34 leftover rice recipes for all occasions!

You had a wonderful dinner with friends and family yesterday. The next morning, you found yourself guilty of cooking that extra pot of rice in the refrigerator. 

Well, it’s understandable that you want to satisfy the crowd. But what now?

Lucky you! As a rice expert, I’m always keen on those leftovers, and I hate seeing them in my kitchen. So I decided to create this collection to help guilt-ridden people like you. 

From soups to stews to casseroles to puddings, these heavenly recipes for leftover rice are sure to remove your worries about that uneaten food staple in your fridge. 

So let’s get rid of the leftovers deliciously, shall we?

Soups and stews

There are plenty of things to do with leftover rice, and one of them is turning it into soups and stews. 

My favorite rice soup recipe is Cajun-style red bean and rice soup. It calls for simple ingredients such as bacon, andouille sausage (omg), smoked hammock, kidney beans, Worcestershire sauce, and of course, the leftover rice. 

The addition of Cajun seasoning provides a bold, spicy flavor with a subtle earthiness to the overall recipe. Topping it with green onions makes the dish even more enjoyable.

But if you opt for simplicity to your soup, then this easy chicken & rice soup is perfect for you! 

The process of making the dish is relatively easy and straightforward. All you need to do is to saute the onion, celery, garlic, and carrots, add the chicken broth and paprika, then include leftover rice, chicken, and parsley once the carrots are tender. 

Easy peasy it is!

• Black bean & leftover rice soup
• Creamy turkey and wild rice soup
• Vegetable rice soup
• Easy chicken & rice soup
• Cajun-style red bean and rice soup

Casseroles

If I’m fed up with turning my leftovers into fried rice dishes, I always go for casseroles, especially this leftover BBQ chicken and rice casserole recipe. 

It’s quick, easy to make, and a perfect dish to serve during summer nights. The combination of cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce creates a sweet and creamy flavor profile. These sauces blend well with your leftover rice and BBQ chicken. 

So the next time you’re struggling to decide what to do with leftover rice, this recipe is your answer!

Apart from this recipe, I included other flavorsome casserole dishes that you might like. 

• Grandma’s rice dish 
• Leftover BBQ chicken and rice casserole
• Masala fried rice with turmeric onion raita
• Dinosaur kale leftover rice
• Pepper jack rice bake

Stir fry

What to do with extra rice? Stir fry!

Turn your leftover rice into something new, a delectable meal with this breakfast egg fried rice recipe. 

The dish is simple enough that you can even make it on a busy morning. Not only for breakfast, but this fried recipe is also an excellent addition to your brunch, lunch, or even dinner meals!

And there’s more! The recipe has endless possibilities, which means you can add whatever ingredients suit your taste buds. 

Aside from the breakfast egg fried rice, the Indian-inspired fried rice is a must-try too! The dish is gluten-free and features veggies and ingredients that can energize your morning!

• Indian fried rice
• Breakfast egg fried rice
• Morning rice bowl

Rice bowls

If you’re still confused about what to make with leftover rice, then turning them into a succulent rice bowl might be the one to clear your mind!

My top pick is the leftover Korean rice bowl. It’s topped with fried egg, ham, then flavored with a splash of chili and soy sauce. YUM!

To make it more extraordinary, include vegetables of your liking and cheese for creamy flavor. 

Below I’ve listed other tasteful rice bowl recipes that might save you from having rice leftover worries.

• Leftover rice burrito bowl
• Leftover Korean rice bowl recipe
• Thai-style leftover chicken buddha bowl
• Ginger pork rice bowls
• Rice bowl breakfast with fruit and nuts
• Quick and easy dinner rice bowl

Side dishes

Another alternative to making use of your rice leftovers is to turn them into savory side dishes. You heard it right!

If you’re a beginner, then this parmesan rice cake dish is an excellent recipe to start with! You’ll be amazed at how basic the ingredients are and how quick this rice cake is put together. 

Serve it as a side dish for any meat-based recipes or with creamy pasta salad. 

For tomato lovers, this crispy tomato rice is bound for you. It’s packed with fresh tomatoes, red chili, cooked rice, then topped with creamy parmesan cheese-based toppings. 

Check out more rice leftover-based side dishes below. 

• Black beans and rice
• Rainbow rice
• Parmesan rice cakes
• Mexican fried rice
• Rice Pakoda
• Vegetable rice cutlet
• Rock & roll with leftover rice
• Leftover rice casserole
• Easy curry fried rice
• Crispy tomato rice
• Arancini (rice balls) with marinara sauce
• Leftover rice fritters
• Rice crackers

Rice pudding

Enough with fried rice, casserole, and rice bowls, let’s give the center stage to rice pudding! 

Another great way to use your leftover rice is to transform them into this classic leftover rice pudding. 

It calls for four ingredients that are likely to be found in your kitchen. It’s so palatable–you might forget that the rice added to the dish is leftovers. 

To level up the recipe, top it with whipped cream, cinnamon, and dried cranberries.

• Leftover rice pudding
• Baked rice pudding

The bottom line

There you have it! So if you find yourself guilty of having rice leftovers, you already know what to do! 

With these sublime dishes, you don’t have to worry about those leftovers sticking in your fridge. These recipes might convince you to make extra rice on purpose!