21 Recipes That Justify Buying That Costco-Sized Bag Of Rice

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By Gina Matsoukas

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You bought the rice. Now you need to use it. These recipes are a practical way to make that happen. They’re straightforward, easy to cook, and don’t require anything complicated. Rice is affordable and works with just about everything, so it makes sense to build meals around it. These dishes help you do exactly that.

Three stuffed tomatoes filled with rice and herbs are served in a beige bowl, garnished with chopped parsley. A green cloth napkin and a small bowl of chopped herbs are seen in the background.
Stuffed tomatoes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom risotto with peas and mushrooms in a pot with wooden spoon.
Creamy Mushroom Risotto. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This recipe makes rice feel fancy without trying too hard. It’s extra creamy and packed with mushrooms and peas, but the real win is that you don’t need anything complicated to pull it off. It’s a great reason to use that bulk rice and skip another trip to the store.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Tuscan White Bean Risotto

Three bowls of risotto topped with chopped greens sit on a cloth on a wooden table, with a dish of grated cheese beside them.
Tuscan White Bean Risotto. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This recipe originally uses farro instead of rice but you can easily swap it out and it will work the same and taste just as good. The white beans and broth make it hearty enough to count as a full meal. It’s simple, low-effort, and fills you up.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Risotto

Tofu Fried Rice

A pan filled with rice and vegetables.
Tofu Fried Rice. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This is one of those throw-it-in-a-pan meals that actually works. Toss in leftover rice, tofu, and whatever vegetables you’ve got. It’s cheap, quick, and a perfect way to make that oversized bag of rice feel like a smart move.
Get the Recipe: Tofu Fried Rice

Greek Brown Rice Bowls

A plate of food with rice, minced meat, feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, red onions, olives, and dill, garnished with black pepper.
Greek Brown Rice Bowls. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These bowls hit all the big flavors with lamb, feta, cucumbers, and pickled onions over brown rice. It’s like your favorite gyro, just cheaper and without the takeout container. A great use for that bulk brown rice that’s been staring you down.
Get the Recipe: Greek Brown Rice Bowls

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple half filled with rice, carrots, peas, and pineapple chunks, garnished with a green bean, on a light surface with green accents.
Pineapple fried rice. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This one brings big flavor with sweet pineapple and a bunch of vegetables all mixed into your cooked rice. It’s meatless, quick, and one of those dinners that makes you feel like you actually planned something when you didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Fried Rice

Spicy Beef and Red Pepper Rice Bowl

Spicy beef and red pepper rice bowl topped with a fried egg over white rice.
Spicy Beef and Red Pepper Rice Bowl. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This is fast, bold, and built for nights when you want real food without wasting time. Ground beef, red peppers, and chili peppers land on top of hot rice with a runny egg to finish it off. It’s the kind of meal that makes your giant bag of rice look like a smart decision.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Beef and Red Pepper Rice Bowl

Spicy Collard Greens and Rice

A plate of cooked greens with rice, topped with small bacon bits, is shown with a fork resting on the edge.
Collard greens and rice. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Don’t overthink it. Collard greens with lemon and rice come together fast and go with anything. It works great as a side, but you could easily eat a big bowl of this on its own. You’ve got the rice already, so you might as well.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Collard Greens and Rice

Instant Pot Coconut Pork

Instant Pot coconut pulled pork served with turmeric rice in a bowl.
Instant Pot Coconut Pork. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This one’s packed with flavor from turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. The pork comes out juicy and tender, and it lands perfectly on a bowl of rice with dried fruit and almonds. When you’ve got ten pounds of rice in the pantry, meals like this are how you put it to work.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Coconut Pork

Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Beef Bowls

Mexican shredded beef bowls with plantains, rice and beans and peppers.
Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Beef Bowls. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

The beef goes in the slow cooker and does its thing while you do yours. Throw it over rice with beans, peppers, or whatever’s hanging around and call it dinner. It’s a great way to make rice part of something that feeds you for days.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Beef Bowls

Bison Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed bell peppers with melted cheese on a baking tray.
Bison Stuffed Peppers. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These stuffed peppers pack in rice, ground bison, and a bunch of vegetables under a cheesy top. It’s hearty and comes together easily, especially if you already cooked your rice ahead of time. That big bag in the pantry pays off here.
Get the Recipe: Bison Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Tomatoes

Three stuffed tomatoes filled with rice and herbs are served in a beige bowl, garnished with chopped parsley. A green cloth napkin and a small bowl of chopped herbs are seen in the background.
Stuffed Tomatoes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

These rice-stuffed tomatoes are simple, fresh, and actually taste like something you’d want to eat on purpose. They’re filled with shallots, garlic, lemon, pine nuts, and herbs. If you’re tired of plain rice, this is a solid way to keep using it without getting bored.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes

Creamy Cauliflower Rice Cheese Mash

A bowl filled with cauliflower mash garnished with fresh parsley.
Creamy Cauliflower Rice Cheese Mash. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

This cheesy cauliflower rice mash is simple and straight to the point. You only need a few ingredients and it makes a great side that goes with pretty much anything. That rice in your pantry just became more useful.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cauliflower Rice Cheese Mash

Taco Rice Skillet

Closeup of a skillet with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes.
Taco Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This one-pan taco rice dinner takes about 20 minutes and uses eight ingredients, most of which you probably already have. It’s fast, great for weeknights, and helps chip away at your stockpile.
Get the Recipe: Taco Rice Skillet

Turkey and Rice Casserole

A casserole dish filled with vegetables and cheese.
Turkey and Rice Casserole. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This cheesy casserole is built for leftovers. It’s got turkey, vegetables, and a ton of flavor. If you’re swimming in rice, this is the kind of dish that helps it disappear without complaints.
Get the Recipe: Turkey and Rice Casserole

Brisket Fried Rice

Brisket fried rice in black serving dish on white background.
Brisket Fried Rice. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Leftover brisket meets rice in the best way possible. It’s bold, easy to throw together, and actually makes leftovers feel like a win. Add a little heat and a fried egg on top and you’re done.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Fried Rice

Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice

A bowl of Longhorn steakhouse rice with copper forks on a table.
Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

This is the kind of side dish that works with everything. Cooked with broth, onions, and peppers, it’s simple but still feels like something you’d get at a restaurant. A great recipe when you want to stretch that giant rice stash into something fast and solid.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice

One Pan Fajita Rice Casserole

Flat lay of Fajita Rice in a bowl.
One Pan Fajita Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Chicken, peppers, and rice all cook together in one pan, which means less mess and less thinking. It’s ready in about 30 minutes and works great for busy nights. That bulk rice? It just found its purpose.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Fajita Rice Casserole

Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Chicken, sausage, and rice in instant pot with wooden spoon.
Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Spicy, quick, and made in one pot. This Cajun chicken rice is a fast way to pull together dinner using ingredients you probably already have. When rice is your base, this one makes it worth keeping around.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Cajun Chicken Rice

Cajun Seafood Rice Casserole

Shrimp and rice in a skillet.
Cajun Seafood Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Loaded with bold spices and a bunch of seafood, this casserole turns plain rice into something you’ll actually be excited to eat. It’s hearty, fast, and a great excuse to make your rice stash work for you.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Seafood Rice Casserole

Middle Eastern Tofu Rice Bowl

Middle eastern rice bowl close up.
Middle Eastern Tofu Rice Bowl. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

These rice bowls are packed with warm spices and easy enough to throw together when your brain is fried. If you’re working from home and trying to make that giant bag of rice disappear, this one gets the job done.
Get the Recipe: Middle Eastern Tofu Rice Bowl

Creamy Coconut Lime Rice

Fluffy coconut lime rice in a bowl with a brown wooden spoon.
Creamy Coconut Lime Rice. Photo credit: Sassy Chopsticks.

This rice is simple but tastes like you tried. It’s creamy, a little tangy, and goes great with anything grilled. If you bought that jumbo bag of rice and need a side that’s not plain, this one pulls its weight.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Coconut Lime Rice

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