What to Eat with White Rice

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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. When it comes to simple side dishes, you don’t get much simpler than white rice.

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 a slow cooker! You can even make it ahead of time and freeze it in portions of one cup of white rice or larger for convenience.

What to Serve With White Rice: 15 Delicious Ideas

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. Bang Bang Shrimp Rice Bowls

These bang bang shrimp rice bowls from Domestic Superhero have white rice as the base. This is a Bonefish Grill copycat recipe that sounds amazing!

7. South of the Border Stir Fry with Carne Picada

This stir fry recipe from Haphazard Homemaker has sweet bell peppers and carne picada that has a little bit of spice. Serve over white rice or with rice and refried beans on the side.

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

Korean beef is sweet and spicy and perfect paired with white rice. This Korean beef recipe from Love Bakes Good Cakes only takes 30 minutes and it’s topped with fresh green onions that give it even more flavor.

10. Mexican Inspired Taco Buddha Bowl

Buddha bowls are great! They usually have healthy, fresh ingredients and they’re a filling and satisfying rice dish. This Mexican-inspired taco buddha bowl from This Healthy Kitchen has black beans, fresh herbs, fresh salsa, and more.

11. Instant Pot Peanut Butter Chicken

Pair this rich and creamy chicken with white rice and vegetables for a complete meal. This is a simple recipe by Recipes From a Pantry that just gets tossed into the instant pot and takes care of itself. White rice is the perfect rice for this dish because it’s such a rich and peanut-buttery dish, the mellow flavor of the rice evens it out.

12. Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs

These teriyaki chick kabobs recipe from Taste of the Frontier makes a great grill meal. White rice is a great accompaniment for any teriyaki dish because it absorbs the flavors of the sauce and helps to balance out the sweetness.

13. Teriyaki Salmon

This teriyaki salmon from Amanda’s Cookin’ will have just the right amount of rich flavor to top fluffy white rice with a side of vegetables for a healthy and satisfying meal.

14. Hearty Rice Bowl

This hearty rice bowl from 5 Minutes for Mom is one of those savory dishes that you can enjoy for any meal, even breakfast. White rice pairs perfectly as the base for a rich fried egg, bacon, and sautéed vegetables.

15. Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken

The garlic lemon butter sauce in this recipe creates a blend of fresh flavor that everyone will love and perfect for topping white rice.