Think Rice Is Boring? These 22 Recipes Will Change Your Mind
If you think rice is just a simple side dish, these recipes are about to prove otherwise. Packed with bold flavors, colorful ingredients, and creative twists, they transform an everyday staple into something truly memorable. From comforting one-pot meals to globally inspired favorites, there’s no shortage of ways to make rice the star of the table. After trying these dishes, plain rice may never feel exciting again.
Thai Red Curry Fried Rice
Thai Red Curry Fried Rice is a flavorful twist on traditional fried rice. It combines crispy stir-fried rice with bold, sweet and spicy thai chili. This dish is balanced perfectly with fresh vegetables and herbs on top. Enjoy this as a main meal or a delicious side!
Our Favorite Mango Fried Rice Recipe
This flavorful mango fried rice is a delicious dinner you can make in less than 20 minutes. It’s filled with juicy mangos and a savory fried rice with vegetables and chickpeas.
ASPARAGUS FRIED RICE
Asparagus Fried Rice! Loaded with spring vegetables, tofu, edamame, fried wild rice is a quick and easy dinner the whole family will love. Made with wild rice cooked at least a day in advance, this is a great vegetarian recipe for batch cooking.
Belizean Rice and Beans
This Belizean Rice and Beans recipe is a great way to change up your rice and beans flavor. The rice is cooked with coconut milk to give the dish a rich, tropical flavor. Serve this as a side with any protein for a yummy meal!
Mexican Horchata
Delicious sweet, creamy homemade horchata is made with rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. It’s the perfect drink for cooling off on a hot summer day, and it makes a refreshing accompaniment to your favorite Mexican food.
Wild Rice Stuffing
Wild Rice Stuffing is a wonderful alternative to a traditional stuffing. Full of fresh herbs and lots of textures, it is a delicious and gluten free dish that is sure to be a huge hit!
Mushroom Truffle Risotto
Make the best no-stir Mushroom Truffle Risotto in under 40 minutes. Loaded with flavor from mushrooms, white truffle oil and white wine it’s a great dinner party dish that’s sure to impress. Just don’t tell them how easy it was to make!
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cauliflower Fried Rice is a lighter, low-carb and healthier alternative to traditional Chinese fried rice. Made with cauliflower rice, vegetables, eggs and seasonings this one pot meal is as tasty as the real take out favorite!
Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Hearty Chicken Fried Rice is a classic Chinese dish that is packed full of goodness from leftover rice, tender pan-seared chicken, root vegetables, fragrant fresh garlic, scrambled egg, and tangy green onions! Ready in just 30 minutes it’s ideal on busy weeknights for feeding the whole family – fast!
Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice
My crockpot cheesy chicken broccoli rice is a rich and satisfying one-pot meal that practically cooks itself! This easy slow cooker casserole is perfect for family dinners, and the leftovers taste even better for lunch the next day! Just toss it in the crockpot and forget it for a few hours (you don’t even have to worry about side dishes)!
Indian Lamb Keema Rice
Keema rice or a cheats biryani if you like, mine features minced lamb and caramelised onions and is loaded with Indian influenced flavours.
Black Bean and Rice Salad with Cumin Lime Dressing
This is one of our favorite summer rice salads. I make it ALL THE TIME because it’s an easy make ahead side dish for picnics, barbecues, potlucks and tailgates and goes well with all our grilled favorites. I like to brown rice for this recipe, but it’s good with white rice too.
Butternut Squash Herb Rice Pilaf
Butternut Squash Herb Rice Pilaf is a delectable and nutritious dish that features seasonal butternut squash sautéed with aromatic herbs and spices making a delicious fall dish. Its vibrant orange hue and subtly sweet, nutty flavor make it a delightful addition to both vegetarian and meat-based meals.
Skillet Ground Beef and Rice
Mouthwatering Skillet Ground Beef and Rice recipes are sure to tantalize your taste buds! This quick and easy one-pot wonder not only saves you time in the kitchen but also deliver on flavor and satisfaction.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake
This Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake requires very little prep and is mixed and baked all in one dish. This easy casserole is an excellent choice for a busy day.
Pork Fried Rice
Pork Fried Rice, made with tender pork tenderloin, is a delicious and complete meal your family will love. See how easy it is to make in your own kitchen just like you would enjoy in a Chinese restaurant!
Five Bean Ham and Rice Salad
Cubed cooked ham meets cooked rice and Paisley Farm Five Bean Salad in this colorful side dish. Add in a little fresh dill, red bell pepper and banana pepper for some extra zing, and grab a fork!
Rice Pudding
Homemade rice pudding is the most comforting dessert recipe. Uncooked short-grain rice is cooked in a sweet mixture of milk and cream with vanilla soaked raisins. This stove top recipe is easy to make.
Skillet Lemon Chicken & Rice
This Skillet Lemon Chicken & Rice is a quick, easy weeknight dinner that is loaded with bright, fresh flavors and made in one pan for minimal clean up and fuss!
One Pot Chicken and Rice
With simple pantry ingredients and plenty of vegetables, this One Pot Chicken and Rice will easily become a family favorite!
Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Rice
A few simple ingredients and minimal prep time make this Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Rice recipe the ultimate comfort food.
Tomato Rice
This tomato rice is one of my favorite sides — it’s so versatile that you can serve it with nearly any protein or vegetable. Plus, you can easily customize it.
