26 Simple Recipes That Start With a Bag of Rice

March 14, 2020

Create a delicious, well-rounded meal starting with a bag of rice. Rice is a great foundation for a tasty, nutritious meal, just add vegetables and protein and dinner is served. Recipes like Easy Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetables and Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl are easy, filling and you can use any vegetables you have in your pantry or freezer.

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Broccoli, Cheese & Rice Casserole

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Ditch the baking dish and make this easy skillet broccoli, cheese and rice casserole. Cooking the casserole in a skillet keeps the flavors and textures fresh--no mushy, sad broccoli! Serve this easy side with baked chicken for a family-pleasing healthy dinner that's ready in just 30 minutes. It would also be a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread or a party buffet. Source: Eatingwell.com, September 2019

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Sweet & Sour Chicken

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This 20-minute meal delivers a faster, lighter and more flavorful takeout alternative. It's chock-full of fresh, crispy veggies and juicy chicken pieces, and it reheats well for meal-prep lunches. If you like heat, sub Sriracha for some of the ketchup. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2018

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Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

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This traditional Creole recipe is made with sausage, pork, and red beans, and it's flavored with zesty spices. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Farmers' Market Fried Rice

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This fried rice recipe features a fall mixture of sliced Brussels sprouts and parsnips, but feel free to use whatever is fresh and in season. This recipe works best in a wok-- a skillet is too small for the volume of food and requires more oil to prevent sticking. Always use cold cooked rice otherwise the fried rice will be gummy and sticky. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2011

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Easy Brown Rice Pilaf with Spring Vegetables

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This quick 3-ingredient dinner takes advantage of foods you can keep stocked in your fridge and pantry for a fast, healthy meal the whole family will love. Want to kick it up a notch? Use a frozen vegetable blend that has added seasoning for extra flavor (just watch the sodium). Source: EatingWell.com, April 2018

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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

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For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

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Japanese Chicken-Scallion Rice Bowl

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Here's the quintessence of Japanese home cooking: an aromatic, protein-rich broth served over rice. Admittedly, Japanese cooking leans heavily on sugar--for a less traditional taste, you could reduce or even omit the sugar. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April/May 2005

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Rice, Cheddar & Spinach Pie

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This rice, spinach and Cheddar pie is a cinch to prepare--especially if you have leftover cooked rice. If you don't, follow package directions for 4 servings to get about 3 cups cooked rice. Serve with steamed artichokes with light mayo mixed with lemon for dipping. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2012

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Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake

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This hearty one-skillet dinner is loaded with celery, kale, tomatoes and quick-cooking brown rice. It's easy to make the recipe vegetarian by substituting smoked tofu for the turkey. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2012

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Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

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Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings! Source: EatingWell.com, October 2017

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Sheet-Pan Shrimp Fried Rice

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Classic shrimp fried rice gets amped-up flavor with sambal heat. The textures are pretty spot on with hits of crispy and tender rice and are the same as you'd get if you prepared it in a wok or skillet. This sheet-pan shrimp fried rice recipe is a great way to use leftover rice, but you could also use pre-cooked microwave rice so that it can be coming to room temperature while you chop the veggies. Source: 400 Calorie Recipes

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Creamy Mushroom, Chicken & Asparagus Bake

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This comforting weeknight casserole recipe features plenty of mushrooms and asparagus combined with chicken and brown rice and a creamy Parmesan cheese sauce. Whip this up anytime you have leftover chicken or cooked brown rice to spare. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Slow-Cooker Sweet & Spicy Glazed Chicken

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You can fully indulge in the sticky-sweetness this slow-cooker chicken dish offers when you know that calories, saturated fat, carbs and sugar are in check. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker

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Turkey & Brown Rice Chili

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This hearty turkey chili recipe takes just 35 minutes to prep. While it's cooking, you'll have time to throw together a green salad and warm up some crusty bread to complete the meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Vegetable Fried Rice

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Nothing could be easier than this light version of fried rice. We've used instant brown rice, but if you have leftover cold rice or can pick some up at a Chinese restaurant on the way home, use that instead and skip Step 1. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April/May 2006

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Chicken Curry with Rice

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Fresh ginger and pungent curry add big flavor to this one-pot meal. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 1996

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Rice & Bean Freezer Burritos

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Save money and sodium when you make a batch of homemade frozen burritos. Mashing the beans and mixing them with tomatoes, cheese and jalapeños before filling the healthy burritos means you get all the ingredients in each bite. Serve with your favorite toppings--we like sour cream, salsa and hot sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2017

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Rice Bowls

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A bowl of tender shredded chicken, hot cooked rice and slightly spicy black beans served with fresh toppings is a meal that will satisfy anytime. Make this slow-cooker chicken dish on the weekend and reheat throughout the week for easy at-work lunches or dinner at the end of a long day. For a variation, swap the brown rice for a grain medley. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker

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Spanish-Style Rice

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A quick and easy rice dish has the bright colors and zesty flavors of peppers, tomatoes, and olives. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl

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Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal. Source: EatingWell.com, May 2017

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Chicken Sausage and Dirty Rice

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This Cajun-inspired main dish is made with spicy Andouille sausage and served over brown rice that's been cooked with colorful chopped vegetables and cayenne pepper. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Creamy Turkey and Rice Bake

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This family-pleasing casserole features lean turkey tenderloin pieces, brown rice, zucchini, and mushrooms, all baked in a creamy sauce and topped with crunchy crumbs and cheese. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Quick-as-a-Flash Wild Rice-Salmon Bisque

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Hungry right now? This deliciously creamy soup--chock full of salmon, wild rice and vegetables--can be on the table in just 15 minutes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Black-Eyed Peas with Pork & Greens

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This boldly flavored spin on Hoppin' John replaces salt pork or bacon with lean pork chops. Plus we've added greens--in this case kale--a traditional accompaniment with the dish. Serve with cornbread and a glass of Spanish rioja. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2009

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Rice & Corn Cakes with Spicy Black Beans

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These crispy fried patties get a swift kick from the easy-to-make bean-and-salsa accompaniment. Instant brown rice only takes about 10 minutes, a great shortcut on a busy night. Garnish with sour cream and scallions. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April/May 2005

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Cream of Chicken and Rice Florentine

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This easy one-pot comfort-food dinner is made with fresh and healthy ingredients. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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