29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (2024)

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If you are looking for ways to use Leftover Rice Recipes, we have gathered over 25 recipes. These leftover rice recipes are easy to make and delicious.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (1)

Easy Leftover Rice Recipes:

Leftover cooked rice and be used in many different recipes. I always make to much rice when I make it as a side dish when cooking meats. Rice can easily be make into a chicken fried rice or mixed with a chicken and rice casserole.

Leftover white rice recipes are one of my favorites to repurpose our leftovers. It makes for delicious comfort foods and really stretches my meals by adding in rice. Also see How to Reheat Rice.

Before you throw out your cooked rice, mix with one of these delicious recipes. Your family won’t even know they are eating leftovers.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (2)

Best Recipes for Leftover Rice:

These 29 recipes are some of our favorites and are easy to make. Top your leftover rice with a fried egg, make your favorite stir fry, or make rice cakes.

Table of Contents

  • Easy Leftover Rice Recipes:
  • Best Recipes for Leftover Rice:
  • 1. Crockpot Stuff Pepper Soup:
  • 2. Crock Pot Taco Rice Soup Recipe:
  • 3. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe:
  • 4. Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers:
  • 5. Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers Soup Recipe:
  • 6. Easy Fried Rice Recipe:
  • 7. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe:
  • 8. Broccoli and Rice Casserole:
  • 9. Easy Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe:
  • 10. Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos:
  • 11. Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe:
  • 12. Easy Dirty Rice Recipe:
  • 13. Taco Rice Casserole:
  • 14. Southwest Crock Pot Chicken and Rice:
  • 15. Slow Cooker Chicken Jambalaya:
  • 16. Chicken Curry Rice Bowl:
  • 17. Beef Burrito Recipe:
  • 18. Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup:
  • 19. Crock Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole:
  • 20. Easy Chicken Enchilada Foil Packet Meal:
  • 21. Crock Pot Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe:
  • 22. Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya Recipe:
  • 23. Taco Rice Bowl Recipe:
  • 24. Easiest Spanish Rice Recipe:
  • 25. Old Fashioned Rice Pudding:
  • 26. Rice Pancakes:
  • 27. Veggie Rice Fritters:
  • 28. Italian Rice Balls:
  • 29. Ground Beef and Rice Casserole”
  • More Leftover Ideas:

1. Crockpot Stuff Pepper Soup:

This crockpot stuffed peppers soup recipe is a quick and filling dinner. Do you like the traditional stuffed peppers recipe, but don’t want to do all the work? Then this recipe is for you.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (3)

Crockpot Stuff Pepper Soup

Crockpot Stuffed Peppers Soup is so easy to make and tastes delicious. You will love this stuffed pepper soup crock pot recipe.

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2. Crock Pot Taco Rice Soup Recipe:

Use your leftover ground beef from tacos and make this Slow Cooker Taco Rice Soup. It is loaded with flavor and easy to make.

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Crock Pot Taco Rice Soup Recipe

Need a budget friendly soup? TryCrock Pot Taco Rice Soup Recipemade from leftovers. The slow cooker does all the work and dinner is ready fast.

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3. Chicken Fried Rice Recipe:

This recipe for Chicken Fried Rice is taste better than take out fried rice. It is easily made in a skillet for an easy one pot meal. This Chicken Fried Rice has so much flavor and loaded with chicken.

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Chicken Fried Rice Recipe

No need to get take out when you can make this easy chicken fried rice recipe at home. In 15 minutes, your family can enjoy authentic chicken fried rice.

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4. Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers:

The crock pot does all the work with this Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers Recipe. It is the perfect recipe to add in your leftover rice. Loaded with flavor and veggies.

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Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers

Need an easy crock pot recipe? Try this delicious Crock pot Stuffed Peppers recipe that is better than the traditional stuffed peppers recipe.

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5. Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers Soup Recipe:

This stuffed bell peppers soup recipe is so good even our pickiest eaters love it! The red and green peppers are diced small and they cook up so soft no one will complain.

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Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers Soup Recipe

This Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers Soup Recipe is ready in under 30 minutes! But this stuffed bell peppers soup pressure cooker recipe tastes amazing!

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6. Easy Fried Rice Recipe:

Learn how to make this delicious fried rice recipe in just minutes. Your family can enjoy authentic fried rice with very little work.

Our entire family loves fried rice but take out gets expensive especially for a large family like ours. We love to mix in some soy sauce and top with green onions.

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Easy Fried Rice Recipe

Enjoy this easy Fried Rice Recipe in less than 10 minutes making it perfect for busy weeknights. Make this rice in less time than it takes to get take out.

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7. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe:

I love an easy and delicious skillet recipe. This recipe for chicken and rice skillet is the perfect meal when you need a quick dinner. Not only is it the best comfort food, but it comes together without much work.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (9)

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe is a delicious one pot meal idea. In just 30 minutes, this cheesy chicken dish can be on the table.

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8. Broccoli and Rice Casserole:

Broccoli and Rice Casserole is a staple for our holiday dinners. We have tried many different ways to make this creamy casserole dish, and this one is our favorite. This casserole is made from scratch and there is no cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom included.

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Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Broccoli and Rice Casserole is made from scratch with easy ingredients. Creamy, cheesy casserole that is full of flavor and easy to make.

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9. Easy Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe:

Rice is such an inexpensive ingredient and really goes a long way. Plus, this recipe is so simple to make. This Shrimp Fried Rice takes less time to cook than if you went to the Chinese Restaurant.

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Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

Skip takeout and make this delicious Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe at homein minutes. The shrimp and veggies have the best flavor to make the perfect meal.

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10. Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos:

This shredded chicken and rice one-pan burrito recipe is very easy to make. This meal is full of juicy chopped chicken, salsa, easy spices and rice. Then you roll all the ingredients in a flour tortilla for an easy weeknight meal.

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Skillet Chicken and Rice Burritos

This Skillet Chicken and Rice Burrito Recipe comes together quickly and easily.It combines chicken and salsa to make the best one-pot meal.

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11. Crock Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe:

Red Beans and Rice is an easy recipe that served with leftover cooked rice. It is loaded with flavor and your kids will love it.

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Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice is a one pot meal full of flavor and budget friendly. This meal is so delicious with the sausage, beans and rice.

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12. Easy Dirty Rice Recipe:

Dirty rice recipe is truly a one pot meal. It is hearty and delicious while being so simple. I love cooking the rice in the same pan as the other ingredients. It makes this recipe easy and perfect for a weekend night.

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Easy Dirty rice Recipe

This Dirty Rice Recipe is simple and perfect for busy weeknights. The beef and veggies blend for the best flavor and make the rice so hearty and delicious.

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13. Taco Rice Casserole:

This Taco Rice Casserole is perfect for a crowd. It is loaded with ground beef, black beans, corn and leftover rice. This casserole also freezes great.

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Taco Rice Casserole

Looking for a freezer friendly recipe? You are going to love this easy taco casserole recipe! It is a simple casserole recipe that is packed with flavor.

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14. Southwest Crock Pot Chicken and Rice:

Chicken and rice is the perfect weeknight meal. We decided to add in some easy seasoning, black beans and diced tomatoes for a delicious southwest chicken and rice recipe.

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Southwest Crock pot Chicken and Rice

Try this easySouthwest Crock pot Chicken and Rice recipe. It is easy, freezes great and tastes amazing. You will love this version of crock pot chicken and rice.

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15. Slow Cooker Chicken Jambalaya:

This Jambalaya Recipe is a little spicy but not too spicy that the kids didn’t love it. My kids loved the flavor of the jambalaya. I snuck in some peppers and onions and they still ate it without any problems.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (17)

Slow Cooker Chicken Jambalaya

Crock Pot Jambalaya is such a hearty meal with chicken and sausage. Packed with just enough heat to jazz it up but perfect for the entire family to enjoy.

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16. Chicken Curry Rice Bowl:

Do you enjoy curry flavored dishes as much as we do? Then you are going to love this new recipe for Chicken Curry Rice Bowl. It is super easy and so amazing.

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Chicken Curry Rice Bowl

Enjoy all the flavors of chicken curry when you make this Chicken Curry Rice Bowl. Toss everything into the slow cooker and come home to a great dinner.

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17. Beef Burrito Recipe:

Skillet meals are some of my favorite recipes to cook. They come together quickly and taste amazing. Wrap the beef burrito ingredients in a tortilla to easily make a delicious weeknight meal.

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Beef Burrito Recipe

This Beef Burrito Recipe is a delicious grab and go meal perfect for busy weeknights but special enough for family dinner. Try this freezer friendly meal.

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18. Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup:

If you love to make cabbage rolls, try this really easy unstuffed cabbage soup. You can easily enjoy this without any effort thanks to the crock pot. This warm and comfort soup is made with ground beef, rice, simple seasoning and cabbage.

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Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe

Our family loves Crockpot Cabbage Roll Soup Recipe and it has everything you need for a great meal. You will love this one pot meal that is so easy to make.

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19. Crock Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole:

We love comfort food and easy meals. This Crock Pot Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole is definitely one of our favorites. I love that everything you need for a great meal is in the slow cooker.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (21)

Crock pot chicken broccoli and rice casserole

Crock pot chicken broccoli and rice casserole is a one pot meal everyone will love. Skip the take out line and come home to this delicious dinner.

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20. Easy Chicken Enchilada Foil Packet Meal:

The enchilada sauce and cheese is delicious on the rice and chicken in this meal. The beans add a ton of flavor. It truly is an amazing meal! If you love Mexican food, you must give this a try!

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Easy Chicken Enchilada Foil Packet Meal

This easy chicken enchilada foil packet meal will be a hit with the entire family! Easy chicken enchilada foil dinner is packed with yummy chicken, cheese, beans and more! Try Easy chicken enchilada foil packet recipe. Cleanup is a breeze!

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21. Crock Pot Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe:

This is the perfect Mexican Recipe to make for Taco Tuesday or any day of the week.

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Crock Pot Taco Casserole Recipe

Need an easy crock pot recipe? Try this crock pot Mexican Taco Casserole Recipe. This easy beef taco casserole recipe is amazing!

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22. Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya Recipe:

This is one of those recipes that can literally be thrown together in minutes. We love cooking Instant Pot Jambalaya on busy weeknights. Everyone can enjoy a fabulous meal with very little effort. The Cajun seasoning gives it the best flavor.

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Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya Recipe

Instant Pot Chicken Jambalaya can be ready in minutes for a dinner that everyone will love. It's packed with Cajun flavor and tasty meat for an amazing meal.

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23. Taco Rice Bowl Recipe:

If you have leftover rice, ground beef and your favorite taco toppings you can easily make this taco rice bowl.

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Taco Rice Bowl Recipe

Taco bowl recipe only takes a few easy ingredients and 30 minutes to prepare. Make this taco rice and everyone can choose their favorite toppings!

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24. Easiest Spanish Rice Recipe:

Add this easy Spanish Rice Recipe to your favorite Mexican Recipe. You will be surprised how easy it is to make homemade Spanish Rice.

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Spanish Rice Recipe

This recipe for homemade spanish rice tastes just like the restaurants.Try this easy Spanish rice recipe. Learn how to make spanish rice.

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25. Old Fashioned Rice Pudding:

You only need a few ingredients to make this creamy, classic Old Fashion Rice Pudding. Sweet, delicious and only need 5 ingredients to make this delicious dessert.

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Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

This Old Fashioned Rice Pudding Recipe is creamy, delicious and a classic recipe.

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26. Rice Pancakes:

These rice pancakes have a crispy texture but creamy on the inside. Top with syrup and serve for a delicious change to your classic pancake recipe.

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Rice Pancakes

Use your leftover rice to make Pancakes! It is a nice change for your normal pancake recipe.

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27. Veggie Rice Fritters:

These veggie rice fritters can easily be made with simple ingredients. You can eat as a side dish or a snack. Pan-fry or bake for a delicious way to use leftover rice.

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Veggie Rice Fritters

The perfect and easy way to use up your leftover rice. The perfect recipe to meal prep with.

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28. Italian Rice Balls:

These Italian rice balls are made with leftover rice and other easy ingredients. They are lightly fried to perfection and served with a tomato based dipping sauce.

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Italian Rice Balls

This Italian Rice Ball recipe is perfect way to use up leftover rice. Combine rice, eggs, cheese, butter and parsley to make a delicious side dish.

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29. Ground Beef and Rice Casserole”

We love making casserole and ground beef and rice with some cheese make the perfect casserole.

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (31)

Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

If you need a quick and easy dinner idea make Ground Beef and Rice Casserole. This casserole is made with easy ingredients.

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More Leftover Ideas:

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29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (32)

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About the Author

29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (41)

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I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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29 Easy Leftover Rice Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I do to make rice more interesting? ›

As for those additions, here they are:
  1. Stir in a tablespoon or more of butter.
  2. Stir in a tablespoon or more of olive oil.
  3. Drizzle with soy sauce.
  4. Add lots of pepper.
  5. Stir in a couple of tablespoons minced fresh herbs, ideally warmed first in melted butter.
Oct 18, 2019

How long can you keep cooked rice in the fridge? ›

If not eaten immediately, cooled cooked rice should be stored in a shallow container, covered tightly and refrigerated. Rice can be refrigerated for 3 to 5 days or frozen for up to six months. Cooked rice that has been properly cooled and refrigerated or frozen may be reheated.

What to do with leftover Chinese white rice? ›

Alternatively, you can put a little bit of water in a saucepan along with the rice, cover, and gently reheat. It might not be exactly like a freshly made pot, but it's hard to beat (nearly) instant rice after a long workday. Mix some leftover rice with a beaten egg and a mix of finely chopped onion, garlic, and herbs.

How to spice up leftover white rice? ›

6 Add-ins to Upgrade White Rice
  1. Alternative Cooking Liquid. For an effortless yet dramatic difference, infuse your rice with flavored cooking water or use more aromatic liquid like broth or juice. ...
  2. Cheese. ...
  3. Vegetables. ...
  4. Avocado. ...
  5. Herbs and Seasonings. ...
  6. Nopalitos or Cactus Pads.

Why does Chinese restaurant white rice taste better? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

What can you put in rice to make it taste good? ›

Elevate Rice with Ginger and Coconut Milk

Add your washed rice to a pot along with minced garlic, butter and fresh minced ginger, and saute for two to three minutes on medium heat. Then, add coconut milk and boil on high heat for two minutes, before lowering heat and allowing the rice to simmer.

Can I eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can you eat rice left out overnight? ›

If you cool and store it quickly and reheat properly — even two or three times — you should be just fine. Do avoid letting your rice sit in your kitchen at room temperature for hours at a time as it can potentially make you sick.

How can you tell if rice has gone bad? ›

It may start to have an off or sour smell, which is typically the first sign that it's past its prime. Leftover rice can also take on a slimy texture as time goes on, which is an indicator that there's too much moisture and it could harbor bad bacteria. When in doubt, throw it out!

What do Japanese do with leftover rice? ›

Almost every Asian country has its own version of fried rice, and so does Japan. It's a clever way of repurposing leftover rice by frying it with veggies, eggs, or whatever meat/protein in a wok or pan. In Japan, we call Japanese fried rice chahan (チャーハン) or yakimeshi (焼き飯).

How do you jazz up leftover fried rice? ›

To revive dry fried rice, sprinkle some water or broth over it before reheating. Alternatively, mix in a little soy sauce or add some cooked veggies or protein like chicken or shrimp to give it extra moisture and flavor.

Is fried rice better with leftover rice? ›

- Freshly cooked rice is hot, steamy, very moist and a little sticky ? this will make your fried rice clumpy and soggy. - Day-old rice is dryer and will give your fried rice a good texture and will bring out the individual flavours of the other ingredients.

Can I freeze leftover rice? ›

Yes, you can freeze cooked rice. Cool it as quickly as possible by placing it in a shallow container in the fridge. Once the rice is completely cold, transfer it to freezer bags in desired portion sizes, flatten to about 3cm thick and expel as much air as possible before sealing tightly.

Can I freeze rice? ›

Frozen rice can be kept in the freezer for up to 6 months and still be tasty. After that it loses flavor and dries out but won't be unsafe to eat. An airtight container is your best defense against losing quality so vacuum sealing is great if you have that tool in your kitchen.

Why is day old rice better for you? ›

By the next day, some of the natural starches in the food will have transformed into healthier versions, called resistant starches, which have been linked to a range of health benefits including lower blood sugar, better gut health and a reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

Can you leave leftover rice? ›

Rice can contain spores of a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which can multiply and produce toxins when rice is left at room temperature for an extended period. These toxins can cause food poisoning. To prevent this, it's best to refrigerate cooked rice within two hours of cooking and consume it within a few days.

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