Quick & Easy Old Fashioned Rice Pudding in 30 Minutes

Perfect for busy nights, after-school snacks, or when you just need a taste of home, this easy rice pudding recipe delivers that timeless flavor you crave with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ready in 30 minutes — no long simmering required

Creamy, comforting, and lightly sweet

Made with simple pantry ingredients

Customize it with raisins, extra cinnamon, or a pat of butter

Perfect warm or chilled, depending on your mood

Ingredients

1 cup white rice

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

A pinch of salt

Raisins (optional)

How to Make Quick & Easy Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

Step 1 — Cook the Rice

In a medium saucepan, combine the white rice with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and fluffy.

(If you already have leftover cooked rice, you can skip this step!)

Step 2 — Add Milk & Sugar

Stir in the whole milk, sugar, and salt.

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken — usually around 10 minutes.

Step 3 — Add Flavor

Once thick and creamy, remove from the heat and stir in:

vanilla extract

ground cinnamon

raisins, if using

Mix well until everything is combined and fragrant.

Step 4 — Serve Warm or Chill

Enjoy the rice pudding warm with an extra sprinkle of cinnamon…

or refrigerate it for a few hours to enjoy it cold and extra thick.

Tips for the Best Rice Pudding

✔ Use whole milk for maximum creaminess

✔ Stir often to prevent sticking

✔ Add a splash of extra milk if it becomes too thick

✔ Want it richer? Add 1 tablespoon of butter at the end

✔ Prefer extra sweetness? Drizzle with honey or sweetened condensed milk