Looking for the best rice dishes? These are the best rice side dishes that are easy to cook, quick, and ready in no time.
They are filling, nutritious, and will complement your protein dish and vegetables.
Whether it's rice side dishes for chicken, steak, fish, or vegetables, you will find many you'll love here.
These rice recipes for side dishes include instant pot rice recipes, rice cooker, and stovetop recipes.
Did you know that rice is grown on every single continent except for Antarctica? This small grain packs a huge punch in recipes from various cultures around the globe. This list of rice side dishes recipes is sure to give you some inspiration for new ways to incorporate rice into your meals!
Rice Dishes Recipes (Rice Side Dishes)
You will love these rice dishes not only because they are flavorful and delicious, but because they are easy and quick to cook.
Rice is incredibly versatile. It can be spicy, savory, or creamy. It can be excellent all on its own, or be the perfect add-in to an existing recipe. The sky is the limit on ways you can prepare rice!
If you’re anything like me, you will make it your mission to cook your way through this scrumptious list of rice side dishes. Without further delay, let's get into the list so you can get in the kitchen to make your new favorite side dish!
Jollof Rice
Jollof rice is a West African dish that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. This dish is found in multiple countries across Western and Sub-Saharan Africa. Each country has placed its own spin on this recipe, but true jollof always has three components at the core of it: rice, seasoning, and a tomato stew.
This dish might just be the most popular West African dish there is! From Nigerian jollof rice to Ghananian, to Senegalese Jollof! After trying this recipe just once, you will be sure to understand why. It is bursting with flavor and is absolutely delicious. Don’t let the simplicity of the ingredient list fool you – the flavors in this dish are so rich and powerful that this recipe will soon become a staple in your household too! This is one of the best rice side dishes there is.
Curry Rice
Curry rice is another easy recipe that packs a huge punch with flavor. Perfect to make for lunches throughout the week, potlucks, or busy weeknights at dinner, curry rice is a crowd pleaser.
This rice dish is another one that is enjoyed across many cultures and is especially prominent in India. Curry rice can be an amazing side dish for a wide variety of main courses! The deep, savory flavor of the curry provides the perfect amount of spice.
Curry rice is a classic, and you will soon see why this recipe is a fan favorite throughout the world! It's a colorful rice side.
Spicy Rice
Time to crank up the heat with spicy rice! This savory rice side dish delivers big time in the flavor department.
In addition to adding some bold spice to your meal, this recipe also gives you the flexibility to customize it. Try adding in a twist of lime, a sprinkle of different seasonings, or some chopped fresh herbs. Spicy rice might be a side dish, but it is sure to be the star of the show at any meal it is included in! This spicy flavored rice will be your favorite rice side dish in no time.
Instant Pot Basmati Rice
Basmati rice is a long-grain variety of rice. It is very aromatic, and can expand over twice its length during the cooking process! Basmati rice is also considered a low-glycemic food and has the lowest glycemic index of all kinds of rice.
Instead of making a regular bowl of rice as a side dish tonight, make this fragrant and filling white rice side dishes instead.
Egg Fried Rice
This egg fried rice is packed full of Chinese flavor. It is delicious, and cooks in quick time. Ready in under 30 minutes, it requires minimal prep and simple pantry ingredients. If you are looking for a rice side dish everyone would love then try this one.
Spanish Rice
Here is a dish that will quickly become your go-to when preparing any sort of Hispanic food! Not only is it delicious, but this recipe also takes less than 10 minutes to prep. You also probably already have most – if not all – of these ingredients on hand already.
We recommend using long-grain white rice for this recipe, but you could use any variety of rice. This Spanish rice tastes like it just came straight out of your favorite Mexican restaurant!
Pilaf Rice
This rice pilaf recipe can complement any recipe. Technically speaking, a rice pilaf is any rice that is sauteed prior to being cooked. This variation in the cooking method is what gives the rice that unique, toasted flavor!
Browning the rice in oil alongside aromatics such as garlic and onion really locks in the flavor before the rice gets cooked. Dress this rice pilaf with your favorite herbs, vegetables, or meat, and pair it with any dish! Rice pilaf is one of those dishes that will complement any meal that comes out of your kitchen.
Recipe by Served from scratch
Keema Rice
This minced meat rice recipe is a cheat Biryani. It is infused with flavors, aromatic, and delicious. It is also quick to cook, filling, and comforting.
Recipe by Krumpli
Cumin Rice
Cumin rice, also called Jeera rice, will bring any meal that it is paired with to the next level! This recipe is chock full of texture and flavor. It is going to taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, but this recipe is quick and easy, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Jeera is the Indian word for cumin, meaning that Jeera rice can be any rice that is cooked with cumin seeds. Not only is this dish fragrant, warm, earthy, and delicious but it is also packed with nutrients that come from the cumin seeds.
Recipe by the dinner bite
Jamaican Rice and Peas
This one pot rice and beans is made with long grain rice, kidney beans, and coconut milk among other simple ingredients. It smells good, rich, and is super delicious. This rice side dish pairs well with curry chicken, curry goat, lamb, steak, vegetables, and more. You will love it!
Yellow Rice
This yellow rice is colorful, buttery, and delicious. It makes use of a few simple ingredients, and it is perfect served with chicken, fish, vegetables, or any food of your choice.
Instant Pot Brown Rice
Brown rice is high in fiber, nutty, firm, and flavorful. This healthy rice side dish is filling and can be served with chicken, vegetables, steak, curries, and many more. Cook it on the stovetop, rice cooker, or in the instant pot. You will love this rice side dish.
Coconut Rice
Look no further for the perfect rice side dish recipe. This coconut rice has it all – subtle flavor, a great texture, and a unique taste. As if the recipe isn’t easy enough, it can be made in the rice cooker, making your life even easier!
Any long-grain rice variety can be used for this recipe, but we suggest using jasmine rice to get the full flavor effect. This coconut rice will have everyone coming back for seconds and thirds!
Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice is a long-grain variety of rice, but it makes an incredible side dish because of the flavor and fragrance it naturally has. It has a light floral flavor and is widely used in Asian cooking.
It remains plump and soft throughout the cooking process. This recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household, both for the cook as well as anyone who eats it!
Mushroom Rice
This mushroom rice recipe makes a great side dish, but it has so much flavor that it could also be made as a meal! It gets bonus points for being a one-pot recipe.
The key to nailing this recipe is to brown the mushrooms in the pot first. When you remove them from heat, deglaze the residue on the bottom of the pot with the broth, then add in your rice to cook. Once the rice is done, incorporate the mushrooms back in.
This recipe is sure to be a fan-favorite from the very first time you cook it!
Recipe by budget bytes
Lemon Rice
If you were looking for a perfect side dish to make with fish, chicken, or any other, look no further! This lemon rice recipe is bursting with flavor and is so simple to make. We love easy recipes!
The lemon provides the rice with a delicate, subtle flavor, making it an awesome sidekick to the main dish at any meal. Since minimal prep is involved, you can throw the ingredients together and let them simmer on the stove while you are making the other dishes.
Recipe by foodie crush
Greek Rice
Greek rice can be paired beautifully with any of your favorite Mediterranean recipes. The fresh herbs, lemon, garlic, and onions give this dish some seriously amazing flavor!
Not only is it delicious, but this recipe is also super simple. In less than half an hour, you could be eating this Greek rice!
Recipe by Hungry healthy happy
Cilantro Lime Rice
Is there a better flavor duo than cilantro and lime? We don’t think that there is! This cilantro lime rice is incredible, and is a great side for any meal, although it pairs exceptionally well with Asian and Mexican recipes.
This cilantro lime rice blows Chipotle’s rice out of the water! Don’t count on having any of these fluffy and flavorful leftovers to pack for lunch the next day.
Garlic Butter Rice
Garlic. Butter. Rice! The name itself consists of three ingredients that are absolutely delectable on their own. When you combine this trio of superstar ingredients, you’re guaranteed to have a rice side dish that brings everyone back for seconds (and thirds). I wouldn’t plan on having any leftovers from this recipe!
This simple yet savory recipe will have the pot scraped clean. Speaking of pot, this recipe is a one-pot meal. Can you believe that? This delicious dish will only leave you with one pot to worry about washing! This recipe is versatile and can pair with any main dish.
You can also use any variety of rice to make Garlic Butter Rice. However, we recommend using long-grain, basmati, or jasmine rice.
More Side Dishes Recipes
Side dishes for fried chicken
I hope you like these rice side dishes as much as we do. If you find this post helpful, please rate it 5 stars and leave me a comment below. I love reading from you
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Rice Dishes (Rice Side Dishes)
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
- Wash the rice till water runs clear.
- Add the rice into a pot, add water and salt then stir.
- Cover the pot then put it on the stove on high heat.
- When it starts to boil, reduce the heat to low heat and cook till the water dries and the rice is tender.
- Take off heat and fluff with a fork.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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