How do I measure rice portions per person for meals?

Portioning rice per person

A common guideline: 1/2 cup uncooked rice per person for a side dish, and 3/4–1 cup uncooked per person if rice is the main part of the meal. Uncooked rice roughly triples when cooked (varies by type).

  • Side dish: 1/2 cup uncooked per person
  • Main dish: 3/4–1 cup uncooked per person
  • Cooked volume: about 3x dry volume

Adjust for appetites and whether other sides are served. For meal prep, 2 cups uncooked rice yields about 6 cups cooked—enough for several servings.