We’ve all had to deal with it: the dreaded leftover rice.
It’s something we’ve all been through: You make a mere one-and-a-half cups of jasmine rice, and it always leaves you with way more steamed rice than you ever needed, especially when cooking for one. And then the leftover white rice just sits and sits and sits in your fridge until it’s so crispy and tough, you end up throwing it all out. Sure, from time to time you might use it as an opportunity to make a batch of fried rice, but one can only make the same egg fried rice so much.
Sound familiar?
In an effort to quit wasting food (and stop making the same tired fried rice recipe), we’ve scoured Pinterest and various food blogs and found 18 leftover rice recipes so delicious, you’ll not only make them more than once, but you might also just make it a point to always make extra rice.
A version of this article was originally published in September 2015.
Garlic Fried Rice With Vinegar Sauce
This garlicky, vinegary fried rice inspired by sinangag, the Filipino classic breakfast, tastes amazing with a couple of fried eggs.
Wild Rice & Butternut Squash Salad With Maple-Balsamic Dressing
The maple dressing and fresh herbs really make this dish pop, both in taste and in color.
Chicken in Tarragon Cream Sauce With Green Rice Pilaf
Sure, the rice is on the side of juicy chicken slices soaked in tarragon cream sauce, but it still counts.
Brown Rice Tuna Salad
An easy, protein-packed salad that's also gluten-free? Count us in.
Southwestern Rice Bowls With Chipotle Ranch Dressing
This rice bowl packed with corn, black beans, avocado and more looks almost too good to eat. Almost.
Rice- & Sausage-Stuffed Peppers
Sautéed onions, garlicky crumbled sausage, plenty of cheese and wild rice: This is the leftover rice recipe you'll make more than once.
Make-Ahead Brown Rice Breakfast Bowls
You know what's so great about these breakfast bowls? You can make them ahead of time. Oh, yes, and let's not forget about the runny yolk.
Crispy Rice Salad
The squeezed lime juice will take this crispy rice salad to a whole 'nother level.
Sausage, Pea & Lemon Rice
Hot tip when making this simple sausage, pea and lemon rice bowl: You can sub the sausage with chorizo if you want.
Lemon Rice With Turmeric
Bursting with, you guessed it, lemon flavor, you can also pair it with any meats or veggies you happen to be craving.
Sausage & Kale Rice Bowl for One
Perfect for when you're cooking for one, this sausage and kale rice bowl is very easy to make and ready in 15 minutes.
Chopped Brown Rice Salad With Grapes & Pecans
This might just become your go-to salad this summer, what with its juicy grapes and tangy mustard vinaigrette.
Baby Chard & Brown Rice Fritters
Loaded with healthy chard and brown rice, Cafe Johnsonia recommends pairing these healthy fritters with homemade marinara sauce.
Arancini (Rice Balls) With Marinara Sauce
Arancini are Italian rice balls, and you'll want to make them every single day once you've taken your first bite.
Cheesy Broccoli-Rice Casserole
In the mood for some comfort food? Then opt for this casserole full of cheese, rice and yummy broccoli.
Cheesy Baked Bean & Rice Burritos
If you have kids, this is a quick, easy meal that'll feed the whole fam.
Lebanese Lentils, Rice & Caramelized Onions (Mujadara)
This satisfying, protein-packed bowl full of lentils, rice and caramelized onions can be served warm or cold.
3-Bean Salad With Wild Rice
You can look at it as fancy rice and beans, or you can look at this three-bean salad with wild rice as the vibrant, delicious glow-up it actually is.
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