✔ Updated · grown to 38 recipes grouped by type, plus which rice to use and cooking tips
Rice is my weeknight safety net: cheap, filling and ready for almost any flavor. Here are 38 easy rice recipes, from five-minute fried rice to one-pot dinners and creamy desserts.
The best easy rice recipes are egg fried rice, cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, coconut rice, chicken and rice casserole, jambalaya, paella, chicken biryani, mushroom risotto and rice pudding. For the quickest dinners, use leftover cooked rice in fried rice or a rice bowl; for hands-off meals, try a one-pot dish where the rice cooks in the sauce.
- Fastest: egg fried rice, kimchi fried rice, rice bowls (10 to 15 minutes with cooked rice)
- Best sides: cilantro lime rice, Mexican rice, coconut rice, pilaf
- One-pot dinners: jambalaya, paella, arroz con pollo, dirty rice
- Sweet: rice pudding, mango sticky rice, horchata
Fried Rice Recipes
Fried rice is the best thing that ever happened to leftover rice. Cold, day-old rice fries up in separate, slightly crispy grains, while fresh rice turns mushy, so I always cook extra on purpose.
1. Egg Fried Rice
The five-minute classic: day-old rice, scrambled egg, scallions and soy sauce tossed in a very hot pan. My go-to fridge-clearing dinner.
2. Hibachi Fried Rice
Buttery, garlicky fried rice with egg, peas and carrots, just like the teppanyaki grill. Crispy rice bits are the best part.
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3. Benihana-Style Chicken Fried Rice
A copycat of the steakhouse favorite with diced chicken, garlic butter, egg and a splash of soy sauce.
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4. Panda Express-Style Fried Rice
Light, fluffy takeout-style fried rice with egg, peas, carrots and green onion. Ready faster than delivery.
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5. Salmon Fried Rice
Flaky salmon, egg, peas and red pepper stir-fried into rice. A smart way to use leftover salmon.
Get the recipe →6. Crispy Pork Fried Rice
Leftover roast pork or pork belly crisped in the wok, then tossed with rice, egg and a little oyster sauce.
7. Pineapple Fried Rice
Sweet pineapple chunks, cashews, shrimp or chicken and a touch of curry powder. Serve it in a hollowed pineapple for fun.
8. Kimchi Fried Rice
Chopped kimchi and a spoon of gochujang fried with rice, topped with a runny fried egg. Big flavor from a few ingredients.
9. Nasi Goreng
Indonesian fried rice with sweet soy sauce, shallots, garlic and chili, finished with a fried egg and crunchy shallots.
Easy Rice Side Dishes
These sides turn plain rice into something you actually look forward to. Most take 20 to 25 minutes, the same as a pot of plain rice.
10. Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy long-grain rice with lime juice, zest and fresh cilantro. Perfect for burrito bowls and tacos.
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11. Seasoned Rice
A copycat of the steakhouse side: rice cooked in broth with onion, bell pepper and savory seasoning.
Get the recipe →12. Mexican Red Rice
Rice toasted in oil, then simmered with tomato, onion, garlic and chicken broth until fluffy and orange-red.
13. Coconut Rice
Jasmine rice simmered in coconut milk with a pinch of salt and sugar. Lovely with curries and grilled fish.
14. Fragrant Lemon Rice
Rice with lemon zest and juice, butter and herbs. Bright and fresh next to chicken or fish.
15. Pilau Rice
Basmati cooked with whole spices (cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay) and a pinch of turmeric. The classic curry side.
16. Rice Pilaf
Rice and broken vermicelli toasted in butter, then cooked in broth. Nutty, savory and better than any boxed mix.
17. Pressure Cooker White Rice
Perfect, fluffy white rice in a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot with the right water ratio and release time.
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18. Fluffy Parboiled Rice
Parboiled rice cooks up firm and separate every time, so it's great for meal prep and rice salads.
Get the recipe →One-Pot Rice Dinners
In these recipes the rice cooks right in the sauce or broth, so it soaks up every bit of flavor and you only wash one pan. They are my favorite busy-night dinners.
19. Chicken Paella
Spanish saffron rice with chicken, chorizo and peas, cooked in one wide pan until the bottom gets a crispy socarrat.
20. Chicken Biryani
Layers of spiced basmati and yogurt-marinated chicken, steamed together with fried onions and fresh mint.
21. Jambalaya
Louisiana one-pot rice with smoked sausage, chicken, the holy trinity of onion, celery and pepper, and Cajun spice.
22. Red Beans and Rice
Creamy, slow-simmered red beans with smoked sausage spooned over white rice. Copycat takeout comfort food.
Get the recipe →23. Dirty Rice
Cajun rice cooked with ground meat (traditionally chicken livers), peppers, onion and celery. Ready in about 30 minutes.
24. Arroz con Pollo
Latin chicken and rice simmered with sofrito, tomato, peas and a little saffron or annatto for color.
25. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken, rice, broccoli and cheese baked in one dish. A weeknight crowd-pleaser that reheats beautifully.
26. Kedgeree
British-Indian rice with smoked fish, curry spices, butter and soft-boiled eggs. Brunch that eats like dinner.
27. Mussel Pilaf
Mussels steamed right in the rice so their briny juices flavor every grain. Impressive, but done in 30 minutes.
28. Lentil and Rice Pilaf
Lentils and rice cooked together with cumin and topped with deeply caramelized onions. Hearty and meat-free.
Risotto and Italian Rice Dishes
Risotto uses short-grain Arborio or Carnaroli rice, which releases starch as you stir and makes its own creamy sauce. No cream required.
29. Mushroom Risotto
Arborio rice stirred with warm broth, browned mushrooms and Parmesan until creamy. See what to serve with risotto for pairings.
Get the recipe →30. Cheese Arancini
Leftover risotto rolled around a cube of mozzarella, breaded and fried until golden. The best reason to make extra risotto.
31. Rice Minestrone Soup
Vegetable minestrone with a handful of rice in place of pasta. Thick, cozy and gluten-free friendly.
Sushi and Rice Bowls
Sticky short-grain rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar and salt is the base for sushi and lots of bowls. For sides, see what to serve with sushi.
32. Dynamite Sushi Roll
Shrimp tempura, avocado and spicy mayo rolled in seasoned sushi rice. Easier than it looks at home.
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33. Spicy Salmon Sushi Bake
All the flavors of a spicy salmon roll baked in a casserole dish. Scoop onto seaweed snacks.
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34. Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
Sticky, glossy teriyaki chicken over steamed rice with broccoli. A copycat takeout bowl in 30 minutes.
Get the recipe →35. Bibimbap
Korean rice bowl topped with sauteed vegetables, beef, a fried egg and gochujang sauce. Mix it all up before eating.
Rice Desserts and Drinks
Rice goes sweet beautifully. Short-grain and sticky rice give the creamiest, most comforting results here.
36. Creamy Rice Pudding
Short-grain rice simmered slowly in milk with sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until thick and spoonable.
37. Mango Sticky Rice
Thai sticky rice soaked in sweet coconut milk and served with ripe mango slices and a salty coconut drizzle.
38. Horchata
Mexican rice drink blended with cinnamon, soaked overnight and sweetened. Creamy, cold and so refreshing.
Get the recipe →Which Rice to Use
| Rice | Texture | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Long-grain white | Fluffy, separate grains | Fried rice, Mexican rice, pilaf, jambalaya |
| Jasmine | Soft, slightly sticky, floral | Coconut rice, Thai dishes, rice bowls |
| Basmati | Long, dry, fragrant | Biryani, pilau rice, curries |
| Arborio or Carnaroli | Creamy, chewy center | Risotto, arancini |
| Short-grain or sushi rice | Sticky, tender | Sushi, bibimbap, rice pudding |
| Bomba or Valencia | Absorbs lots of liquid, stays firm | Paella |
| Parboiled | Firm, never mushy | Meal prep, casseroles, rice salads |
| Brown rice | Nutty, chewy | Bowls, pilafs (add 15 to 20 minutes and extra water) |
How I Cook Perfect Rice Every Time
- Rinse it. Rinse long-grain and jasmine rice until the water runs mostly clear. It washes off loose starch so the grains don't clump. Skip rinsing for risotto.
- Measure the water. My starting ratios on the stove: about 1 1/2 cups water per cup of long-grain or jasmine, 1 1/4 for basmati, 2 to 2 1/2 for brown rice.
- Hands off the lid. Bring to a boil, cover, turn the heat to low and leave it alone for 15 to 18 minutes, then rest it off the heat for 10 minutes before fluffing.
- Plan leftovers on purpose. Cool cooked rice quickly on a tray and refrigerate within 1 hour. Eat it within 3 to 4 days, and reheat until steaming hot, 165°F.
- Freeze extra. Cooked rice freezes in flat bags for up to 3 months. It goes straight from the freezer into a hot wok for fried rice.
More Ideas for Rice Night
Serving rice with curry? Here's what to serve with chicken curry. Out of rice vinegar for sushi rice? Try one of these rice vinegar substitutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest rice dish to make?
Egg fried rice is the easiest: fry leftover cooked rice in a hot pan with oil, scramble in an egg, add soy sauce and scallions, and it's done in about 10 minutes. Cilantro lime rice and coconut rice are the easiest from-scratch sides, since they cook like plain rice.
What can I make with leftover rice?
Leftover rice is perfect for fried rice, kimchi fried rice, rice bowls, arancini (with leftover risotto), rice pudding and soups. Use it within 3 to 4 days of cooking, and always reheat it until steaming hot.
What are the most popular rice dishes in the world?
Some of the best-loved rice dishes are fried rice from China, paella from Spain, biryani from India, risotto from Italy, sushi from Japan, jambalaya from Louisiana, nasi goreng from Indonesia, jollof rice from West Africa and arroz con pollo from Latin America.
How do you keep rice from getting mushy?
Rinse the rice, measure the water carefully, keep the lid on while it simmers, and let it rest 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork. For fried rice, always use cold, day-old rice so the grains stay separate.
Is it safe to eat leftover rice?
Yes, if you handle it right. Cooked rice can carry spores that survive cooking, so cool it quickly and refrigerate within 1 hour, keep it no longer than 3 to 4 days, and reheat it until steaming hot (165°F). Don't leave cooked rice sitting out at room temperature.
