Dinner Ideas With Rice

When it comes to dinner time, it can be hard to know what to cook. It’s easy to fall into a rut and just cook the same old meals.

To make things easier for you, we’ve come up with a collection of dinner ideas with rice that are easy to make, ready in no time, and taste great.

A collection of images of rice dishes including pad mee, sushi bake, tuna fried rice, purple Korean rice, crispy rice paper rolls, and jeera rice.

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A bit about rice
Best Rice Dishes For Dinner

Who said dinner had to be boring? Rice is such a versatile ingredient that can be used for many different dishes, both sweet and savory.

It’s like a blank canvas that can be accompanied with many delicious flavors and it’s the perfect staple for any meal. No wonder it’s a beloved staple food around the world!

Enjoy it plain or dress it up, it’s always a crowd pleaser. But sometimes it can be a bit hard to come up with exciting and new ways to enjoy this beloved grain.

Rice is a staple ingredient in so many countries and has so many uses, from fried rice to rice bowls, to rice puddings and mochi.

There are so many types of rice, it can be confusing to know when to use what type and how to cook it.

Whether you are in the mood for something comforting, or even something spicy, there is bound to be a rice dish out there just for you.

These dinner ideas with rice give an example of how much variety you can cook with rice and with ease too!

One of the easiest and quickest rice dishes for dinner is a stir-fry. Pair rice with your favorite protein and vegetables for a quick dinner option. Fried rice is also a great way to use up any leftovers you may have in your fridge.

Or maybe you want to try something a bit different.

From classic fried rice to something a bit more unique like jajang tteokbokki, these meals are not only delicious, but they are easy to make.

A bit about rice

There’s long grain, short grain, medium grain, and an ever long list of other types of rice!

From basmati rice to jasmine rice, the options are endless.

Long grain rice, such as jasmine rice or basmati rice is less sticky than other grains such as short or medium grain. It’s perfect to use as a side dish to curries, grilled meats, or even for pilafs and fried rice.

Short grain rice, such as sushi rice, is a lot stickier. It’s great to use in, you guessed it, sushi, as well as other dishes like poke bowls and rice bowls.

Close up image of baked sushi on parchment paper. — Sushi bake.

So, if you are a lover of rice like we are or are just looking for a way to add variety to your meal, you’ll find something here that you’ll love.

Read on, be inspired, and be creative with these easy dinner ideas with rice.

Who knows, there might even be something to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Best Rice Dishes For Dinner

Char Siu Fried Rice

Fried rice with char siu on a round white plate.

This Chinese-inspired dish combines tender char siu pork with fluffy white rice, veggies such as carrot, and green onions, and scrambled eggs.

By using char siu it gives the fried rice a sweet and savory flavor. It's a great way to use leftover char siu meat or any other veggies you may have in your fridge.

Make this char siu fried rice today

Sushi Bake Recipe

Baked sushi wrapped in nori (seaweed sheet) on a white plate.

Here’s something a little different. Sushi bake is a popular dish that combines the flavors of sushi with the convenience of a casserole.

This recipe features sushi rice, imitation crab meat, and a variety of vegetables, all baked together with a flavorful sauce and topped with sesame seeds and green onions. It's an easy and delicious way to enjoy sushi flavors at home.

Get the recipe for this sushi bake

Jeera Rice

Close up image of cumin rice with spices and chili.

Jeera rice is a simple and delicious Indian dish that is made by cooking basmati rice with cumin seeds, bay leaves, and other spices. The cumin gives the dish a warm and nutty flavor, while the bay leaves add a subtle earthy aroma.

Jeera rice is perfect on its own or even to have as a side dishto curries and other Indian dishes.

Get the recipe today for this easy jeera rice

Jajang Tteokbokki

Soft and chewy rice cakes coated in savory black bean sauce (jajang sauce).

The combination of the chewy rice cakes with the savory black bean sauce makes for a delicious and comforting dish.

And it’s a lot milder in spice in comparison to traditional tteokbokki.

Make this delicious jajang tteokbokki recipe for dinner tonight

Sushi Rice on the Stovetop

Sushi rice in a bowl on a wooden mat with chopsticks.

Making sushi rice on the stovetop is a quick and easy way to achieve perfect sushi rice at home. This recipe uses just a few simple ingredients, such as sushi rice and water, with optional seasonings of sushi vinegar, sugar, and salt.

The result is a perfectly seasoned and sticky rice that is perfect for rice bowls, sushi rolls or as a side dish.

Get the recipe for this easy sushi rice on the stovetop

Chorizo Fried Rice

This delicious and hearty dish features spicy chorizo sausage mixed with fluffy white rice. It’s packed full of flavor and the bold flavors of the chorizo balance perfectly when combined with savory rice.

It makes for a satisfying meal for the whole family. What’s more is that it's a great way to use up left over rice and is great for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Make this chorizo fried rice recipe!

Jasmine Rice on the Stovetop

Cooked jasmine rice on a plate on a red napkin.

Jasmine rice is a fragrant long-grain rice that is often used in Asian cuisine.

Learn how to make perfect jasmine rice on the stovetop, using just water and rice. The result is a fluffy, fragrant, and light jasmine rice that is great as a base for Asian dishes and stir fries or even as a side dish.

Make this jasmine rice on the stovetop

Spam Fried Rice Recipe

Got a can of spam handy? What about leftover rice? You might like to try this spam fried rice recipe.

It combines the savory and salty taste of spam with fluffy white rice. It’s an easy to make dish that is a perfect way to use up any leftover rice you may have, or even leftover vegetables too!

Make this spam fried rice tonight!

Tuna Fried Rice

This dish is a simple and delicious way to use up canned tuna and leftover rice.

Canned tuna is cooked along with green onions, eggs, rice, green peas, and other ingredients, which gives the dish the perfect balance of savory and salty flavor.

What’s more is that it can be ready inunder 30 minutes.

Make this simple and delicious tuna fried rice recipe

How To Cook Basmati Rice On The Stovetop

Cooked basmati rice in a shallow white bowl on a woven coaster.

Basmati rice is a long-grain rice. It is often used in Pakistani and Indian cuisine.

This recipe for basmati rice shows you how to make perfect basmati rice on the stovetop, using just water and rice. The result is a light, fluffy, and fragrant rice that is perfect to use as a base for curries, fried rice, or even as a side dish.

Learn how to mae basmati rice on the stovetop

Rose Tteokbokki

Rose tteokbokki is a creamy, sweet, and spicy Korean dish made of chewy rice cakes, a slightly spicy and sweet sauce, fish cakes, bacon, and sausage.

This dish is a popular street food in Korea and is known for its unique sweet and spicy flavor. Oh, and it’s a gorgeous pale pink color too.

Get the recipe for rose tteokbokki

Singapore Fried Rice

Rice with spices and chicken on a plate.

This slightly spicy rice dish is a delicious fusion of Indo Chinese cuisine. It’s great to serve for a weeknight dinner and even lunchboxes.

This recipe uses a variety of spices like turmeric powder, curry powder, and ground coriander, along with chicken, prawns, eggs, and vegetables.

It's a delicious and easy one-dish meal that is perfect for a quick and easy.

Make this tasty Singapore fried rice

Bagara Rice

Bagara Rice is a popular dish from India. The combination of the fluffy rice with the spicy and nutty flavors makes for a delicious and satisfying dish.

It’s great for weeknight dinners, as a side dish, or even for parties.

Get the recipe dinner tonight for this bagara rice

Tteokbokki with Cheese

Tteokbokki with Cheese is a popular Korean dish made with chewy rice cakes, mixed with a spicy sauce, and topped with melted cheese.

The combination of the chewy rice cakes with the spicy sauce and melted cheese makes for a delicious and comforting dish.

Make this delicious tteokbokki with cheese

Pad Mee

This popular Southeast Asian dish is made with rice noodles, mixed with seafood, vegetables, and a variety of other flavors to make a slightly spicy dish.

It’s similar to pad thai, but uses less ingredients.

But that doesn’t mean it compromises on flavor. These easy noodles are a delicious and satisfying dish, you’ll be wanting more.

Get the recipe for pad mee

Crispy Rice Paper Rolls

These fried summer rolls take ordinary summer rolls to a whole new level. They’re crispy and crunchy, and make for the perfect appetizer or snack.

They can be filled with a variety of ingredients such as shrimp, pork, vegetables, and herbs, and are often served with a dipping sauce.

Get the recipe for these crunchy and crispy rice paper rolls

Korean Purple Rice

This traditional Korean dish is made with black glutinous rice, short grain white rice, and water.

The black glutinous rice gives this dish it’s unique color. It also adds a nice subtle crunch to the rice.

Purple Korean rice can be served with a variety of dishes, including Korean barbecue. It is known to be rich in antioxidants and has a unique and sweet taste.

Make this Korean purple rice recipe tonight

Risotto Zafferano

A different take on the traditional Italian dish, risotto.

Risotto Zafferano, also known as saffron risotto, is made with arborio rice, parmesan cheese, vegetable or chicken stock, and a pinch of saffron.

The saffron gives the dish a unique flavor and aroma, while the Parmesan cheese adds a rich and creamy texture. This dish is perfect to serve as a side, or even as a main course.

Get the recipe for this delicious risotto zafferano

Made one of these dinner ideas with rice recipes? Let us know how it went in the comments below!