In the bowl, on the roll, or plated by its deliciousness, rice is my heart. Who I am today when I realize how versatile it really is: from sushi, to burritos, to risottos, to stir-fries, the options are endless. Traditionally, rice is considered divine, and I have to agree. Even more than angels? The one-pot rice recipe saves you from having to worry about cooking rice without a rice cooker.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to cook rice in the pot, only lifting the lid so the rice burns on the bottom. Since then, I’ve started to trust Trader Joe’s frozen jasmine rice but have struggled to find a better way to use it. These one-pot rice recipes are a great solution for weeknight dinners because they’re simple to make, usually come together in just 30 minutes, and are hearty enough to become a full meal. Plus, in most of these recipes, the rice is cooked right along with all the other ingredients, which not only makes our job easier, but also imparts to the rice all its aromatic flavor. deliciousness of the dish. These 10 one-pot rice recipes are sure to be more than just a miracle in your dinner rotation.
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Keep scrolling to see 10 one-pot rice recipes that will make your weeknight dinners flavorful and easy.
Chicken and rice soup
Why we love it: This chicken and rice soup is a cure-all for all your ailments. Spring allergies? Summer flu? Long working day? Beat a batch of this chicken soup to the fullest. The soup is cooked together in one pot and served over a spoonful of cooked rice, making it hearty, healthy, and healing.
Hero composition: I’m a zucchini fan because it’s a delicious way to add some greens.
Get the recipe for Chicken and Rice Soup.
One Pot of Mexican Lentils, Black Beans and Rice from Recipes
Why we love it: What’s not to love about gluten-free, vegetarian, one-pot dinner recipes? Perfect for a meat-free Monday, lentils and black beans pack this meal with protein, while rice makes it hearty and filling. I love serving this with tortillas for dipping and deep frying.
Hero composition: Lentils take the lead.
Get the recipe for Mexican Lentils, Black Beans, and One Pot Rice.
One-Pot Cajun Shrimp & Rice from Spiced Roller
Why we love it: This one-pot shrimp and rice recipe will delight the whole family. It was ready in 30 minutes and the cajun seasoning was extremely satisfying. Even if you’re not a fan of shrimp, save this recipe and use the technique and seasoning combination on chicken, beef, or vegetables. Plus, leftovers make for a great lunch.
Hero composition: Cajun spice is a southern gem.
Get the Easy One Pot Cajun Shrimp & Rice recipe.
One-Pot Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice from RecipeTin Eats
Why we love it: The best part of one-pot recipes is that the rice absorbs the full flavor of the dish. This recipe is perhaps the prime example of that fact, since the chicken cooks itself on top of rice, it tastes three times better than cooking rice in chicken stock. Then the lemon takes it to the next level. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If we’re trying to be technically, this is a unique formula, but hey, close enough.
Hero composition: When life gives you lemons, make lemon rice.
Get the recipe for One-Pot Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice.
One-Pot Burrito Bowl from I Heart Naptime
Why we love it: Chipotle, watch your back. With a pot and some uncooked rice, this recipe has given the restaurant’s bowl of burrito a hit. These burrito bowls come together in just 30 minutes and three steps: sauté, simmer, and cook on top. The best part? You can completely customize it to your liking. You can even make it vegetarian by swapping the meat for sweet potatoes. Personally, I like to use ground lean turkey and top it with some fresh gac.
Hero composition: All cheese please.
Get the recipe for the One-Pot Burrito Bowl Recipe.
One-pot Chinese Chicken and Rice from RecipeTin Eats
Why we love it: Who needs to carry when one-pot rice recipes like this exist? This Chinese one-pot chicken and rice recipe helps curb your fried rice cravings with undercooked rice. Because who really has rice in their hand when they want fried rice? Marinating the chicken for 10 minutes with all the vegetables makes for a delicious meal that you will have to cook over and over again. Plus, the marinade acts like a sauce, so you’re killing two birds with one… pot?
Hero composition: You’ll want to pour the marinade/sauce/smell of heaven on everything.
Get the recipe for One-Pot Chinese Chicken and Rice.
One-Pot Cheesy Broccoli Chickpea Rice Casserole from Flavor the Moments
Why we love it: Traditional broccoli casserole dish, meeting vegetarian sisters easier. This recipe swaps chicken for chickpeas, can be made with any type of rice, and is super customizable. Chances are, you probably have all the ingredients on hand, so there’s no reason not to give this one a try.
Hero composition: Chickpeas = champion.
Get the recipe for One-Pot Cheesy Broccoli Chickpea Rice Casserole.
One-pot fried rice from Food Doll
Why we love it: This recipe had me at “12 minutes”. Sometimes, there’s nothing more satisfying than fried rice, and this one-pot recipe might just be the fastest, easiest way to make it. Plus, this recipe also uses uncooked rice, eliminating the need for leftover rice (since I tend to polish all the rice every time I bring it out). While it’s not technically fried rice, it still has all the flavor without the constant frying.
Hero composition: My favorite fried rice is always scrambled eggs.
Get the recipe for One-Pot “Fried” Rice.
One-Pot Rich Lemon Rice from The Kitchn
Why we love it: Describing this recipe as “carbonara meets risotto” was all I needed to add the ingredients to my grocery list. This is probably the most unique of all the one-pot rice recipes I’ve seen, and also one of the easiest. The carbonara is spiced up with some lemonade and the perfect heat from the cayenne pepper, tick every box on my favorite flavor list.
Hero composition: Parmesan put the rich in “Rich Lemon Rice”.
Get the recipe for One-Pot Rich Lemon Rice.
One-Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice from Creme de la Crumb
Why we love it: Again, this is technically a one-pan recipe, not a one-pot recipe, but who will judge? This recipe combined with a simple Spanish seasoning blend takes the classic chicken and rice dish to the next level. Lovers of this recipe note that it’s moderately spicy, incredibly easy to mix together, and is “heaven in a pan”. Do I need to say more?
Hero composition: There’s no better ingredient than this Spanish spice blend.
Get the recipe for One-Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice.
