Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Easy Mujadara Recipe — A comforting and hearty dinner is just a few steps away. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked lentils and rice every time. The warm, cozy flavor of this dish is perfect for chilly nights. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Pesto Eggs on Avocado Toast Easy Breakfast Recipe and Easy Pecan Apple Crisp Coffee Cake Recipe for Breakfast.
Why This Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Golden lentils and fluffy rice
- Warm, cozy flavor perfect for chilly nights
- Better than takeout and easy to make
- Comforting and hearty, yet light on the wallet
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
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
- Optional: Crumbled feta cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- lentils: Make sure to rinse and pick over lentils before cooking.
- vegetable broth: You can substitute with chicken broth if desired.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks lentils and rice perfectly in half the time. → See on Amazon
- Good quality vegetable broth — Enhances the flavor of the dish. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
- Sauté onion and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
- Cook lentils and rice: Add lentils, rice, and spices to the pot. Stir to combine. Pour in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Serve: Ladle Mujadara into bowls and top with optional toppings as desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the lentils. They should be tender but still hold their shape. If they're too soft, they'll turn to mush.
- Tip: For a thinner stew, add more broth or water.
- Tip: You can make this dish ahead of time and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
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: You can make this dish ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner
Freeze 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. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish vegan, simply omit the feta cheese topping.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the lentils with chickpeas for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still hard after 30 minutes, add more broth or water and continue to simmer.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality cutting board — Makes prep work easier and safer. → 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
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
Seasonings
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
- Crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Sauté onion and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
- Cook lentils and rice: Add lentils, rice, and spices to the pot. Stir to combine. Pour in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Serve: Ladle Mujadara into bowls and top with optional toppings as desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish vegan, simply omit the feta cheese topping.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the lentils with chickpeas for a different flavor.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still hard after 30 minutes, add more broth or water and continue to simmer.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze 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.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can make this dish ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 6g
- 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, you can make this dish ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If your Mujadara turned out dry, it's likely that you didn't add enough liquid or you overcooked the lentils. Make sure to add enough broth or water and keep an eye on the cooking time.
Yes, you can make Mujadara in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
You can substitute the lentils with chickpeas for a different flavor.
To prevent the lentils from turning to mush, make sure not to overcook them. They should be tender but still hold their shape.
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!
