12 Quick Rice Dinners for Busy Nights

Garlic Shrimp Fried Rice

This quick and flavorful dish brings together succulent shrimp and savory garlic in a satisfying fried rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking method:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add shrimp and cook until pink, then remove from the pan.
2. In the same pan, add the remaining oil and sauté garlic until fragrant.
3. Add peas and carrots and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
4. Push vegetables aside, pour in eggs, and scramble.
5. Add rice, soy sauce, and cooked shrimp. Stir well and season with salt and pepper.

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

A sweet and savory teriyaki sauce enhances the flavor of tender chicken in this delightful rice bowl.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 pound chicken breast, diced
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• Sesame seeds for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned.
2. Add broccoli and bell pepper, stir-fry for 5 minutes.
3. Pour in the teriyaki sauce and simmer until chicken is cooked through.
4. Serve the chicken and vegetables over rice, garnished with sesame seeds.

Lemon Herb Rice with Grilled Salmon

Infuse your rice with fresh flavors of lemon and herbs, paired perfectly with grilled salmon.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 salmon fillets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking method:

1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Grill salmon for 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix rice with lemon juice and parsley.
4. Serve grilled salmon atop herbed rice.

Thai Basil Beef with Rice

Aromatic basil and spicy beef come together in this Thai-inspired dish served over rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1 red chili, sliced (optional)

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
2. Stir in soy sauce, fish sauce, and chili, if using.
3. Add basil leaves and cook until wilted.
4. Serve immediately over rice.

Coconut Curry Chicken Rice

This creamy coconut curry is packed with flavor and served with tender chicken over a bed of rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 pound chicken thighs, sliced
• 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent.
2. Add chicken and cook until browned.
3. Stir in curry powder and coconut milk. Simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Season with salt and pepper and serve over rice.

Spinach and Mushroom Rice

This hearty vegetarian dish combines earthy mushrooms and nutritious spinach with fluffy rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking method:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté mushrooms until golden.
2. Add garlic and spinach, cooking until spinach wilts.
3. Stir in cooked rice, season with salt and pepper, and heat through.

Spicy Sausage Jambalaya

This Creole classic brings bold flavors of sausage and spices to rice for a comforting meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 pound spicy sausage, sliced
• 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook sausage until browned.
2. Add onion and bell pepper, cooking until soft.
3. Stir in tomatoes and Cajun seasoning, simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Mix in rice and cook until heated through.

Pineapple Fried Rice

Sweet pineapple chunks add a tropical twist to this bright and colorful fried rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup peas
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add green onions and sauté.
2. Push aside, pour in egg, and scramble.
3. Add rice, pineapple, peas, and soy sauce. Stir-fry until heated through.

Mexican Rice with Black Beans

This vibrant and zesty Mexican-inspired dish features black beans and rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Juice of 1 lime
• Cilantro for garnish

Cooking method:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add corn and cook until slightly charred.
2. Stir in black beans and salsa, cooking until heated through.
3. Mix in rice and lime juice. Garnish with cilantro before serving.

Egg and Tomato Rice

This simple yet satisfying dish combines the classic flavors of egg and tomato over rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking method:

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Pour in eggs and scramble until set.
2. Add tomatoes and soy sauce, cooking until tomatoes soften.
3. Combine with rice, stir well, and season with salt and pepper.