These 15 Easy One-Pan Rice Recipes Make My Weeknights a Breeze

Rice doesn’t always get the love it deserves as an easy, pantry friendly, versatile base for weeknight dinners. That’s not for no reason—rice makes an excellent side when simply cooked in a rice cooker or pot. What I love, though, is a whole rice meal with lots of spices, flavor, and just one dirty dish—the kind where I cook the protein together with the rice to impart a rich, savory flavor.

Most of the recipes below are just that, a meal in themselves. I did include a few side dishes, though, with seasonings that are interesting but easy to pull off, and to these I recommend you brown up your favorite protein (pork chops or boneless chicken thighs are two great options) in the pan before adding the rice. Or at the end of cooking, simply stir in shredded rotisserie or leftover chicken, cubes of tofu, cooked vegetables, or canned beans to add more heft.

Whichever recipe you choose, I’m confident that you’ll never again see rice as purely a plain side dish.