You can never have enough easy rice recipes, right? Rice is a simple side dish, so it’s nice to have a few recipes for flavored rice on hand for variety. Plus, you can use rice in one-pot meals and casseroles for a hearty dinner.
At our house, we eat rice often because it’s naturally gluten-free. It’s also the basis of many of my family’s favorite meatless meals. A bed of rice is the perfect way to serve Easy Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken or Slow Cooker Red Beans.
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Types of rice
The most common rice used in family kitchens is long grain white rice, but many like Minute Rice because it cooks so quickly. Other prefer long grain brown rice. There’s also specialty rices like jasmine rice and basmati rice. Cuisines like Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern, and others tend to use basmati rice.
Difference between white rice and brown rice
The main difference between white and brown rice is that brown is a whole grain, where white is processed to remove the bran and germ. White rice also cooks faster than brown rice.
Brown rice has a slightly nutty flavor and is more chewy, compared to light, fluffy white rice. Kids tend to prefer white rice, sort of like with white vs. wheat bread.
Research has shown that whole grains like brown rice can help lower blood sugar levels. But white rice can also be party of a healthy diet even with lower fiber, since it’s easier for some people to digest.
When eating rice as a side dish, 1/2 cup cooked is a healthy portion size. If rice is the main dish, aim for 1 cup per person.
What to do with leftover rice
If you have leftover rice, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. I love using leftover rice in casseroles like Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole or Green Chile Chicken Casserole. It’s also necessary to have cooked rice to make homemade fried rice.
When we have rice in the fridge, I love using it to make soups more hearty. I tend to make my soups with no carbs in them (like pasta), so my husband and I can control the amount. With leftover rice, I can put a portion size in the bottom of a bowl, then fill it up with soup for dinner.
Can you freeze rice?
If you don’t plan to eat the rice within those 3-4 days, you should freeze it. There’s a bacteria called bacillus cereus that can lead to food poisoning if rice is left out too long at room temperature. Freezing is a better option than refrigerating, plus it’s so easy to reheat cooked rice. Just use the microwave, and make sure is hot and heated through. Avoid repeated reheating.
I like how handy it is to have rice ready-to-go in my freezer, especially brown rice, since it takes so long to cook in the first place. I put mine into gallon zipper freezer bags, then store it flat so it doesn’t take up a lot of space. Frozen rice lasts about a month in the freezer.
How to cook rice
There are many ways to cook rice, like on the stovetop in a pot with a tight lid. You can also use a rice cooker or Instant Pot. As long as there’s enough liquid, you can even cook rice within a one-pot meal or casserole. Or, include raw rice right in the soup recipe, like this Slow Cooker Turkey Soup With Rice.
I often use my pressure cooker to cook brown rice in bulk at the beginning of the week. Then, we have it available for dinnertime. My kids also love taking beans and rice for a hearty lunch.
How much liquid do you need to cook rice? That depends on the method of cooking. These amounts are general–you’ll want to follow the package directions for stovetop or the appliance instructions for a rice cooker or pressure cooker.
- Stovetop: 1 part rice to 2 parts water/broth, such as 1 cup rice with 2 cups water
- Rice Cooker: 1 part rice to 1.5 parts liquid
- Pressure Cooker: 1 part rice to 1-1.25 parts liquid
And of course, this can also vary depending on the type of rice you use: long-grain, jasmine, basmati, etc. For me, it took a couple of tries in my pressure cooker to get my brown basmati rice the texture we prefer. Now, it’s easy!
Why make homemade rice dishes?
While using a boxed rice mix is super convenient, they often have preservatives and other additives plus a lot of sodium. Making your own flavored rice dish at home not only costs less, but it’s healthier. You can control the ingredients, which is helpful if you’re cooking around allergies or avoiding things like MSG.
How much does one cup of rice make?
Generally, one cup of uncooked rice will yield 3 cups of cooked rice. The rice absorbs the cooking liquid and expands during cooking. You may find that basmati rice yield slightly less, about 2 3/4 cups cooked.
More easy rice recipes
Many of our family recipes here at MoneywiseMoms include rice, like Instant Pot Mexican Rice. Here are more to enjoy. These are all one-pot recipes, which makes them easy!
One Pot Rice Recipes
These easy rice recipes cook up in just one pot.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice is a great side dish, topping for Taco Tuesday celebrations, and base for your favorite protein.
This Tacoetty much a deconstructed taco. But it’s better than a cooking tacos because all you do is dump everything in a casserole dish andpan and bake it.
This Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto is everything you could dream of in a savory recipe. Made with wild mushrooms, butter, arborio rice, shallots, and some other rich ingredients, this recipe is easy and perfect for a weeknight dinner with the kids.
Fellow bean lovers - this is THE recipe you will surely fall in love with!!!! It’s so easy and so delicious. This is one of my favorite recipe. It's filling and healthy, so much goodness!
Smoky, cheesy, and satisfying: Today's smoked sausage & rice skillet is a filling one-pot meal! So easy to throw together, too.
Jambalaya is a classic one-pot recipe filled with chicken, sausage, shrimp, and rice. Completely irresistible, this easy recipe includes all the classic flavors of true Cajun/Creole cooking like Cajun seasoning and starts with finely diced onion, bell pepper, and celery – the holy trinity of Cajun cuisine. Learn all about this representative New Orleans dish, including how it’s made below!
Brown rice and lentils is a delicious meal or easy side dish requiring only 5 ingredients and one pot. Healthy whole grains and legumes packed with protein and fiber and perfect for feeding a crowd.
This easy one-pot meal is a perfect solution for a weeknight (or any night). Fresh eggplant, tomatoes, herbs, and mizithra cheese come together for a delicious and comforting baked casserole.
This kimchi-bacon fried rice recipe is a delicious, comforting side dish with tons of umami flavor. It is easy to cook and clean up afterwards because the entire dish is cooked in one wok or frying pan!
Mediterranean chicken and mushrooms is a super easy weeknight meal that's good enough for weekend company! Only one pan is needed, but everyone will think it's a gourmet dish you slaved over all day long!
This one-pot vegetable rice is a kids' absolute favorite dish. A simple and easy recipe that can be served on its own takes only 15 minutes to cook, uses only one pot, and is a healthy rice dish for the family.
This is an easy weeknight dinner that you will love whipping up! Tender chicken, creamy rice and broccoli in every single bite. Ready in less than 30 minutes.
This amazing One Pot Easy Thai Chicken with Rice makes for an exotic and easy weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.
This Mexican black beans and rice is hearty, flavorful, and incredibly delicious. A one-pot recipe that is fuss-free and easy to make.
This one-pot miso chicken rice and morels is packed with amazing umami flavor and it’s a no-fuss recipe that delivers tons of flavor!
This tom yum fried rice is spicy, savory, and packed with flavors! Ready in 15 minutes, this recipe is the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal.
One Pan Mexican Chicken and Rice is an easy chicken skillet recipe made with pantry staples. Rice and chicken breasts are simmered in salsa broth, then finished with gooey cheese and served with avocado.
Are you ready to be whisked away to a tropical island with this Hawaiian inspired Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe? Easy and delicious Chicken and Rice with sweet and slightly tangy pineapple and dried apricots is ready to serve in about 30 minutes.
This chorizo fried rice is made with bell peppers, chorizo, fluffy rice, scrambled eggs and loads of spices. It's easy to make and absolutely delicious!
Red Beans and Rice Skillet is the simplest way to make red beans and rice. This easy one pot meal is made with kielbasa, beans, and rice.
Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Rice is a flavorful recipe that's made with rice, ground beef, and beans. This easy dinner recipes takes just minutes to make!
One scoop of this hearty Cheesy Mexican Chicken Skillet will lead to many more! It's filled with all your favorite taco night ingredients, all prepared in just one pan. It can also be easily modified for different dietary needs and is great for meal prep.
You'll love this easy, meat-free Spanish style rice with kidney beans! It's a really simple paella dish with bags of flavor.
Top this easy Instant Pot Fajita Rice, loaded with juicy chicken and lots of cheese, with your favorite toppings to make a tasty meal your whole family will love.
This is the perfect Mushroom Rice (Mushroom Pilau) Recipe if you are after a fluffy, vibrant, and aromatic rice dish to serve with your curry. Fragrant and delicious, this Indian mushroom rice is ready in just 45 minutes.
One Pot Asian Rice and Fish is a simple and easy recipe for those times when cooking is the last thing you have time to do. The best part? It tastes like you spent hours on it.
This One-Pot Leek and Chicken Rice is a delicious and easy to make recipe that is comfort food at its best.
Chicken pulao is a quick and easy one-pot meal that is ready in 20 minutes. This Indian-style chicken and rice casserole is gluten-free, delicious, and perfect for weeknight dinners. With perfectly cooked rice, tender chicken, and subtle flavors from the whole spices, this dish will please the entire family.
A delicious vegetable pulao is a one-pot aromatic dish made of rice, vegetables, essential whole spices and herbs. Perfect for a weeknight meal or to serve guests at a party.
No Peek Chicken is a one pot dish made with boneless chicken breasts and seasoned wild rice. This easy dinner recipe cooks in less than an hour and is always a family favorite!
This traditional Spanish recipe called Arroz Con Pollo translates to Rice with Chicken. An easy and delicious recipe that makes enough for the whole family all in one pot.
