5 Easy Rice Recipes to Spice Up Dinner

These 5 Easy Rice Recipes can be made in a rice cooker with few ingredients – try fried, cilantro lime, tomato basil, mushroom or coconut.

Top 5 ways to spice up rice

Rice is a great grain to include in your lunches and dinner. It's a versatile carb that acts as a great source of energy for your busy day. Even though plain rice is a great side dish, you can take rice to the next level by spicing it up!

Scroll through to see five of my favourite ways to spice up rice.

Coconut rice

Don't let the pictures fool you, this recipe may look like regular white rice but it's actually a delicious coconut rice! By using coconut milk instead of water in the rice cooker, you infuse your rice of choice with the tropical and creamy taste of coconut.

Enjoy the flavours of summer all year long with this coconut rice!

Here's what you need to make this coconut rice recipe:

The perfect pairing

I've paired this refreshing coconut rice with peanut chicken and a refreshing mango salsa. This dish seriously tastes like summer! If you're not a fan of mango, use pineapple or peach for the salsa since those flavours will work really well with the coconut rice.

You can also pair the coconut rice with honey or pineapple glazed salmon/chicken, in Buddha bowls, with Mongolian beef or a Thai inspired red curry.

Mushroom rice 

Get the flavours you love from mushroom risotto and long grain wild rice in this rice cooker recipe! This rice dish is ultra comforting and has a delicious creamy texture. Packed with sauteed mushrooms and fresh parsley, this recipe is sure to please! It's the perfect side dish to any tougher meat like turkey or pork.

Here's what you need to make this mushroom rice recipe:

• White rice – use long grain white rice for this recipe. 
• Vegetable broth – if you're not limited to a vegetarian diet, use chicken broth or beef broth for this recipe. 
• Butter – a neutral cooking oil also works in place of butter.
• Salt (to taste)
• Shallot – red onions or white onions will work for this recipe. 
• Cremini mushrooms – use whichever mushrooms you like!
• Parsley (to garnish)

The perfect pairing

I've paired this creamy mushroom rice with diced turkey sausage. This rice dish can be enjoyed on its own but if you're looking to add protein to your meal, this rice will pair well with a tougher meat. Here are some examples: lamb shanks, pork chops, turkey sausage, or steak.

 

Tomato basil rice

This tomato basil rice dish is a tasty way to enjoy scallops or on their own. This rice is packed with flavour and  This rice dish is ultra comforting and has a delicious creamy texture. Packed with sauteed mushrooms and fresh parsley, this recipe is sure to please! It's the perfect side dish to any tougher meat like turkey or pork.

Here's what you need to make this tomato basil rice recipe:

• White rice – substitute brown rice, basmati rice or jasmine rice fr this recipe.
• Vegetable broth – if pairing this recipe with meat, feel free to use chicken broth.
• Oil from sun-dried tomatoes – grab this straight from the can for easy assembly or use a homemade infused oil.
• Sun-dried tomatoes – use a canned or jarred variety for ease.
• Basil – fresh basil leaves is highly recommended.
• Salt (to taste)

The perfect pairing

I've paired this tomato basil rice with freshly seared scallops. Scallops are a delicious shellfish that are praised for their gentle texture. This tomato basil rice will also pair beautifully with other seafood options or any seasoned chicken breast. As with many of the other recipes in this post, feel free to enjoy the rice on its own!

Shrimp fried rice

Fried rice is a classic dish! I'm convinced that everyone loves some fried rice so I'm pretty sure this one is going to be the fan favourite. Make this delicious rice dish with day old leftover rice to ensure the best results. When using fresh rice, the texture may vary.

Here's what you need to make this shrimp fried rice recipe:

• White rice – substitute brown rice, basmati rice or jasmine rice fr this recipe.
• Water – vegetable broth can be used instead to add even more flavour to the rice.
• Salt (to taste)
• Butter – use any neutral cooking oil in place of butter
• Soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari are great substitutions for soy sauce
• Garlic – fresh or jarred minced garlic is recommended. In a pinch use garlic powder.
• Egg – use whole eggs or egg whites for a leaner option.
• Green onions (to garnish)

The perfect pairing

I've paired this easy fried rice recipe with shrimp and a variety of veggies. Shrimp is a popular choice for fried rice but chicken, tofu, beef or pork can also be used to complete this dish. To make this dish fibrous and even more filling, I've included a variety of vegetables from a stir fry frozen vegetable blend. Use any vegetables (fresh or frozen) of your choice to add to this meal.

Eat this fried rice on its own or serve it alongside your favourite Asian inspired recipes.

Cilantro lime rice 

This cilantro lime rice is the perfect copycat to the popular Chipotle bowl base. Packed with the energizing taste of lime and minty taste of cilantro, this rice is the base of choice for your Tex Mex inspired dishes. The flavours in this rice are so fresh, you'll definitely be reaching for seconds!

Here's what you need to make this cilantro lime rice recipe:

• White rice – substitute brown rice, basmati rice or jasmine rice fr this recipe.
• Vegetable broth – broth will make the rice more flavourful but feel free to use water instead.
• Butter – a neutral cooking oil can be used to make the rice as well.
• Salt (to taste)
• Lime juice – use fresh lime juice keep extra slices for garnish. In a pinch use bottled lime juice.
• Cilantro

The perfect pairing

I've paired this delicious cilantro lime rice with beans and stir fried bell peppers to make my own vegetarian burrito bowl! Feel free to add any other fixings (ex: sour cream, cheese, salsa, guacamole, etc.) on top of this burrito to bowl to make it your own customized version of chipotle! Want more protein in this vegetarian meal? Add chicken, sofritas or steak. You can also use this rice inside a burrito as additional filling or serve it as a side dish for your next Tex Mex inspired meal.

What can you add to rice to give it flavor?

Rice is a staple carb choice for so many dishes. Plain rice is known to be so versatile because it pairs well with virtually anything! The only downside: plain rice has a reputation of being “boring”. This is especially when its paired with plain grilled chicken breast and steamed veggies. It's time to reframe how we see this grain! If you're planning on pairing this grain with your favourite protein, do it! But do it with flavour!

Add flavour to plain rice by adding in your favourite herbs & spices, aromatics and veggies. Not sure where to start? Check out the following add-ins that will make the rice your favourite part of your dinner plate!

• Herbs: cilantro, basil, parsley, rosemary or thyme are all herbs that bring the aromatics and flavour to any rice dish.
• Spices: spices such as cinnamon, cumin, paprika and more are the key to adding flavour to rice. Choosing the right blend of spices will depend on the cuisine that your dish is inspired by.
• Condiments & sauces: add your favourite condiments such as hot sauce, salsa, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, etc. to your rice dish to add a lot of rich, saucy or savoury flavour.
• Cheese: mix in cheddar cheese or your favourite cheese blend to a rice dish to create a creamy and hearty rice dish that is perfect for a cold fall night.
• Citrus: add the juice or zest of fresh citrus (such as limes, lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc.) to the rice to create a fresh, zesty flavour.
• Aromatics: including key aromatics beyond just herbs such as garlic, ginger, coconut flakes, onions, etc. are the key to creating flavour in a “boring” dish such as rice.
• Vegetables: mix in sauteed veggies into cooked, fluffed rice alongside any other add-ins. This will allow you to enjoy it on its own or pair it with a protein of choice.
• Lentils & legumes: kick up the protein in your lunch or dinner by adding your favourite lentils and legumes to your rice. Similarly to adding in vegetables, you will want to add in cooked beans or lentils to cooked rice. Enjoy this rice alone or pair with another protein of choice.
• Broths & milk: another great way to turn the flavour up on this grain is by replacing the water in the rice cooker with a broth (ex: chicken broth, vegetable broth, etc.) or milk (ex: coconut milk, cashew milk, etc.).

How do you flavor cooked rice?

Adding flavour to cooked rice is easier than you think! Regardless of the rice recipe that you choose, the steps to follow are the same! Note: Making the shrimp fried rice does require a bit more work, but the order of the steps are the same.

To flavour cooked rice follow these instructions:

1. Assemble and add your rice ingredients to a rice cooker.
2. Allow the rice to cook until the liquid is fully absorbed and then fluff the rice using a fork.
3. Prepare the add-in ingredients and toppings for your rice recipe.
4. Add prepared toppings and add-ins to the rice cooker.
5. While the rice is still hot, combine the rice and ingredients until fully combined.
6. Serve your flavoured rice with a protein of your choice and enjoy!

More recipes using rice

As mentioned above, rice is a versatile grain that is PERFECT for so many different recipes! It can be used as a base of a bowl, added to soups or served with a variety of stir fried meats and vegetables. If you're looking for more delicious rice recipes, I've got you covered! Try any of these rice recipes for your next meal:

• Panda Express orange chicken
• Meal prep fiesta chicken bowls
• Miso sesame tuna rice bowls
• Jerk chicken-inspired meal prep bowls
• Creamy crockpot chicken and rice
• Chicken wild rice soup
• Ginger sesame tofu stir fry 
• Thai basil chicken meal prep bowls
• Sweet chili chicken meal prep bowls
• General Tso's chicken

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these rice recipes into leftovers
• Freeze leftover plain rice in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months
• If you're looking for a rice cooker – try this one!