These go-to rice recipes show how to cook it to perfection! Enjoy basics, side dishes, and filling main dishes made with this whole grain.

Rice recipes

Looking to eat more whole grains? Here’s the world’s most popular one: rice. Rice is eaten all around the globe in almost every cuisine! It’s easy to make, full of nutrients, and shelf stable for years. But it can also be botched: cooked to be too gummy, too watery or too crunchy. With rice, you can end up with a sloppy mess.

Here are all the best go-to rice recipes so you can cook it perfectly every time! This list includes basics like how to cook white rice and brown rice, and ways to make rice into a tasty side dish. It also shows how to turn rice into tasty healthy dinner recipes. Ready to get started?

And now…our top rice recipes!

White rice vs. brown rice

What’s the breakdown of white rice vs brown rice? Is brown rice healthier? When you have time to make it, brown rice has a lot of nutritional benefits. Brown rice has an impressive amount of vitamins, minerals and beneficial compounds because it is less processed than white rice. Here’s a breakdown:

  • Brown rice is less processed so has more nutrients. White rice has its hull, bran and germ removed, but brown rice has only the hull removed and keeps the nutrient-packed bran and germ. As a result, brown rice retains the nutrients that white rice lacks such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
  • Brown rice has more fiber. 1 cup of cooked white rice has 0.6 grams fiber, but 1 cup cooked brown rice has 3.2 grams of fiber, 13% of your daily need. (Source)

Wild rice vs. brown rice

Did you know that wild rice is not actually rice? (You did if you read about our wild rice soup above!) It’s the seed from a grass that grows in lakes and streams. But since it looks a lot like rice, most cuisines treat it like rice.

Though they are not related, wild rice is often compared to brown rice. What are the nutritional differences of brown rice vs white rice?

  • Wild rice has less calories than brown rice, about 66% less! 1 cup of cooked wild rice has 166 calories and 1 cup brown rice has 248 calories. (Source)
  • Wild rice has slightly more protein than brown rice. 1 cup cooked wild rice has 6.5 grams protein vs 5.5 grams in brown rice. (Source)
  • Both wild and brown rice have the same amount of fiber, about 3 grams per 1 cup cooked.

More rice recipes

Need more recipes? Here are a few more recipe ideas starring this grain:

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Rice recipes

15 Rice Recipes to Make on Repeat: Cilantro Lime Rice & More


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Here’s how to make cilantro lime rice: the perfect staple for any meal! This easy side dish recipe comes together with little effort.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup* long grain white rice**
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest

Instructions

  1. Add the rice to a saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is completely evaporated. While the rice cooks, prep the cilantro, lime juice and lime zest. 
  2. Remove the cover and stir in the salt and garlic powder. Return the cover and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Uncover and stir in the cilantro, coconut oil, lime juice and lime zest. Refrigerate leftovers; to reheat, heat on the stovetop or in the microwave with a few tablespoons water until warmed and moist (you may need to add a pinch more salt). 

Notes

*This recipe makes 4 modest servings. For larger servings, make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe.

**You can also use this method with brown rice if you like. Follow the same instructions, but simmer for 45 minutes in Step 1.

  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Mexican inspired
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Rice Recipes

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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