Quick Rice Recipes That Make Dinner a Snap
Updated: Apr. 10, 2019Who said rice recipes have to take hours? Not us! Whether a starring role or a supporting side, these quick dishes fit the bill in hurry.
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Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
My husband often ordered pineapple fried rice at Thai restaurants, so I surprised him by tweaking some similar recipes to come up with a version that's both simple and delicious. —Bonnie Brien, Pacific Grove, California 2 / 25
Spicy Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet
I created this easy skillet dish to use up the boil-in-a-bag rice in my cabinet. The result packs a lot of flavor. —Sonali Ruder, New York, New York
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Mushrooms & Peas Rice Pilaf
Anything can be in a rice pilaf. Adding peas and baby portobello mushrooms gives it a springlike burst of color and a variety of textures. —Stacy Mullens, Gresham, Oregon 4 / 25
Garbanzo-Vegetable Green Curry
My son loves anything with coconut milk, so I always keep some on hand for weeknight meals like this one. For a milder version, I like to use red or yellow curry paste instead of green. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 5 / 25
Garlic Shrimp and Rice
My son's favorite food is shrimp, so I'm always looking for quick and simple ways to make it. In this recipe, sometimes I use garlic salt instead of minced garlic cloves and salt. —Julie Trani, Chesapeake, Virginia 6 / 25
Hearty Sausage and Rice Skillet
At the end of the day, who wants a stack of dishes to wash? That’s why we love this entree: It cooks in one skillet and everyone cleans their plates! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 7 / 25
Broccoli-Chicken Rice Soup
I transformed leftover chicken and rice into this tasty soup. It even passed the company test. —Karen Reed, Middletown, Ohio 8 / 25
Apple-Balsamic Pork Chops & Rice
Thanks to tangy balsamic vinegar and sweet apples, this one-pot pork chop lets you have a little something special anytime. —Greg Hageli, Elmhurst, Illinois 9 / 25
Tilapia with Fiesta Rice
I often use my husband’s fresh-caught bass or catfish for this recipe, but tilapia, salmon and even chicken will do. —Tarin Hauck, Minneapolis, Kansas 10 / 25
Super Quick Chicken Fried Rice
After my first child was born, I needed meals that were satisfying and fast. This fried rice is now part of our regular dinner rotation. — Alicia Gower, Auburn, New York 11 / 25
Cajun Beef & Rice
Cajun rice from a restaurant or box can have a lot of sodium and fat. Here’s a hearty, healthy way to trim it down. —Raquel Haggard, Edmond, Oklahoma 12 / 25
Southwest Chicken Dinner
My family loves to takeout order those gigantic Tex-Mex burritos, but they can be expensive and we always have leftovers. I created a lighter, no-guilt, no-tortilla alternative with the flavors they love. —Marquisha Turner, Denver, Colorado 13 / 25
Black Bean & Sweet Potato Rice Bowls
With three hungry boys in my house, dinners need to be quick and filling—it helps to get in some veggies, too. This meal is a favorite because it's hearty and fun to tweak with different ingredients. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey 14 / 25
Spicy Sweet Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa
I wanted to find a way to use pineapple salsa in a recipe. I came up with this super simple, delicious and quick dish! —Erin Schillo, Northfield, Ohio 15 / 25
Parmesan Chicken with Lemon Rice
I like the challenge of inventing recipes with ingredients I have on hand. This easy-peasy meal fits the bill. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia 16 / 25
Asian Chicken Rice Bowl
This super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families. —Christianna Gozzi, Asteria, New York 17 / 25
Pressure-Cooker Risotto with Shrimp and Asparagus
This speedy method of making risotto works every time! —Kim Gray, Davie, Florida 18 / 25
Arborio Rice and White Bean Soup
Soup is the ultimate comfort food. This hearty, satisfying soup with arborio rice is low in fat and comes together in less than 30 minutes. —Deanna McDonald, Grand Rapids, Michigan 19 / 25
Meat Lover's Pizza Rice Skillet
My son named this "pizza rice" after I threw together a quick dinner from what I had in the fridge and pantry. Add any other pizza topping ingredients you desire. I often add black olive slices or mushrooms. Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan 20 / 25
Vegetarian Pad Thai
This is a simple pad thai loaded with crisp vegetables and zesty flavor. It’s quick, simple, and fresh-tasting. —Colleen Doucette, Truro, Nova Scotia 21 / 25
Korean Salmon Skewers with Rice Slaw
This easy dinner is light and lovely, with so many delicious flavors and textures all in one stunning dish. It's so impressive that I often serve it to guests. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina 22 / 25
Pressure-Cooker Risotto with Chicken and Mushrooms
Portobello mushrooms add an earthy flavor to this creamy classic, while shredded rotisserie chicken makes it a snap to prepare. You'll savor every bite. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida 23 / 25
Southwestern Beef and Rice Skillet
I like to serve this kicked-up skillet dish with warm flour tortillas and a side of guacamole. If you like things a little spicier, add more jalapeno and enjoy the heat! —Pat Hockett, Ocala, Florida 24 / 25
Pressure Cooker Saucy BBQ Chicken Thighs
Barbecued chicken gets a makeover in this recipe. The combination of ingredients makes for a mellow, not-too-sweet flavor that's more grown-up than the original and super over rice, pasta or potatoes. —Sharon Fritz, Morristown, Tennessee 25 / 25
Pressure-Cooker Pork and Apple Curry
Here's a gentle curry dish that's won't overwhelm more delicate palates. For fun, try varying the garnish—add a few chopped peanuts or a little chutney. —Nancy Reck, Mill Valley, California Originally Published: April 10, 2019
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