25 Easy Rice Recipes

The easy rice dishes featured here are simple and delicious! Most of them take 30 minutes or less, so they are great for weeknight dinners. And with so many options, you will always find the perfect idea for your next rice recipe.

This classic pantry staple has many iterations, from fried rice to casseroles, soups to stuffed peppers.

The Dad Joke is true: Rice is nice! We hope you find some inspiration to make some scrumptious recipes with rice.

1. One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice

There is nothing as homey and comforting as a cheesy chicken and broccoli rice meal.

It is perfect for those busy weeknights because this can be made in one pan! Chicken breasts are cooked in olive oil, and then rice and broth are added.

While that simmers, broccoli is steamed in the microwave, added to the skillet with the chicken and rice, and then topped with cheese.

You could use different types of cheese or add your favorite herbs and spices to give a different flavor to this classic dish.

2. Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice

Everyone loves classic chicken fried rice. And you can make it so easily in the instant pot!

An egg is first scrambled in the bottom of the pot, then removed. Then the garlic is browned, and then the rice, broth, chicken, and carrots are added.

This is cooked in the pressure cooker. Once finished, fragrant sesame oil, soy sauce, and frozen peas are stirred with the scrambled egg.

It’s the perfect finish for this delicious, fluffy rice. You’ll never order takeout again!

3. Teriyaki Turkey Rice Bowls

Here’s another Asian-inspired dish that will have you throwing away that takeout menu!

These teriyaki turkey rice bowls will soon become one of your favorite rice dishes for dinner.

Healthy ground turkey is combined with onion, garlic, carrots, and broccoli. This mixture is seasoned with a low sodium teriyaki sauce that is sweet and savory.

This is best served over steamed rice and garnished with green onions. This will quickly become a weeknight winner because it is so easy, delicious, and fast… it only takes about half an hour from start to finish!

4. Spanish Rice with Beans

A delicious one-pan meal that makes great leftovers? You’ve got it here!

This recipe features rice, garlic, onion, beans, and your favorite salsa.

In less than half an hour, you have a delicious rice dish that can serve as a side dish or stand on its own for a meatless main meal.

This can be used as a burrito filling, or you could add it to salads. Top it with sour cream and cheese for the perfect combination!

5. Chicken Rice Soup

Is there anything better than a warm, comforting bowl of soup on a cold day? But many soup recipes can be loaded with extra fat or sodium.

This healthy chicken and rice soup are so delicious and nutritious. You will be making this all fall and winter!

This soup is made with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, thyme, chicken breasts, brown rice, broth, and evaporated milk.

It has a classic flavor and yet is light and nourishing. You will be making this for colds and sniffles, too, so keep this recipe handy!

6. Jambalaya

If you are looking for a bold flavor in your rice recipe, you need to make this dish! Chicken breast, andouille sausage, and shrimp come together with bell pepper, celery, onion, garlic, okra, tomato, and jalapeño for one flavorful meal.

Cajun seasoning, thyme, and cayenne pepper really amp up the flavor of the long grain rice.

This meal takes about an hour to prepare, and you can make it in one pot.

Guests will be impressed with how delicious this dinner is! What to Serve with Jambalaya? Check out these amazing ideas!

7. Better Than Take-Out Chicken Fried Rice

Here’s a quick and easy take on classic chicken fried rice!

Cooked chicken, onion, garlic, peas, and carrots are combined with scrambled eggs, cooked rice, soy sauce, and sesame oil to give this dish that familiar flavor from your favorite Chinese restaurant.

It’s so simple. You can whip it up in no time, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner.

It’s also a great use of leftover rice from the night before. You’ll never pick up fried rice at takeout again after you try this recipe!

8. Thai Cashew Coconut Rice with Ginger Peanut Sauce

Do you love the flavors of Thai cuisine? This is one of the best rice recipes that only takes 35 minutes to prepare!

Coconut rice is made with jasmine rice and coconut milk. This forms the base for the salad, along with bell pepper, red cabbage, carrots, onion, cilantro, green onions, and cashews.

But what makes this dish over the top is the ginger peanut sauce that is loaded with flavor.

You will want to put this sauce on everything! This dish is so substantial. You could serve it as a meatless main course.

It will win over the vegetarians in your life, so give it a try!

9. One Pan Taco Rice

This easy rice recipe will be a hit at your next Taco Tuesday dinner! It has all the flavors of tacos in one pan, so cleanup is a breeze.

Ground beef (or meat of your choice) is browned and combined with taco seasoning and water. Then Minute Rice is added and allowed to cook quickly.

Salsa is stirred in at the end, and shredded cheese tops the skillet.

This would pair perfectly with shredded lettuce and diced tomato or your favorite slaw mix.

Top this with creamy guacamole and sour cream to make this the perfect rice meal.

10. Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

There is a reason that casseroles are such comfort foods and become go-to meal options with meal planning… they are tasty, easy, and often can be made ahead!

Ground beef, Italian seasoning, onion, mushrooms, and garlic are combined with beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and rice to make this creamy casserole.

Sour cream and cheddar cheese make this dish cheesy, tangy, and so cozy.

You will want to double this recipe and freeze a casserole for an easy weeknight dinner in the future.

It’s also the perfect option to take to new parents! Looking for more ideas for ground beef? Check out these Best Ground Beef Recipes!

11. Restaurant Style Vegetable Biryani

If you like to order biryani when dining out at an Indian restaurant, you will want to try this recipe at home!

This classic Indian rice dish is so aromatic and colorful.

Fluffy basmati rice is combined with cardamom, clove, salt, onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and saffron to make this flavorful dish.

Cashews, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, and green beans are also added to make this dish healthy and beautiful.

There is so much flavor in this dish. You will want to make it over and over again!

12. Creamy Chicken Mushroom Rice Casserole

The combination of chicken and mushrooms is a match made in Heaven!

This is one of the very best chickens and rice dishes; it is guaranteed your family will love this.

This creamy rice casserole is so cozy. You reach for this recipe in the fall and winter.

This amazing casserole combines chicken, rice, mushrooms, garlic, chicken stock, and heavy cream with thyme and shredded cheese.

This is another great option to make ahead to bake later in the week or freeze to make months later.

You could also take this to a busy new family or anyone dealing with illness to make life a little bit easier!

13. Cheddar Broccoli Chicken Casserole with Cauliflower Rice

Here’s a way to enjoy a chicken broccoli rice casserole with fewer carbohydrates!

This dish uses riced cauliflower, along with chicken, onion, broccoli, and garlic.

Cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese make this recipe so creamy! And this recipe is made in one skillet and 35 minutes, so it is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

If you are eating a keto diet, this recipe is keto-friendly.

Feel free to add your own spin on this recipe with your favorite herbs and spices or cheese blend!

14. Easy Mexican Rice

If you enjoy Mexican food at home, then you have to try this easy Mexican rice recipe!

This makes the perfect side dish for any main dish like bistec, tamales, enchiladas, and more! Long-grain rice is browned and then boiled in chicken stock, tomato sauce, and spices.

You can add other ingredients like corn or garnish with cilantro to make this dish unique.

This rice is so fluffy and flavorful and is the perfect compliment at a Mexican dinner.

15. Slow Cooker Parmesan Chicken Rice

With all the savory flavors of Parmesan Chicken, only 5 simple ingredients, and the handy use of a slow cooker, what’s not to love about this recipe?

Chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, Lipton soup mix, milk, and long grain rice are cooked for a few hours and topped with Parmesan cheese.

You can add vegetables to this mix for a well-rounded meal, or you could serve a steamed vegetable or salad on the side.

This recipe is a real weeknight winner!

16. O Pinot Cheese Chicken Rice and Broccoli

Are you looking for a cheesy, delicious one-pot meal that is ready in less than 30 minutes? Make sure you try this recipe.

This family favorite will quickly become a weeknight staple. Lean chicken breasts are cooked with onion, garlic, broccoli, and rice in chicken broth.

It’s a great way to get a healthy, well-balanced meal in one dish. Sharp cheddar cheese makes this dish cheesy and so comforting!

This dish would go perfectly with a Caesar salad and garlic bread to make a cozy dinner.

17. Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole

Here’s a fun and casual take on Polish classic… cabbage rolls! This is such a fun idea of what to do with rice! Ground beef and pork are combined with onion, garlic, tomatoes, rice, dill, and parsley.

But instead of rolling this mixture into cabbage leaves, the cabbage is chopped and wilted in olive oil and then used to layer the rice and meat mixture to create a hot and bubbly casserole!

With the protein, rice, and veggies in one dish, you don’t really need anything else, but some hot rolls would be a great compliment to this comforting dish!

18. Shrimp Fried Rice

If you love shrimp-fried rice, then try this “better than restaurant” recipe!

The shrimp is first cooked by themselves and then set aside, so they don’t overcook.

Then onion, carrots, peas, and garlic are combined with scrambled eggs, cooked rice, and soy sauce, sesame oil.

The shrimp are added at the end and then garnished with green onions. This would make a great main dish, or you could serve it with your favorite soup and egg rolls!

19. Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Rice

This creamy broccoli and cheddar rice recipe are perfect for any gluten-free and vegetarian people in your life!

This dish combines jasmine rice with onion, garlic, milk, broccoli, and cheddar cheese.

It can all be made in one skillet and brought to the table. And best of all, this dish only takes 20 minutes to put together.

This would be an ideal side dish or a meatless main dish and a side salad and warm bread.

20. Sweet and Sour Chickpeas

Here’s a filling and delicious rice dish for vegans! Perhaps you follow a vegan diet or are wanting to incorporate more meatless meals in your meal planning.

Either way, you’ve got to try this! Chickpeas get the classic Chinese take-out treatment of sweet-and-sour sauce.

This sweet and sour sauce does not rely on ketchup for its flavor but rather uses a blend of orange juice, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, and soy sauce.

This is perfect when served with steamed rice and broccoli.

21. Veggie Fried Rice

This vegetarian fried rice is the perfect side dish for any Chinese meal or makes another great main course if you are going meatless yourself!

Turn leftover rice into this beautiful dish that is studded with veggies. This fried rice has onion, carrot, red bell pepper, and peas, in addition to the rice and scrambled egg.

Soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and pepper give this recipe the classic fried rice taste.

This dish can come together in 20 minutes, or maybe even less if you have your vegetables already diced.

22. Garlic Butter Chicken Rice

Chicken and rice are a classic combination, and there is some iteration in many cuisines worldwide.

This chicken and rice dish features chicken thighs, rice, along with butter, garlic, onion, and a load of other seasonings.

This recipe starts on the stovetop but is finished in the oven, so make sure you use an oven-safe skillet or pot.

You can make this dish ahead of time or freeze it for later. With its comforting taste, you will want to make this recipe all year long!

23. Chicken Rice-a-Roni Casserole

Do you have some leftover chicken? This comforting casserole is the perfect choice for using up rotisserie or roasted chicken.

Carrots, green bell pepper, and onion are combined with chicken Rice-a-Roni, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream.

This is all topped with shredded cheese and baked until it is all hot and bubbly.

This recipe is like a warm hug on a plate. Your whole family will love this recipe!

You can serve this with steamed vegetables or a salad and some warm buttered bread or rolls.

24. Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Dress up that leftover steamed rice! This rice is like a fiesta on a plate. It’s a copycat recipe of Chipotle’s popular cilantro lime rice, which can be made in 10 minutes.

Rice is warmed in a pan, and then fresh lime juice, cilantro, lime zest, salt, and pepper are added.

This makes the perfect side dish for so many other dishes, from Mexican to the Caribbean. Or you can use this to make your own burrito bowls at home, which is perfect for picky eaters or families with different dietary restrictions.

25. Chicken Enchilada Cauliflower Rice Casserole

This recipe has all the flavors of chicken enchiladas but fewer carbohydrates! This is perfect for people with diabetes, those trying to lose weight, or if you are trying to eat a bit healthier.

Cooked chicken is combined with riced cauliflower, corn, tomatoes, and black beans.

This is flavored with enchilada sauce and cheese. Cilantro and sliced avocado are the perfect garnishes for this dish.

You could also remove the corn and add some diced bell pepper instead to cut the carbs further.