Recently there was a bizarre story in the news about a man marrying a rice cooker. Sadly, the marriage ended after only four days because the man claimed that his new bride could not cook anything other than rice! It’s a shame he didn’t know about some of these insanely delicious and easy rice cooker recipes.
The last few decades have given us an explosion of small kitchen appliances that can do amazing things. From the Instant Pot to the air fryer, there is something for everyone. However, a lot of people swear by their rice cooker, and with good reason. Rice cookers aren’t just for rice.
Now, you might ask, “what can you cook in a rice cooker that isn’t rice?” Well, the answer is hundreds if not thousands of delicious rice cooker meals!
Rice cookers are versatile kitchen appliances that offer an effortless and convenient way to cook all kinds of meals, going beyond the staple of plain rice. They possess the ability to cook an array of dishes, from one-pot meals to delectable desserts. This article will guide you through some delicious and easy rice cooker recipes that can widen your culinary horizons and add variety to your everyday meals.
Many people think of rice cookers as simple, single-use appliances, but they can do so much more. These kitchen gadgets are actually multifunctional tools that bring out the best in grains, legumes, and other food items. By understanding the full capabilities of a rice cooker, users can save both time and effort while expanding their recipe repertoire.
Here are 21 rice cooker recipes guaranteed to make you see your rice cooker, instant pot, or mini rice cooker in a brand new light (but probably not in the same light the guy mentioned above did).
There’s something enchanting about the simplicity of this delicious dish-big chunks of tender, juicy steamed chicken breast coupled with fluffy, white rice steamed to perfection.
While this may not sound very exciting to some, the taste of this rice cooker recipe will most certainly win over the harshest critics.
This meal brings together bold flavors such as garlic and ginger. But, you can also add sauces on the side, such as chili and ginger sauce, for more kick.
Garnish suggestions include spring onions, shredded coconut, coriander, fresh tomato, and sliced cucumber.
This sushi rice recipe will show you the easiest way to make this sticky form of rice in your rice cooker.
Soft with a perfectly seasoned flavor, sushi rice is the foundation of most sushi recipes. For those who wish to make sushi at home, you’ll absolutely fall in love with this sticky rice!
Spanish rice is one of our favorite forms of rice that tastes great as a main dish served with meat or veggies or as part of your fajitas, burritos, or tacos. And this is one of the easiest rice cooker rice recipes you’ll ever make. In minutes, you can effortlessly make this flavorful Spanish rice in your rice cooker.
Forget about buying boxed Spanish rice. With all the sodium and MSG, you’re not getting the best food, and this recipe for fresh Spanish rice tastes worlds better!
The rice cooker recipe is pretty straightforward with only a handful of ingredients, and after 30 minutes, you’ve got yourself a mouthwatering meal.
Try throwing in about a four-ounce can of chili peppers if you want some extra spicy flavor.
Rice cookers are great at cooking rice, but they can also cook foods like quinoa, a whole-grain, gluten-free carbohydrate.
And while that description might not sound very appetizing, we guarantee you’ll think otherwise once you’ve tasted this incredible cilantro-lime quinoa recipe!
Made with fresh lime, garlic, fresh cilantro, and vegetable broth, this simple recipe packs a big-time flavor that’s the perfect compliment for any dish.
Plus, after 20 minutes in your rice cooker, it’s ready to serve!
Folks, this isn’t a typo. Yes, you can cook meat in your rice cooker. In fact, this recipe for five-spice chicken will deliver some of the most tender and flavorful chicken ever to grace your plate!
One of the key ingredients in this dish is Shaoxing wine, which you can often find in your local grocery store in the Asian food section.
The combination of the wine, ginger, five-spice powder, and other tasty ingredients will leave your taste buds in a state of flavor-induced euphoria!
Folks from Louisiana are generally pretty skeptical when it comes to internet-based cajun recipes. After all, they grew up eating some of the richest and most savory cooking on the planet, and not just any recipe masquerading as cajun will make the cut.
After tasting the difference, you’ll never even look twice at that boxed jambalaya mix at the grocery store.
The seasoning is perfect, with just the right touch of cayenne pepper flavor to give it a kick without leaving you waving your tongue and reaching for that glass of water (a horrible idea with spicy foods btw).
You already know how we can make delicious Spanish rice, but if you’re looking for a little something extra, try this Spanish rice with a chicken recipe you can make in your rice cooker.
Enjoy juicy, savory chunks of well-seasoned chicken breast along with bright and colorful rice with the perfect blend of spices for superb flavor.
You can also add black beans for extra protein and flavor.
Garnish with parsley and serve as a main course or side dish. We guarantee this is one meal that will make you clean your plate!
We like to sprinkle our dish with just a bit of lime juice.
While your rice cooker can make lots of fancy meals, sometimes we all just want to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. And when it comes to food, there are a few simple pleasures like a creamy, cheesy hot bowl of Mac and Cheese.
Now, you can make this classic dish in your rice cooker. It’s honestly one of the most simple “set it and forget it” rice cooker recipes you’ll ever make!
And the cheese just stretches off your fork, making your mouth water in torturous anticipation for that first and last bite!
This dish will make you want to wear a pair of gloves as you hold those store-bought mac and cheese boxes over your trash can while saying “never again!”
Also, if you would like to add a creamy texture and interesting flavor to your sauce, try substituting water or milk for canned coconut milk.
If you’re looking to make delicious creamy chicken curry in a hurry, this recipe will have your family smiling in no time.
This dish’s mango chutney and apple bring a sweet flavor that blends perfectly with the garlic, onion, and sultanas for an unforgettable culinary experience.
You’ll definitely want to grab your phone and Facebook this meal!
This mind-blowing teriyaki shrimp and rice recipe looks like something you’d order straight from the menu of your favorite restaurant, but in reality, it uses eight simple ingredients to create incredible results!
We loved the plump and juicy shrimp, adding a contrasting texture and sweetness to the other ingredients.
It’s almost like shrimp-fried rice but with steamed rice, making it lighter in calories – not to mention friendlier on your budget!
One of the things we love about Thai dishes is how they mix together some pretty unique ingredients to create one-of-a-kind flavors. And this creamy Thai masaman curry dish is no exception.
Now, this recipe seems to have many ingredients, but don’t let that fool you. It’s pretty effortless to make.
The cool thing about this recipe is that it’s all done in a rice cooker. Just toss your ingredients in one pot and cook!
The taste of savory chicken, chicken broth, carrots, fresh ginger, canned coconut milk, fish sauce, and brown sugar all blend together to make your taste buds say “whoa!”
Your Aroma Rice Cooker is an amazing machine made by a company that’s one of the top brands in the rice cooker industry.
Any rice lover will tell you that cooking the perfect batch of rice isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. Often, rice can come out sticky, overcooked, or undercooked.
Best of all there are tons of Aroma rice cooker recipes to choose from. And this recipe will allow you to make perfectly fluffy, white rice every time. The only thing you have to do is ensure the water ratio is on point, and you’re good to go!
We love how this device allows you to cook a huge batch of rice all at once. This really comes in handy for huge meals.
This one-pot Hainanese chicken rice recipe is perfect for when you don’t want to fuss around using a bunch of different cooking methods to make one meal.
All of the ingredients are cooked together in your rice cooker, and the results speak for themselves!
The chicken comes out moist, tender, and juicy with just a hint of saltiness. The fats in the chicken blend perfectly into the sauce and rice mixture along with your minced garlic, onion, ginger, and other delicious ingredients.
This is one of the best rice cooker recipes for when you’ve had a busy day. It only takes a couple of minutes to throw this great little meal together.
Ordering Chinese takeout can get pretty pricey, but the thought of preparing your favorite fried rice dish at home might seem a bit too much.
Well, take heart! If you’ve got a rice cooker, then in a little over one hour, you can sit down and enjoy a Chinese fried rice dish that rivals any restaurant!
You don’t need a wok or anything like that, because all the magic happens in your rice cooker!
Okay, well, most of the magic, you’ll need to fry the scrambled eggs on the stove, but that takes minimal effort.
Once your eggs or done, throw them in with your other ingredients along with some frozen peas and minced green onion, and soon you’ll have a plateful of homemade fried rice.
Basmati rice is a favorite in many middle eastern and Asian dishes. And if you love rocking basmati, then this cooked rice recipe for making the perfect basmati rice is right up your alley!
Many folks are intimidated to make this type of cooked rice. After all, making perfect short grain rice can be challenging enough.
However, with your rice cooker, you can literally make perfect rice in your sleep (if you want to take a 20-minute nap.
Along with prep time, the total time to make this dish is 40 minutes.
And while the recipe calls for canola oil, you can substitute it with grape seed, sunflower, or vegetable oil.
If you’re looking to impress with a next-level seafood dish that only takes microwave-level effort, then this scallops and rice recipe is just what you’re looking for.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
