What to Eat with White Rice
If you’re looking for ideas of what to serve with white rice, you’ve come to the right place. White rice is an incredibly versatile food that can be served with a variety of dishes because of its neutral flavor.
Whether you’re looking for a comforting side to accompany a main dish or something light and healthy to round out your meal, white rice is the perfect accompaniment.
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White rice is one of the best side dishes because it’s filling and you can make it so easily in a rice cooker or even slow cooker rice! You can even use leftover rice or make it ahead of time and freeze it in portions of one cup of white rice or larger for convenience.
Whether you’re making jasmine rice (perfect for curry) or basmati rice (great for rice pudding) or simple long grain rice, you’ll find the perfect pairing here.
1. Szechuan Chicken
When I think of plain white rice, I always think of delicious Chinese cuisine. This sweet and spicy stir fry is the perfect pair for white or even brown rice.
2. Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken
The creamy garlic white sauce this chicken is cooked in would be so good poured over white rice! This dish is ready in 20 minutes and cooking rice is just as quick and easy.
3. Cilantro Lime Chicken
Throw together this 30-minute healthy meal and complete it with white rice to make it filling and satisfying. This is a great option for a busy weeknight meal.
4. One Pan Chicken Fajitas
Long-grain rice is a great side for this one-pan chicken fajitas recipe. Squeeze a little lime juice over the white for the perfect flavor combo! This is one of the easiest main dishes to make and to clean up after.
5. Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli Recipe
This is another Chinese recipe with extra flavor that works perfectly with plain rice. It’s even better if you have sticky rice, a type of Japanese rice. Throw this in the instant pot and you’ve got the perfect way to have a great meal on a busy night.
6. One-Pot Jambalaya
Take a Cajun break with an authentic New Orleans jambalaya made with chicken, sausage, and green pepper. The strong flavors from the Cajun spices are perfect for serving with mellow rice.
7. Egg Fried Rice
Stir fry the rice with soy sauce, eggs, and some vegetables like peas and carrots to make this Chinese restaurant staple. Serve with egg rolls to complete the meal!
8. White Chicken Enchiladas
These creamy, saucy white chicken enchiladas take less than 30 minutes and your rice can be ready even faster! Add a little chopped cilantro and lime sauce to the white rice to give it the perfect Mexican flair.
9. Korean Beef and Rice
Korean beef is sweet and spicy and perfect for making dinnertime rice bowls. This Korean beef recipe only takes 30 minutes and it’s served over rice and topped with fresh green onions that give it even more flavor.
10. Mexican Shredded Chicken
Make slow cooker Mexican chicken and serve it up with rice in burrito bowls or wrap in a tortilla for a traditional burrito. I like to include chopped bell peppers, coirn, avocado or guacamole, salsa verde or pico de gallo as well as black beans and shredded cheese.
11. Indian Curry
Jasmine rice is my rice of choice when serving with a traditional Indian curry with a spicy tomato sauce. Butter chicken and chicken tikka masala are great choices that are mild if you have not eaten curry before and don’t want it too spicy. Serve with a side of homemade naan to complete your meal!
12. Hibachi Chicken
Hibachi chicken with vegetables tastes just like it came from your favorite Japanese hibachi restaurant! Pair it with rice, ginger salad, and clear soup to complete the meal.
13. Instant Pot Beef Tips
Tender and savory beef tips are perfect for topping rice with its rich brown gravy! This is the ultimate comfort food meal and great for when you need a nice filling dinner recipe without a lot of fancy ingredients. Add a veggie on the side and you have a complete meal.
14. Mongolian Beef
Slow cooker Mongolian beef is rich and savory and perfect for serving over rice. The flavorful beef is easy to make as well thanks to the crock pot.
15. Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken
The garlic lemon juice and butter sauce in this recipe creates a blend of fresh flavor that everyone will love and perfect for topping white rice.
