharing. My family loves it!
I tweaked it a little bit. Instead of using broth I blended red peppers without water and added it. It came out really yummy.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!!!
Is the rice pre cooked?
No it’s not precooked.
How did u prepare the rice before putting in the oven ? As in was it parboiled?
Hello Franca. No, the rice was not parboiled before putting in the oven. All you need to do is wash the rice. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!
I love your method of making it in the oven. My only issue I had is all of the seasoning was left on top, with cooked rice on the bottom. I mixed added a tiny bit of water and hopefully that will do it. Thanks again!
Hi Imma, what the brandname of your basmati rice? Merci
Hello Laurette,
I use royal . It’s available at Walmart and Costco. I have tried several variety and they work just as well.
Hi! Red onions or white onions in this style of cooking. Im also making gizdodo which calls for onions. Thank you.
Either works just fine.
What type of beef will I is for the Jalloff Rice?
Any beef works .
Ever try making this with a slow cooker…?
No I haven’t .
Could you please explain the cube of chicken boullion – how much water should you use to dissolve it?
And what kind of hot pepper should I use instead of the 1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper ?
Please let me know before cooking
Thank you,
Habenaro pepper
When we were visiting friends in Nigeria, they made us something that they called “stew” and served it with jollof rice. It was a thick tomato sauce and the served it over chicken (or maybe cooked the chicken in it, I am not sure which). (They also said they can do it with beef.) Does this sound familiar to you? If so, do you have a recipe for “stew” that you can suggest? Thanks!
You can check out this recipe here >>> https://www.africanbites.com/beef-stewafrican-style/ Hope it’s what you’re referring, too. Enjoy!
Hi,
I cooked the shrimp with the Jollof. Would it taste the same if I did?
The shrimp might be too rubbery.
How would this work if I substitute the rice for riced cauliflower?
Sorry, I can’t give you an exact proximation, I haven’t tried this with riced cauliflower.
At what point do I add the shrimp to the jollof rice?
You saute it separately and add after you remove from the oven or when serving it.
I am not too crazy about bouillon cubes. What can I add instead?
. About 1-2 teaspoons of creole seasoning would add more flavor to it.
hi! can this be made in a microwave oven instead? can’t wait to try it!
Hi,
Haven’t tried it in a microwave . If you do let me know the outcome .
Thanks
Hello! Tried this recipe for the first time today, followed the instructions and amounts of liquid and Basmati rice. Unfortunately my rice at the bottom of the cooking tray was mushy and the top was raw. I did stir well and used tight tinfoil… I had to finish it on the stove. Flavour was awesome! But rice no good.. what did I do wrong? 🙁
To reduce the mushy rice – reduce the liquid by 1/3 cup especially if using larger chicken thighs they tend to release extra liquid.
Is the meat cooked when added?
Yes it is .
It tastes amazing! This recipe is pretty much foolproof! If your jollof rice never turns out quite right or you just don’t want to slave over a stove this recipe is for you. It doesn’t get much easier than this. This technique does not compromise the flavor at all. I will never make stovetop jollof rice again. Thanks so much for posting this. This recipe is has a permanent place in our meal rotation.
Awesome! Thanks for the detailed feedback!
Hi. I don’t have Basmati rice. I only have white long-grain. What would be the cups ratio of water and rice to get same servings
Hi Saurel, same ratio of rice and water .