I’m all about utilizing up leftovers and never letting something go to waste. In spite of everything, tossing leftover meals is among the quickest methods to observe your grocery price range disappear! Rice is particularly sneaky. Despite the fact that it’s one of many least expensive elements in my kitchen, it’s additionally one of many best to overestimate, which implies a container of cooked rice finally ends up shoved to the again of the fridge and forgotten till it’s too late. So as a substitute of letting that occur, I began treating leftover rice like a deliberate ingredient. These 12+ leftover rice recipes are a few of our favourite methods to show additional rice right into a actual meal, not simply one thing to make use of up!
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All recipes are rigorously examined in our Nashville Take a look at Kitchen to make sure they’re simple, reasonably priced, and scrumptious.
Vital to Know When Cooking With Leftover Rice
Earlier than we get into it, a fast rice-storage observe (so you’ll be able to be ok with utilizing it later). Whenever you’re storing cooked rice for later, the primary purpose is to chill it shortly and get it into the fridge, ideally portioned out in a clear container so it chills quicker. Cooling cooked rice as quickly as attainable after which heating it totally earlier than having fun with it once more is one of the best ways to maintain it food-safe. Don’t depart cooked rice sitting out at room temp, and attempt to get it cooled and refrigerated inside about two hours.
It’s also possible to freeze rice for as much as 2-3 months after which pull it from the freezer to make use of in any of the recipes beneath!
Nice Methods to Use Leftover Rice
Leftover rice is mainly a clean canvas, and it will possibly go approach past primary reheating. These recipes with leftover rice showcase all the perfect instructions it will possibly take, from savory to candy!
Fried Rice
I at all times use leftover rice for fried rice if I can. My household loves it, and I a lot desire the feel in comparison with freshly cooked rice in dishes like these. Day-old rice is a little bit firmer, so the grains keep separate as a substitute of turning sticky or gummy as soon as I stir within the sauce and add-ins. It’s the simplest option to get that excellent fried rice texture at residence.
1. Vegetable Fried Rice
Vegetable Fried Rice
Vegetable Fried Rice is a quick, simple, scrumptious, and budget-friendly meal that you could whip up with elements available at any time!
$4.5 recipe / $1.13 serving
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Once I want dinner quick and I’ve received leftover cooked rice in my fridge, I make this vegetable fried rice. It’s garlicky, gingery, and completed with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil, plus eggs and a mixture of veggies. The entire thing comes collectively in lower than half-hour, and it’s nice for utilizing up odds and ends!
2. Rooster Fried Rice
Rooster Fried Rice
Make scrumptious, ultra-flavorful rooster fried rice that tastes even higher than takeout– and prices much less too.
$4.74 recipe / $1.19 serving
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A batch of this rooster fried rice can stretch leftover rice and a single rooster breast right into a budget-friendly dinner that tastes even higher than takeout (I promise!). This simple recipe feels particularly satisfying for a way easy the ingredient listing actually is.
3. Kimchi Fried Rice
Kimchi Fried Rice
This Kimchi Fried rice is tangy, spicy, and the proper approach to make use of up all of the leftover elements and scraps in your kitchen.
$5.63 recipe / $1.40 serving
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When you like daring flavors, kimchi fried rice is such a enjoyable option to get up a container of day-old rice. I really like the way it makes use of tangy kimchi, quick-cooking greens, and even shredded broccoli stem for additional texture, so it feels resourceful whereas nonetheless being extremely flavorful. There’s no waste in our budget-conscious kitchen!
Cozy Bakes and Casseroles
Casseroles are one other spot the place I love utilizing day-old rice. Because it’s a little bit firmer, it holds its texture whereas it bakes as a substitute of turning mushy, and it soaks up taste simply whereas making no matter you’re cooking additional hearty. If I do know a casserole is on the menu, I’ll even prepare dinner additional rice the evening earlier than simply to make prep quicker.
4. Rooster and Rice Casserole
Rooster and Rice Casserole
This Rooster and Rice Casserole is a consolation meals basic, constituted of scratch with tons of juicy rooster, cheese, greens, and rice!
$7.60 recipe / $1.27 serving
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For a comfy baked dinner, rooster and rice casserole turns rice, greens, rooster, and cheese right into a creamy, hearty meal that appears like basic consolation meals. It’s the sort of casserole that works particularly nicely for utilizing up cooked rooster, together with rotisserie rooster, and leftover rice.
5. Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
This Broccoli Cheese Casserole recipe is a basic aspect dish made with a creamy selfmade cheese sauce, rice, and broccoli florets.
$5.78 recipe / $0.96 serving
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I really like how our broccoli cheese casserole transforms cooked rice into one thing creamy, tacky, and critically comforting. Broccoli, cheddar, and a easy selfmade sauce bake collectively in about 50 minutes, providing you with a aspect dish that may simply double as the primary occasion.
6. Beef Burrito Casserole
Beef Burrito Casserole
This Beef Burrito Casserole is completely customizable and may embrace all of your favourite burrito or nacho toppings. Leftovers reheat nice for lunch!
$8.10 recipe / $1.35 serving
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This beef burrito casserole is layered with seasoned beef, cooked rice, beans, salsa, and cheese, and the little dollops of cream cheese tucked by the center make it additional creamy and wealthy. Wish to go meatless? I’d skip the bottom beef and add in an additional can of black beans or some corn. It’ll nonetheless be scrumptious both approach!
Construct-Your-Personal Rice Bowls
Bowl meals are my favourite option to make leftover rice really feel contemporary once more. Simply add a protein, just a few colourful toppings, and a punchy sauce, and abruptly dinner is dealt with!
7. Bibimbap
Bibimbap – The Final Bowl Meal
This colourful and versatile bowl is my easy interpretation of Bibimbap, a scrumptious Korean rice bowl meal.
$10.66 recipe / $2.67 serving
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Bibimbap is a Korean blended rice bowl, and our budget-friendly adaptation turns leftover rice right into a critically satisfying dinner. This model retains issues easy with jasmine rice, spinach, chili garlic beef, contemporary greens, kimchi, and a fried egg, so you continue to get loads of coloration, texture, and taste with out difficult steps. It’s additionally nice for meal prep! I’d simply prepare dinner the egg contemporary every day, or swap in a hard-boiled egg as a substitute.
8. Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
These simple no-frills burrito bowls are tremendous quick and reasonably priced. They’re the proper satisfying weeknight meal for instances when cash is tight!
$7.07 recipe / $1.18 serving
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I’m at all times impressed by how a lot taste our poor man’s burrito bowls ship with such a brief and reasonably priced ingredient listing. Rice, black beans, salsa, and cheese come collectively right into a filling bowl meal that’s easy, budget-friendly, and excellent for placing leftover rice to work with out a lot effort in any respect.
9. Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls
Spicy Tuna Guacamole Bowls
These tremendous contemporary and Spicy Tuna Guacamole bowls are full of protein, fiber, and taste. The proper no-reheat meal prep lunch for summer season!
$7.80 recipe / $1.95 serving
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These spicy tuna guacamole bowls have a mixture of creamy guac, spicy sriracha, and crisp veggies that retains each chunk contemporary, and the edamame provides additional protein and fiber. Bonus: it’s designed to be a no-reheat meal prep bowl, so it’s preferrred for anybody who doesn’t have entry to a microwave at college or work!
10. Candy N Spicy Rooster Bowls
Candy n’ Spicy Rooster Bowls
These Candy n’ Spicy Rooster Bowls assemble shortly and supply lots of taste, coloration, and texture. Low sugar, excessive fiber, and loaded with deliciousness!
$6.05 recipe / $1.51 serving
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Meal prep will get much more thrilling with candy n spicy rooster bowls within the lineup. These bowls mix rooster, rice, and colourful toppings with a sweet-and-spicy taste profile that retains every chunk fascinating!
Attempt Making Pancakes!
Leftover rice doesn’t should dwell its entire life as a aspect dish. As soon as it’s cooked, it may be blended, crisped, and reworked into one thing completely totally different, and this subsequent recipe is proof of that.
11. Rice Pancakes
Rice Pancakes
Use your leftover rice from the evening earlier than to make these fast and straightforward Rice Pancakes for breakfast. Cut back meals waste and hold your price range in examine!
$0.71 recipe / $0.36 serving
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I’m OBSESSED with these rice pancakes as a result of they flip yesterday’s rice into one thing completely surprising. They’re a fast, simple breakfast with a calmly crisp exterior and tender center, and so they’re a enjoyable change from the standard toast or oatmeal routine. My household loveees them with a drizzle of maple syrup, jam, or a little bit peanut butter.
Simple and Inexpensive Dessert
Even dessert is on the desk whenever you’ve received additional rice within the fridge. This simple pudding is certainly one of my household’s favourite recipes for leftover rice! It turns a primary pantry staple into one thing candy, cozy, and budget-friendly, with out lots of fuss.
12. Rice Pudding
Creamy Rice Pudding
Creamy Rice Pudding is an easy, scrumptious, and cheap dessert stuffed with heat flavors like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
$2.40 recipe / $0.60 serving
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Our selfmade rice pudding recipe is written with raw rice, however I PROMISE it’s simply as simple to swap in leftover rice. Simply stir within the cooked rice, scale back the quantity of milk (examine the recipe ideas for the precise quantities!), then let it gently simmer till it turns thick, cozy, and scoopable. This simple pudding is what goals are fabricated from. 🤤
+ Extra Methods to Use Leftover Rice!
Soups and Stews – A scoop of cooked rice can critically improve a pot of soup or stew. It provides additional heft, stretches the servings, and makes the entire bowl really feel extra filling. I particularly find it irresistible in recipes like our Mexican pink lentil stew. Leftover rice can be excellent for including to posole or black bean chili! And if I don’t have a pleasant loaf of crusty bread to dip into my soup, I really like including a scoop of rice as a substitute. It’s excellent for once I solely have a small quantity of rice that must be used, and I HIGHLY advocate you give it a go.
Meatloaf and Meatballs – Leftover rice is surprisingly nice in meatloaf and meatballs as a result of it soaks up additional moisture loads like breadcrumbs do. It’s additionally a useful possibility for those who’re gluten-free, since it will possibly assist bind every little thing collectively and hold the feel tender with out counting on bread (simply observe the quantities may have adjusting as breadcrumbs and rice aren’t a 1:1 swap). For a tried-and-true instance, try our Thai turkey meatloaf recipe!
