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On those days when you just don’t know what to make for your family dinner, the best thing you can do is start small. And no, we don’t mean small in terms of portion size, but small like a grain of rice! Starting with a base of rice or grains and building it up with whatever proteins and veggies you have in your pantry or fridge is a great way make an easy healthy dinner. There are so many rice bowl recipes that come together in mere minutes, many of which utilize the forgotten ingredients that are lying around your kitchen.
Whether you reheat rice with eggs and veggies to make fried rice or start from scratch by throwing your favorite grain in a trusty rice cooker (or if you’re anything like Ree, on the stovetop), there are so many satiating and simple rice bowl recipes to add to your weeknight dinner lineup. After your rice is cooked to fluffy perfection, load it with lots of tender protein, like marinated chicken or curried shrimp, and crunchy veggies. Or, if you prefer to go the lighter (and faster) route, you can top it with a simple bean stew or curry that comes together in just a few minutes! And once you’ve gotten your harvest bowl, poke bowl, or cauliflower fried rice fix, save any remaining ingredients in the fridge so you’ll have everything you need to whip up a delicious leftover rice recipe the next day. It’s the grain gift that keeps on giving!
Red Beans and Rice
A rice bowl doesn't have to be complex and filled with fancy ingredients. It can be as simple as a hearty bowl of red beans and rice! This classic New Orleans dish consists of a red bean stew packed with sausage, ham, and vegetables that blankets a mound of fluffy white rice.
Get the Red Beans and Rice recipe.
Cauliflower Fried Rice
We're all about carb loading here, but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy some flavorful cauliflower rice as a lighter option. Make your own cauliflower rice in a food processor, or buy it frozen and cook it on a skillet with lots of veggies and a crispy fried egg. We promise you won't miss the actual rice!
Get Ree's Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.
Coconut Chicken Curry
This flavorful and fragrant coconut chicken curry topped with fresh diced mango will transport you to the tropics! The sauce is so creamy, thanks to coconut milk, and soaks into the steamed rice for the perfect bite.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
Harvest Bowl
Instead of picking up a bowl from your usual fast-casual spot, make a harvest bowl at home and customize it to your liking! Broth-soaked wild rice serves as the base of this colorful bowl, which is topped with baby kale, sweet potato, brussels sprouts, chicken, and so many more healthy and nourishing ingredients.
Get the Harvest Bowl recipe.
Pork Fried Rice
If you're looking to utilize the leftovers in your fridge, why not make some fried rice? This pork fried rice is so easy to make, as it calls for frozen veggies and leftover cooked white rice fried in a skillet with ground pork and eggs. Top it with thinly sliced green onions for a fresh crunch!
Get Ree's Pork Fried Rice recipe.
Sweet-and-Sour Pork Meatballs Bowl
Meatballs aren't just for spaghetti! They also make a delicious topping for rice, especially when coated in a sweet-and-sour sauce that's delicious enough to drink. This bowl is topped with fresh pineapple chunks, which adds a refreshing contrast to the protein-packed meatballs.
Get Ree's Sweet-and-Sour Pork Meatballs Bowl recipe.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
Earthy, spicy coconut shrimp curry is one of Ree's favorite curry dishes, and for good reason. It's so easy to make as the shrimp cooks in a flash before it's tossed in tangy yellow curry sauce, plus it pairs perfectly with cooling Basmati rice.
Get Ree's Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
Black Beans and Rice
Solve the pressing "What to make for dinner?" question once and for all by adding this black beans and rice recipe to your weeknight dinner lineup. This simple recipe utilizes basic pantry staples such as long-grain white rice, canned black beans, onions, garlic, and a blend of dried spices like cumin and cayenne, all simmered in chicken stock. Plus, it comes together in under 30 minutes in a single pot!
Get the Black Beans and Rice recipe.
Poke Bowl
If you love sushi, you'll love this poke recipe, as it's basically a deconstructed sushi roll in a bowl. This foolproof bowl is as balanced as it gets, as it's chock full of protein (ahi tuna), carbs (sushi rice), healthy fats (avocado), and any other toppings you desire.
Get the Poke Bowl recipe.
Cashew Chicken Bowl
The classic combo of chicken over rice was the original rice bowl before the Buddha bowls and harvest bowls we know and love today emerged. This flavorful take on the comfort food calls for soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and sesame oil to make a delicious sweet and sour sauce that's cooked together with tender chicken, cashews, and veggies and then served over white rice.
Get Ree's Cashew Chicken Bowl recipe.
Hoisin Steak and Pepper Stir-Fry
Steak, veggies, rice—what else could you ask for? In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy tender steak and fresh bell peppers coated in a rich hoisin-based sauce.
Get Ree's Hoisin Steak and Pepper Stir-Fry recipe.
Tex-Mex Grain Bowl
Chopped cilantro plus lime zest and juice are the secret to tasty grains, whether you add them to rice or quinoa. It's the perfect base for this Tex-Mex-inspired bowl piled high with roasted veggies, pinto beans, cabbage, and avocado.
Get Ree's Tex-Mex Grain Bowl recipe.
Hoppin' John
This bowl of Southern comfort is traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring good luck. Enjoy this hearty meal over a bed of rice for a truly satisfying experience!
Get Ree's Hoppin' John recipe.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Risotto is slow-cooked in broth and heavy cream and then combined with butternut squash in this cozy rice-based dish. It's creamy, tender, and enjoyed best when topped with minced parsley and parmesan.
Get Ree's Butternut Squash Risotto recipe.
Brown Rice Power Bowl
Packed with delicious power foods like brown rice, broccoli, and chickpeas, this rice bowl certainly lives up to its name. Protein-packed chicken and chickpeas make this bowl so satisfying, and the fresh herbs and creamy tahini dressing are the flavorful stars of the show!
Get the Brown Rice Power Bowl recipe.
Sushi Rice Bowls
If the raw fish aspect of the poke bowls on this list isn't your speed, try this sushi bowl featuring baked salmon instead! Typical sushi toppings like seaweed paper, ginger, carrots, and avocado are paired with rice marinated in rice vinegar, sugar, and salt to give it that signature sushi flavor.
Get the Sushi Rice Bowls recipe.
Breakfast Fried Rice
You've heard of breakfast burritos, but how about breakfast fried rice? This delicious dinner-for-breakfast recipe utilizes leftover cooked rice fried with classic breakfast ingredients like eggs, breakfast sausage, onions, and mushrooms.
Get the Breakfast Fried Rice recipe.
Chickpea Curry
For a balanced and flavorful meal, try this satisfying chickpea curry over a bowl of Basmati rice! It comes together in under 30 minutes and is the ultimate pantry meal as it calls for canned and dry ingredients like chickpeas and coconut milk.
Get Ree's Chickpea Curry recipe.
Honey Soy Salmon Bowl
This juicy honey soy salmon is ready in just 15 minutes and delicious when served over lime rice. The sticky honey-based sauce is so flavorful and absorbs into the rice perfectly.
Get Ree's Honey Soy Salmon Bowl recipe.
Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowl
This Mediterranean bowl includes all the things you love about Greek salad, and then some! Chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and olives are paired with your choice of either rice or quinoa, salmon, and feta. The salmon is baked on a foil-lined sheet pan for mess-free deliciousness!
Get Ree's Mediterranean Salmon-Veggie Grain Bowl recipe.
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