50 Simple Dinner Recipes That Start With a Box of Rice

Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Got a box or microwaveable pouch of rice in the pantry? You've got supper! Try one of these simple rice recipes for dinner. If you think rice recipes are oh-so-ho-hum, think again. Even if you didn't grow up in places like South Carolina or Louisiana, where this grain reigns, you'll love the delicious pops of Southern flavor we've added to easy rice recipes that anybody can make. With slow cooker , foil packet, skillet, and sheet pan options, these rice recipes are the easiest way to get dinner on the table.

Get a taste of Louisiana with Shrimp Étouffée, Jambalaya, or Red Beans and Rice. Lime juice and jalapeño bring summery zest with a kick to our Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl. Head to the Lowcountry for pilau, perloo, or Savannah red rice. Brush up on the basics with plenty of fried rice and stir-fry recipes, and take something to a friend in need with our comforting and portable rice casseroles.

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Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl

Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl
Greg Dupree

Recipe: Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl

Lime juice gives this rice bowl a summery zest while cayenne and jalapeño pepper add a nice kick. You can garnish this tasty dish with tortilla strips, lime wedges, salsa, or cilantro.

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Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad

Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Recipe: Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad

Store-bought rotisserie chicken and microwaveable rice will help you get this salad on the table for dinner with ease.

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Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin

Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin

This casserole delivers the flavor of spinach-artichoke dip in a heartier way so you can enjoy it for dinner.

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Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

You're just 20 minutes away from this dinner that arrives on the table faster than takeout.

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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

instant pot chicken and rice
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

While you may usually turn to the oven for a classic chicken and rice dinner, your Instant Pot can do the job in under an hour.

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Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

You'll find plenty of rice, broccoli, and cheese in one casserole dish with this recipe.

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Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice

Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice

Blend your favorite bright curry flavors with the ease of the grill in the summertime with this colorful dinner.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl

Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl

Have you ever seen such a beautiful dish that only took 30 minutes to make?

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Country Captain Chicken

Country Captain Chicken
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Country Captain Chicken

For this recipe, you'll want to make sure you use fresh, high-quality curry powder for the best flavor.

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Lightened-Up Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Lightened-Up Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Lightened-Up Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Your family will never know that this casserole is lightened-up for a healthier spin on the classic dinner dish.

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Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

Creamy Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Collard Greens
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

We love the healthy boost collard greens give this classic chicken-and-rice soup.

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Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

From start to finish, this comforting casserole takes just 40 minutes to come together.

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Burrito Bowls

Burrito Bowls
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

Set up a burrito bar for this totally customizable dinner that will leave even the pickiest eaters satisfied.

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Shrimp Étouffée

Shrimp Étouffée
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Shrimp Étouffée

You can cook the rice ahead of time and reheat it before serving to save even more time on this Cajun staple.

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One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice

One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice

Winner, winner chicken dinner! This budget-friendly recipe has everything you need for a complete meal in one dish.

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Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice

Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice

This light and bright recipe is the ultimate seafood supper for al fresco dining in the warm weather months.

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Jessica Harris' Red Rice

Red Rice
Victor Protasio, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Jessica Harris' Red Rice

This classic Lowcountry dish started in West Africa, and cookbook author and culinary historian Jessica Harris shared her recipe for it with us.

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Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

Chicken Casserole D'Iberville
Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

If you don't have time to cook the chicken yourself, we've also included express instructions that adapt this recipe to be made with store-bought chicken instead.

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Red Rice-Smoked Chicken Perloo

Ashleigh Shanti's Red Rice-Smoked Chicken Perloo
Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Red Rice-Smoked Chicken Perloo

Ashleigh Shanti, the chef behind Benne on Eagle, a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, created this dressed-up version of the Lowcountry classic.

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Foil Packet Red Beans and Rice

Foil Packet Red Beans and Rice
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Foil Packet Red Beans and Rice

Foil-packet suppers are the absolute easiest way to get dinner on the table with zero cleanup afterward.

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Shrimp Fried Rice

Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Shrimp Fried Rice

Chopped pineapple adds just the right amount of sweetness to this under-30-minute supper.

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Jambalaya de Covington

Jambalaya de Covington
Jambalaya de Covington

Recipe: Jambalaya de Covington

This 1987 recipe from Covington, Louisiana, the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, north of Lake Pontchartrain, will be your new favorite way to prepare jambalaya.

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Sea Island Crab Fried Rice

Fried Arkansas Black Apples
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sea Island Crab Fried Rice

This version of the Lowcountry favorite crab rice almost seems too easy to be so flavorful.

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Creamy Rice with Scallops

Creamy Rice with Scallops
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Creamy Rice with Scallops

Impressive enough for the mother-in-law but easy enough for a weeknight, this recipe will quickly become a go-to in your home.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

This vintage casserole is still around for a reason: It's simple, easy, and always a crowd favorite.

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Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Brighten up the dinner table with this healthy, one-bowl meal . Add grilled shrimp or chicken for even more protein.

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Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

The only thing this one-dish Creole supper needs is a loaf of crusty white bread to sop up every last bit of flavor.

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Jambalaya

Jambalaya
Melina Hammer

Recipe: Jambalaya

This quick recipe for jambalaya is sure to warm your family up on a cold winter night.

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Beef-and-Brussels Sprouts Stir-fry

Beef-and-Brussels Sprouts Stir-Fry
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Beef-and-Brussels Sprouts Stir-fry

This savory, Asian-inspired dinner comes together in so fast.

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Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice

Skillet Rice with Shrimp and Chicken
Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice

Double up on protein with this flavorful meal that includes fresh summer veggies like okra and tomatoes.

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Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

You can serve this versatile dinner over rice, as pictured, or stuff it in a pita the next day with leftovers.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

We took the retro favorite and made it even simpler (and honestly, so beautiful!) with this skillet version your family will love.

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Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy

Pam Lolley’s Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy

You know that a recipe is going to be good when it has Test Kitchen extraordinaire Pam Lolley's name attached to it.

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Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken
Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

You can serve this five-ingredient dinner over rice, between tacos, on a salad, or even over nachos.

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Chicken Bog

Simple Suppers Challenge: Chicken Bog
Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken Bog

If you've never heard of chicken bog, prepare to meet the easiest, kid-friendly dinner ever.

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Savannah Red Rice

Savannah Red Rice
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Savannah Red Rice

This recipe came to us from Millie Givens in November of 1989, and we've been revisiting this classic ever since.

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Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice

This quick, colorful supper is the ideal one-dish recipe for summertime.

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New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

John's Red Beans & Rice
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

This red beans and rice recipe comes together with just two steps and your slow cooker.

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Shrimp Perloo

Shrimp Perloo
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Shrimp Perloo

You can use chicken, sausage, or whatever seafood you have on hand for this Lowcountry rice dish.

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Instant Pot Jambalaya

Instant Pot Jambalaya
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Instant Pot Jambalaya

Our Test Kitchen pros could not stop raving about this new version of jambalaya.

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Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

Pork tenderloin is a great pick for this stir-fry, as it cooks quickly and pairs well with the bright sauce.

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Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

Chicken-and-Collards Pilau
Greg Dupree

Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

This version of the Lowcountry rice dinner is quick, and we love the healthy addition of Southern collards.

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Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli

Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp and Broccoli
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli

In need of healthy, fast recipes for lunch or dinner meal prep? We've got you covered.

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Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

These beautiful salmon bowls start with salmon that's been slow cooked with fresh spring veggies for a tender, never dry, fillet.

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Ginger and Collard Green Fried Rice

Ginger and Collard Green Fried Rice
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Recipe: Ginger and Collard Green Fried Rice

Leave it to chef and cookbook author Todd Richards to create an incredibly flavorful, Southern twist on fried rice.

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Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms

Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms

Recipe: Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms

There is nothing easier than a slow-cooker soup, and this one is made with store-bought shortcuts like prechopped veggies to make it even speedier.

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Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice
Howard Lee Puckett

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Few dishes embody the true tastes of the South more than red beans and rice, and this slow-cooker recipe helps you get their flavors on the table without spending all day in the kitchen. For this recipe we've used thinly sliced smoked turkey sausage, which works wonderfully in a slow cooker, as well as sweet onion, two types of bell pepper, and a hint of Creole seasoning. To give this quick-fix dinner a little extra spice, you can add hot sauce if you like. Top this Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice with finely chopped red onions, or finely chopped green onion. Both will add a little extra spice to this amazing dish

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Easy Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken Fried Rice Recipe
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Easy Chicken Fried Rice

In the amount of time it takes for takeout to be delivered to your door, our homemade Chicken Fried Rice will be on the table and ready to eat.

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Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Casserole

This casserole is a delicious and easy way to add Cajun flavor to a weeknight.

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Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Recipe: Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Don't wait hours on the stovetop for red beans and rice when you can whip it up in your Instant Pot.

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