24 Rice Recipes That Actually Fit Real Weeknights
Rice earns its place in the pantry when time is tight. It cooks quickly, stretches easily, and has a way of turning a few ingredients into something filling and reliable without much planning. Skip it, and weeknight dinners can start to feel harder than they need to be.
These dishes are speedy, simple, and have flavors that feel complete without extra steps. Designed for nights when cooking needs to move fast, they work equally well as stand-alone meals or easy additions that help dinner come together with less effort.
Leftover Pork Fried Rice – Chinese Takeout Style
Pork Fried Rice is a great way to use up leftover roasted pork! This Pork Fried Rice is done, before you can go pick up takeout! Not to mention the fact that it is so much healthier! You control all of the ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Leftover Pork Fried Rice – Chinese Takeout Style.
Easy Spanish Rice with Ground Beef
This Easy Spanish Rice is perfect for a quick weeknight meal, featuring flavorful rice and added zucchini for extra veggies, all in one pan. It’s a hearty, easy weeknight meal that is even perfect for potlucks or picnics. Serve it with a side salad and a slice of cornbread for a complete meal in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Spanish Rice with Ground Beef.
Stuffed Acorn Squash
Stuffed Acorn Squash is an easy, complete fall meal. It takes about an hour to make so it’s perfect for the weekends.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Acorn Squash.
How to Make the Ultimate Taco Bar
Discover the ultimate guide to creating a taco bar to turn your next gathering into a fiesta of flavors! Learn how to mix and match ingredients for a customizable feast that caters to every taste.
Get the Recipe: How to Make the Ultimate Taco Bar.
Turban Squash Recipe
Discover the art of creating mouthwatering stuffed turban squash in this step-by-step guide. From selecting the perfect squash to crafting a delectable filling, we’ll unveil the secrets to a savory autumn delight. Load it up with fresh thyme, oregano, and parsley.
Get the Recipe: Turban Squash Recipe.
Homemade Creamy Rice Pudding
Every once in a while, we make ourselves a treat. Every day we eat a bowl of oatmeal porridge in the morning, at least the boys do. But sometimes you have to switch things up, and that’s where this homemade creamy rice pudding recipe comes in!
Get the Recipe: Homemade Creamy Rice Pudding.
Chicken Broth Rice
Elevate plain white rice into a flavorful side dish with this easy recipe. Buttery-rich Chicken Broth Rice is creamy, savory, and comforting. All it takes is 3 ingredients & 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broth Rice.
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Topped with a buttery cracker crumble, made with frozen broccoli, cream of chicken soup, and lots of cheese! It freezes well, so it’s one of my favorite easy chicken casseroles to take to friends, for new moms, neighbors, and funeral food.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole.
French Onion Rice
If you love onions and you love rice, then you’ll LOVE this French Onion Rice! Only 4 pantry staple ingredients needed to make this tasty side dish! It is a dump-and-bake recipe that is so easy, it’s foolproof! Pairing perfectly with any main meal, this is the ultimate rice recipe that’ll have everyone going back for seconds!
Get the Recipe: French Onion Rice.
Jambalaya Recipe
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!
Get the Recipe: Jambalaya Recipe.
Easy Smoked Salmon Poke Bowl Recipe
Poke bowls have taken the food scene by storm, and it’s easy to see why! They’re vibrant, versatile, and bursting with fresh flavors. This smoked salmon poke bowl is perfect for when you’re craving something fresh and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Packed with sushi rice, smoked salmon, crunchy vegetables, and a savory poke sauce, it’s a bowl full of happiness you can enjoy any time of the day.
Get the Recipe: Easy Smoked Salmon Poke Bowl Recipe.
Mediterranean Rice
I’m always excited to make this simple Mediterranean Rice! It’s packed with warm, comforting spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, and the flavors really pop with every bite. The rice gets a gorgeous color from turmeric, and the toasty pine nuts, almonds, and sweet raisins on top make it extra special. Plus, it’s super easy to make! I love serving it with grilled meats or roasted veggies, but honestly, I could eat it all by itself!
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Rice.
Sutlac (Turkish Rice Pudding Recipe)
Sutlac is a delicious Turkish dessert. It’s creamy, light, and has a bubbly golden brown top. This sutlac recipe is a mix of a thick custard and rice pudding, creating a beautiful Turkish baked rice pudding.
Get the Recipe: Sutlac (Turkish Rice Pudding Recipe).
Arroz con Pollo (Latin One-Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice)
This Arroz con Pollo is an easy one-pot meal full of Latin flavors, combining juicy chicken, fluffy yellow rice, and vegetables for a complete meal. With savory spices like cumin and paprika, plus smoky bacon, each bite bursts with flavor. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and comes from my Venezuelan family.
Get the Recipe: Arroz con Pollo (Latin One Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice).
Spam Fried Rice
Spam fried rice is the ultimate comfort food, combining crispy bites of Spam, fluffy rice, eggs, and, of course, vegetables. The soy sauce, along with a pinch of brown sugar, adds just the right amount of sweet and savory, making every bite AMAZING!
Get the Recipe: Spam Fried Rice.
Stick of Butter Rice
Say goodbye to boring rice and hello to stick of butter rice, the ultimate side dish that’s as easy to make as it is tasty! It’s the most delicious side dish, richly flavored and outrageously comforting. This recipe is a delightful throwback that combines just four simple ingredients to create a dish that’s both creamy and comforting. The magic happens when the butter melts into the rice, infusing it with rich flavor that pairs beautifully with any main course. It’s a surefire hit at family dinners or potlucks, and I promise your loved ones will be begging for the recipe after just one bite.
Get the Recipe: Stick of Butter Rice.
Nam khao (Lao Crispy Rice Salad)
Nam khao is a delicious Lao salad made by frying balls of seasoned rice then breaking them up and mixing with herbs, peanuts and more. It’s a wonderful mix of flavors and textures, and makes a tasty light meal.
Get the Recipe: Nam khao (Lao Crispy Rice Salad).
Cheesy Spinach and Beef Casserole (Spinach Fandango)
Straight from the family recipe box! A cozy, hearty ground beef and spinach casserole with fresh mushrooms and melty Jack cheese. You call it what you want, we call it Spinach Fandango.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Spinach and Beef Casserole (Spinach Fandango).
30 Minute Chicken and Rice Soup
Need a quick and easy dinner? Try this simple and yummy Chicken and Rice Soup. Comes together fast and is delicious.
Get the Recipe: 30 Minute Chicken and Rice Soup.
Lebanese Spiced Rice with Toasted Nuts and Vegetables
Easy vegan Lebanese spiced rice with toasted nuts and vegetables is one of my favorite ways to enjoy rice. It’s fluffy, filling, loaded with flavor, and can be enjoyed as a side dish or a main. No more boring rice.
Get the Recipe: Lebanese Spiced Rice with Toasted Nuts and Vegetables.
Brown Rice Pudding
This easy brown rice pudding is made with leftover (cooked) brown rice, maple syrup, milk, and dried fruit. Make it in your Instant Pot® or on the stovetop!
Get the Recipe: Brown Rice Pudding.
Rice Kheer – Instant Pot Indian Rice Pudding
Rice Kheer or Indian Rice Pudding is a creamy and luscious dessert made during special occasions. .It is made easy now by making it in Instant pot. No cream, no condensed milk, just rice, milk, and sugar. Yet it is creamy every time. Let’s see how to make it.
Get the Recipe: Rice Kheer – Instantpot Indian Rice Pudding.
Beet Risotto (No Chop)
This vibrant beet risotto is the ultimate date-night dish when you want to cook something easy yet impressive. Thanks to one secret ingredient, it packs a protein punch without compromising on flavor or creamy texture. It’s vegan and gluten-free.
Get the Recipe: Beet Risotto (No Chop).
Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice
If you want an easy and quick side dish to serve with your tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and more. This Restaurant-style Mexican rice is a perfect choice. It only takes five minutes to put together and twenty minutes to cook, so it’s done in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice.
