30 Easy Recipes With Brown Rice

ck-Honey-Lime Drumsticks with Snow Peas and Brown Rice Image

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Got a leftover box of brown rice? We've got you covered. Whether you're in the mood for a simple casserole (like this Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole), a festive holiday side (this Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing has Thanksgiving written all over it), or a healthy and satisfying dinner (we love this Edamame, Chicken, and Rice Salad), our easy brown rice recipes are exactly what you're looking for.

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Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

Jennifer Causey

Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing Recipe
This stovetop recipe would make a tasty addition to your Thanksgiving table. Both wild and brown rice reach the perfect level of tenderness (without getting mushy); the wild rice gets a bit of a head start so that everything cooks to the ideal texture at the end.

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Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole Recipe

This healthy whole-grain spin on a comfort food classic is indulgent, creamy, and a guaranteed family-pleaser. Cost for 4: $10.31

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Parslied Brown Rice Pilaf

Greg DuPree

Parslied Brown Rice Pilaf Recipe
This simple side plays up the brightness of fresh parsley. This unassuming herb is pleasantly verdant and pairs wonderfully with zippy lemon zest and nutty brown rice. Compared with unenriched white rice, brown rice is higher in fiber, protein, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.

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Orange-Scallion Brown Rice

Orange-Scallion Brown Rice Recipe

Perk up precooked brown rice with fresh orange rind, a faintly floral note that's welcome in stir-fries and other classic Asian dishes. If you like, you can add chopped toasted almonds or peanuts for extra crunch.

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Brown Rice Cereal with Vanilla Cream and Berries

Brown Rice Cereal with Vanilla Cream and Berries Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your pressure cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this quick and easy Instant Pot recipe. Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold. To make ahead for a breakfast on the go, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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Broccoli, Cheddar, and Brown Rice Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Broccoli, Cheddar, and Brown Rice Cakes Recipe
These quick, crispy vegetarian cakes are inspired by cheesy broccoli-and-rice casserole, right down to the layer of melted cheddar cheese on top. Make the cakes ahead and refrigerate or freeze for a last-minute meal. You could also increase the number of servings and serve the cakes as a side with a simple tomato soup.

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Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille Recipe
This easy, budget-friendly dish delivers classic Cajun flavor with a modern whole-grain (brown rice) twist. We find that soaking the beans overnight yields the best texture, but if you forget, the quick-soak method will work: Bring beans and water to cover by 3 inches to a boil; remove from heat, and let stand, covered, for 1 hour.

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Spiced Brown Basmati Coconut Rice

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Spiced Brown Basmati Coconut Rice Recipe
Like all types of brown rice, each grain of brown basmati retains its nutritious bran and germ. The gentle sweetness of the rice comes from unrefined coconut oil, which not only has great flavor but is also rich in antioxidants. It complements the Indian spices in the dish too.

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Brown Basmati Coconut Rice

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Brown Basmati Coconut Rice Recipe

Like all types of brown rice, each grain of brown basmati retains its nutritious bran and germ. The gentle sweetness of this rice comes from unrefined coconut oil, which is rich in antioxidants. Use this rice as a base for saucy Middle Eastern or Indian dishes, including curries; in pilafs; and in soups.

This recipe goes with: Spiced Brown Basmati Coconut Rice

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Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Jessie Baude

Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale Recipe

Poke (pronounced POH-keh) is a popular Hawaiian salad featuring raw tuna. "Sushi-grade" tuna means that it is the highest-quality fish offered at the market. Seek out a reputable fishmonger or retailer, and don't be afraid to ask where the fish came from and how long it has been there.

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Garlic-Studded Brown Rice

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Garlic-Studded Brown Rice Recipe

Precooked brown rice gets wonderfully crispy in the skillet--no need to microwave it first.

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Simple Rice And Beans

Meredith Food Studios

Simple Rice And Beans Recipe
This basic recipe couldn't be simpler. The whole thing comes together with only six ingredients in under seven minutes.

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Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream

Jennifer Causey

Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream Recipe

Coveted for its subtly sweet flowering heads, broccoli delivers crunch and a hefty dose of potassium, which supports blood pressure. Save the stalks for stir-fries or slaws; they’re rich in the gut-friendly fiber cellulose. For fullest flavor, make sure you use the darker toasted sesame oil. The lighter variety won't have the same rich taste.

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Kimchi Fried Rice

Jennifer Causey

Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe
Chopped kimchi goes into the rice for a little crunch and a lot of flavor, and kimchi juice finishes the dish for a jolt of tangy-spicy goodness. It's a quick meatless main dish that only needs a side of broccoli or a simple side salad to round out the meal.

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Jalapeño-Glazed Pork Chops and Rice

Jalapeño-Glazed Pork Chops and Rice Recipe

Jalapeño jelly makes a quick glaze for any type of meat from chicken to pork. Add chopped tomatoes to the rice for a balanced meal.

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Edamame, Chicken, and Rice Salad

Edamame, Chicken, and Rice Salad Recipe

Cooking the chicken recipe in a single layer allows the chicken to brown and not stew. The browned bits left behind help to season the rice.

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Zucchini Rice Gratin

Linda Pugliese

Zucchini Rice Gratin Recipe

Inspired by Julia Child's classic recipe for Tian de Courgettes au Riz (zucchini gratin), my version is comforting yet fresh and clean--it's not overloaded with heavy cream or cheese.

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Korean-Style Pork and Rice

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Korean-Style Pork and Rice Recipe
Gochujang is a spicy, deeply savory sauce made from Korean chiles, fermented soybeans, and salt. It adds a mild heat to the finished dish so kids can still enjoy. Use the sauce as a marinade or baste for grilled meats, a dipping sauce for kebabs, or a stir-in for sandwich spreads.

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Coriander Chicken and Rice

Greg DuPree

Coriander Chicken and Rice Recipe
This dish is inspired by the savory street cart chicken and rice whose fragrance will lure you over from a block away. Though you can enjoy this lunch at room temperature, it tastes best reheated. Rest assured, the food holds up beautifully.

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Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream

Jennifer Causey

Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream Recipe

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Single Serving Shrimp Fried Rice

Time Inc. Video Studio

Single Serving Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe

Cooking for one doesn’t have to be boring or a hassle. This easy and delicious dinner comes together in one pan and in less time than it takes to go through a drive-thru.

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Combination Fried Rice

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Norman King

Combination Fried Rice Recipe

Use a mix of whatever meat you have on hand in this combination fried rice. Spicy chili-garlic sauce adds a kick and, once opened, it keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator.

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Acorn Squash with Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

Photo: Victor Protasio

Acorn Squash with Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing Recipe
With this recipe, you’re basically treating the slow cooker like a small steam oven. The ice slows down the cooking so the squash doesn’t overcook. The technique works beautifully to yield buttery-soft squash and to meld the flavors in the stuffing. It’s a vegetarian—vegan, actually—dish that’s easy and satisfying.

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Red Beans and Rice

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Red Beans and Rice Recipe

If you want stick-to-your-ribs fare, this dish is it: The beans and brown rice deliver complex carbohydrates and protein, both of which take longer to digest. We love the smoky heat of andouille sausage, but regular smoked turkey sausage links or hot Italian sausage also work.

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Nutty Fried Rice

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Nutty Fried Rice Recipe

We incorporate lots of nutty flavor into traditional fried rice using sesame oil, cashews, peanut butter, and sesame seeds.

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Sausage-Spinach Rice Bowl

Photo: José Picayo

Sausage-Spinach Rice Bowl Recipe

This quick, easy sausage and spinach rice bowl recipe is a one-dish meal that can be ready in 10 minutes flat. Use precooked brown rice, hot Italian turkey sausage, and fresh baby spinach. Serve with garlic toast, if desired.

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Turmeric Pork Chops with Green Onion Rice

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Turmeric Pork Chops with Green Onion Rice Recipe
We love that the side dish recipe allows you to dress up precooked brown rice by adding fresh lime juice and cilantro. You'll love the pork chop, but it may be the rice side dish that you make again and again, as it pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes, ranging from Spanish to Asian.

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Quick Red Beans and Rice

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Quick Red Beans and Rice Recipe

If you don't have Cajun seasoning, you can combine equal parts garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, ground red pepper, and dried oregano.

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Honey-Lime Drumsticks with Snow Peas and Brown Rice

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Honey-Lime Drumsticks with Snow Peas and Brown Rice Recipe

This full-flavored dinner requires only $9.60 and 30 minutes to make 4 servings... that's fast food at its finest. The vibrant glaze--which pulls bold flavors from soy sauce, honey, lime juice, fresh ginger, and garlic--would be equally delicious on chicken breasts or pork chops.

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30 Easy Recipes With Brown Rice

1 of 29

Brown and Wild Rice–Pecan Stuffing

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Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole

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Parslied Brown Rice Pilaf

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Orange-Scallion Brown Rice

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Brown Rice Cereal with Vanilla Cream and Berries

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Broccoli, Cheddar, and Brown Rice Cakes

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Cajun Red Beans and Brown Rice with Andouille

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Spiced Brown Basmati Coconut Rice

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Brown Basmati Coconut Rice

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Tuna Poke Bowls with Brown Rice and Kale

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Garlic-Studded Brown Rice

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Simple Rice And Beans

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Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream

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Kimchi Fried Rice

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Jalapeño-Glazed Pork Chops and Rice

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Edamame, Chicken, and Rice Salad

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Zucchini Rice Gratin

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Korean-Style Pork and Rice

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Coriander Chicken and Rice

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Broccoli Fried Rice with Kimchi Cream

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Single Serving Shrimp Fried Rice

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Combination Fried Rice

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Acorn Squash with Sage-Cranberry Rice Stuffing

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Red Beans and Rice

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Nutty Fried Rice

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Sausage-Spinach Rice Bowl

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