What are the ingredients in Uncle Ben's Garden Vegetable Rice?

November 10, 2025 •

2 min read

The brand formerly known as Uncle Ben's was rebranded to Ben's Original in 2020, but consumers often still ask what are the ingredients in Uncle Ben's Garden Vegetable Rice. This popular microwave-ready side dish is made from a blend of parboiled long-grain rice, a trio of garden vegetables, and a savory seasoning mix.

Quick Summary

A detailed look at the contents of Ben's Original Garden Vegetable Rice, detailing the main components like parboiled long-grain rice, vegetables, and seasonings.

Key Points

Core Ingredients: The base is parboiled long grain rice mixed with peas, carrots, and corn.
Seasoning Blend: The savory flavor comes from a mix of salt, sugar, yeast extract, onion powder, and natural flavors.
Nutrient Fortification: The rice is enriched with added vitamins and minerals, such as iron and folate.
Vegan Friendly: The ingredients are entirely plant-based, making the product suitable for both vegetarians and vegans.
Brand Update: The product was previously sold under the Uncle Ben's name but is now marketed as Ben's Original.
Convenient Preparation: The microwaveable Ready Rice pouch cooks in only 90 seconds.

The brand now known as Ben's Original, owned by Mars, Inc., continues to offer the popular Garden Vegetable Rice side dish under its new name. The convenient Ready Rice pouch makes this dish a staple for quick meals, but many want to know exactly what goes into the seasoned rice and vegetable blend. The complete ingredient list, which can be found on the product packaging and the Ben's Original website, details the components that create its familiar flavor.

Decoding the Core Ingredients

At the heart of the Garden Vegetable Rice are its foundational components, which provide the bulk of the dish. This ready-to-heat product includes water, parboiled long grain rice, peas, carrots, and corn. Parboiling helps infuse nutrients, creates a fluffy texture, and prevents sticking. The vegetables add color, texture, and a subtly sweet flavor.

The Savory Seasoning Blend

The distinct flavor comes from a seasoning blend, with ingredients making up less than 2% of the total product listed together. This blend includes canola oil, salt, maltodextrin, sugar, yeast extract, onion and garlic powder, and natural flavors. Turmeric and carrot extract provide color, and an unspecified spice contributes to the profile.

Added Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are added back after processing to fortify the rice. This includes Iron (Iron Phosphate), Calcium (Calcium Carbonate), Niacin (Niacinamide), Thiamine (Thiamine Mononitrate), and Folic Acid.

Comparison: Garden Vegetable vs. Plain Ready Rice


Feature	Garden Vegetable Ready Rice	Plain Ready Rice (White)
Core Ingredients	Parboiled long-grain rice, water, peas, carrots, corn	Parboiled long-grain rice, water, canola oil
Seasoning	Complex blend including salt, sugar, yeast extract, and various powders	Salt, Canola Oil, vitamins and minerals
Vegetables	Contains visible pieces of peas, carrots, and corn	No added vegetables
Flavor Profile	Mildly savory and sweet with a vegetable-forward taste	Neutral, clean, and lightly seasoned
Sodium Content	Higher due to the seasoning blend	Lower as it's a simple, plain preparation

Key Takeaways for the Conscious Consumer

Brand Name: The product is now officially sold as Ben's Original Garden Vegetable Ready Rice.
Allergen Information: The Garden Vegetable rice is listed as gluten-free.
Dietary Compatibility: The ingredient list is vegan-friendly.
Bioengineered Ingredients: The packaging notes the inclusion of bioengineered food ingredients.

For those interested in exploring the complete range of products and their ingredients, the official Ben's Original website offers transparent information about its offerings [https://www.bensoriginal.com/products/ready-rice/bens-original-ready-rice-garden-vegetable-rice].

Conclusion

Ben's Original Garden Vegetable Rice is a convenient blend of parboiled long-grain rice, peas, carrots, corn, and a savory seasoning. This combination creates a flavorful side dish ready in 90 seconds. The brand, now Ben's Original, provides a clear ingredient list, offering transparency for consumers. The mix of vegetables and seasoning makes this a popular and easy-to-prepare rice option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Uncle Ben's was rebranded to Ben's Original by its parent company, Mars, Inc., in 2020. They are the same line of rice products, just with an updated name and packaging.

Yes, Ben's Original Ready Rice Garden Vegetable is listed as gluten-free on the product's official page and is free from common allergens like wheat.

The specific vegetables found in Ben's Original Garden Vegetable rice are peas, carrots, and corn.

The product uses a mix of ingredients, including natural flavors and naturally derived colors like turmeric and carrot extract, but also contains bioengineered food ingredients.

Yes, based on the ingredient list, which contains no animal products or by-products, the rice is suitable for vegans.

The Ready Rice pouch is designed for convenience and is ready to eat after being heated in a microwave for just 90 seconds.

The savory taste comes from a seasoning blend that includes ingredients such as salt, yeast extract, onion powder, and garlic powder.