38 Rice Recipes That'll Make The Store Cupboard Ingredient More Exciting
Rice is one of the most versatile ingredients out there!
Nothing gets us more excited than a delicious rice recipe. Sure, it might be sound like the most basic ingredient, but there's a whole world of recipes you can make, from Nando's Spicy Rice to Mediterranean Prawn & Rice Soup to Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls.
Rice doesn't have to just be boiled, although it's very tasty when it is, it can be made into risotto with stock, baked into a traybake or fried into a gorgeously sticky fried rice.
Instead of plain rice, you could add a flavoured rice to your favourite main dish, like Coconut Rice with Thai Green Curry, or Coriander and Lime Rice with Chilli Con Carne.
Did you know you can put rice in soup, too? It's a brilliant way of making a soup more filling, and we've got a Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup with rice that's just the bees knees.
Real rice fans will chow down on the stuff for breakfast with this lovely warming Congee recipe with ginger, spring onion, garlic and a gorgeous jammy egg.
If you prefer your rice to be the main event, you'll love this Creamy Lemon Chicken with Rice. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a zingy leafy salad and it's sure to be a new mainstay in your weeknight recipe rotation.
Whether it's easy-to-make side dishes, or hearty and delicious mains, we've got 38 great-tasting rice recipes you NEED to give a go.
Nando's Spicy Rice
Spicy rice is 100% top-tier Nando's side dish, right? And if you've always wanted to recreate that lightly spiced, fluffy rice from your favourite Portuguese restaurant, try our easy, quick and flavoured packed version!
Get the Nando's Spicy Rice recipe.
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken fried rice is the comfort dish of Chinese food. This classic take on the favourite is easy to make and makes the perfect lunch or dinner.
Get the Chicken Fried Rice recipe.
Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is a Thai style rice that uses a slightly different method than you would normally use to cook rice. Typically, you would bring the water to a boil first before adding the rice, but for coconut rice you bring the milk, water, and rice all to a boil together. It creates a slightly sticky, much more flavourful rice that we want to eat with everything. Especially with chicken curry and our favourite pineapple salmon.
Get the Coconut Rice recipe.
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup
If you aren't making creamy soups when the weather cools down, you're missing the point of autumn.
Get the Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Soup recipe.
Creamy Lemon Chicken with Rice
Warning: You will be addicted to this lemon sauce.
Get the Creamy Lemon Chicken with Rice recipe.
Curried Rice
This version of curry rice is a sort of pilaf: rice is toasted in aromatic butter before being steamed to perfection. Perfectly spiced, it makes for a solid side dish, or a filling main.
Get the Curried Rice recipe.
Cheesy Mexican Cauliflower Rice
Instant weeknight fav.
Get the Cheesy Mexican Cauliflower Rice recipe.
Perfect Fried Rice
Fried rice is a dish we turn to again...and again because it's not only super easy to make, but also SO adaptable based on what ingredients are hanging out in your fridge. We love beef fried rice and even hot dog fried rice (don't knock it 'til you try it).
Get the Perfect Fried Rice recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
If there's one thing we find magical about Instant Pots, it's how quickly and perfectly they cook chicken and rice. The rice is the perfect texture and the chicken is insanely tender. This is the meal we cook in the Instant Pot the most often.
Get the Instant Pot Chicken and Rice recipe.
Instant Pot Rice
When cooking rice, a lot of things can go wrong. But not in this stupid easy recipe. Instant Pot, we 💖 you.
Get the Instant Pot Rice recipe.
Mediterranean Prawn & Rice Soup
A simple, warm, and hearty soup is all we crave all winter long. This one is full of prawns, brown rice, and rich flavour to really hit the spot. It's healthy and delicious and one you can really feel good about.
Get the Mediterranean Prawn & Rice Soup recipe.
Cheesy Italian Rice with Sausage
Use up the rest of the Italian sausage, rice (so cheap!), cheese, and spinach for this killer cheesy rice.
Get the Cheesy Italian Rice with Sausage recipe.
Mushroom Risotto
When people ask me what I like to cook most (and people ask alllllll the time), my answer is always risotto. I find the stirring very therapeutic. And every time I make it, I think it's better than the last. It's all about knowing what your rice needs and when it needs it, which comes more naturally each time.
Get the Mushroom Risotto recipe.
Pilau Rice
Curry night is one of our FAVOURITE nights of the week. Whether you're cooking up a classic chicken bhuna or a vegan chickpea curry, there's only one side dish you should be enjoying with it... pilau rice, duh!
Get the Pilau Rice recipe.
Mexican Rice
This easy recipe for Mexican rice is so full of flavour and better than any we've had from a Tex-Mex restaurant.
Get the Mexican Rice recipe.
Pineapple Fried Rice
To give this rice more an island vibe, we fried the rice and veggies in coconut oil. If you don't have any on hand, use a vegetable oil instead. This stuff is seriously delicious.
Get the Pineapple Fried Rice recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
Kiss greasy takeout fried rice goodbye.
Get the Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Congee
An umami rich rice porridge, this Asian dish is perfect for either breakfast or dinner. Top with a 7 minute boiled egg, if you’d like. You can also jazz this dish up with any condiments you may have at home, like chilli or sesame oil.
Get the Congee recipe.
Avgolemono Soup
Avgolemono soup is a classic Greek soup that's extra creamy and lemony. Traditionally made with shredded chicken and rice to make this a very comforting and filling soup.
Get the Avgolemono Soup recipe.