Best 3 Applebees Copycat Cranberry Rice Recipes

When you're craving a delicious and flavorful side dish to accompany your favorite entrée, Applebee's Copycat Cranberry Rice is a perfect choice. This simple yet satisfying recipe combines the tartness of cranberries with the nutty flavor of rice, creating a dish that is both tangy and satisfying. With its vibrant red color and delightful aroma, this dish is sure to impress your family and friends. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special occasion side dish, Applebee's Copycat Cranberry Rice is a recipe that you'll turn to time and time again.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

RICE PILAF WITH CRANBERRIES

Rice Pilaf with Cranberries image

The perfect side dish to poultry and seafood this rice pilaf is super easy to make! With tons of sweet flavor from the cranberries your family will want this rice side dish again and again.

Provided by Lauren Schmidt

Categories Side Dishes

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
½ white or yellow onion, diced
1 cup white rice
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon better than bouillon chicken base
1 ½ cups water
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup dried cranberries

Steps:

In a small pot that has a lid melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion to melted butter and sauté 1-2 minutes.
Add rice, bay leaf, chicken bouillon base to the onions. Sauté 2-3 minutes spreading out the chicken base and slightly toasting the rice.
Add water and cover. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook covered 10 minutes until rice is tender.
Remove from heat, remove the bay leaf from the rice. Gently stir in the cranberries and parsley into the rice, serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 198 calories, Carbohydrate 24 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 35 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 9 grams fat, Fiber 1 grams fiber, Protein 7 grams protein, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1/4 of the final dish, Sodium 187 milligrams sodium, Sugar 10 grams sugar, TransFat 0 grams trans fat, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams unsaturated fat

APPLE-CRANBERRY WILD RICE

Apple-Cranberry Wild Rice image

Dried apples, cranberries and savory nicely complement the wild rice and leek in this delicious recipe from Marion Karlin of Waterloo, Iowa.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Side Dishes

Time 1h20m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

2-3/4 cups water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup uncooked wild rice
1 teaspoon dried savory
1small leek (white portion only), coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped dried apples
6 tablespoons chicken broth, divided
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

Steps:

In a large saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Stir in the rice. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until rice is tender. Drain. Stir in savory; set aside., In a large nonstick skillet, saute leek in oil for 1 minute. Stir in cranberries, apples and 3 tablespoons broth. Cover and simmer for 6-8 minutes or until fruit is tender, stirring occasionally., Add rice, onion salt, lemon-pepper and remaining broth. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

Nutrition Facts :

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND RICE PILAF

Cranberry and Almond Rice Pilaf image

I've been making this dish for years - it's different from typical rice pilaf dishes in that the cranberries add the sweetness and the tartness that you don't expect in a savory dish. Oh, and it's super hard to fumble.

Provided by BOGINIA2

Categories Side Dish Rice Side Dish Recipes Pilaf

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
¾ cup chopped onions
½ cup dried cranberries
1 ½ cups uncooked jasmine rice
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
ground black pepper to taste
2 green onions, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
¼ cup slivered almonds

Steps:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Stir cranberries and jasmine rice into onion until rice is coated with oil and rice is lightly toasted, about 5 minutes more.
Pour chicken broth into skillet and season with kosher salt and black pepper.
Bring rice mixture to a boil over high heat, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 22 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat; stir green onions, cilantro, and almonds into rice mixture. Adjust seasoning if necessary.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 212.6 calories, Carbohydrate 39.4 g, Cholesterol 1.5 mg, Fat 3.9 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 5.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.6 g, Sodium 285.2 mg, Sugar 6.1 g

Tips:

Use fresh cranberries: Fresh cranberries have a brighter flavor and more tartness than frozen or dried cranberries, and they will hold their shape better in the dish.
Don't overcook the rice: The rice should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked rice will be mushy and bland.
Use a good quality chicken broth: The chicken broth is a key flavor component in this dish, so it's important to use a good quality broth. Look for a broth that is low in sodium and has a rich flavor.
Add the cranberries and pecans at the end of cooking: This will help to preserve their flavor and texture.
Serve the dish hot: This dish is best served hot, so it's important to eat it right away or reheat it gently before serving.

Conclusion:

Applebee's Copycat Cranberry Rice is a delicious and easy-to-make side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It's made with simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry, and it can be ready in under an hour. The rice is cooked in a flavorful chicken broth and then mixed with fresh cranberries, pecans, and a touch of butter. The result is a dish that is both sweet and savory, with a slightly tart finish. Serve it as a side dish to your favorite main course, or enjoy it as a light lunch or dinner.