Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinner 50 Simple Dinner Recipes That Start With a Box of Rice By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Got a box or microwaveable pouch of rice in the pantry? You've got supper! Try one of these simple rice recipes for dinner. If you think rice recipes are oh-so-ho-hum, think again. Even if you didn't grow up in places like South Carolina or Louisiana, where this grain reigns, you'll love the delicious pops of Southern flavor we've added to easy rice recipes that anybody can make. With slow cooker, foil packet, skillet, and sheet pan options, these rice recipes are the easiest way to get dinner on the table. Get a taste of Louisiana with Shrimp Étouffée, Jambalaya, or Red Beans and Rice. Lime juice and jalapeño bring summery zest with a kick to our Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl. Head to the Lowcountry for pilau, perloo, or Savannah red rice. Brush up on the basics with plenty of fried rice and stir-fry recipes, and take something to a friend in need with our comforting and portable rice casseroles. 01 of 50 Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl Greg Dupree Recipe: Southwest Chicken Rice Bowl Lime juice gives this rice bowl a summery zest while cayenne and jalapeño pepper add a nice kick. You can garnish this tasty dish with tortilla strips, lime wedges, salsa, or cilantro. 02 of 50 Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Recipe: Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad Store-bought rotisserie chicken and microwaveable rice will help you get this salad on the table for dinner with ease. 03 of 50 Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Creamy Artichoke, Kale, and Rice Gratin This casserole delivers the flavor of spinach-artichoke dip in a heartier way so you can enjoy it for dinner. 04 of 50 Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry You're just 20 minutes away from this dinner that arrives on the table faster than takeout. 05 of 50 Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Rice While you may usually turn to the oven for a classic chicken and rice dinner, your Instant Pot can do the job in under an hour. 06 of 50 Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Crispy Onions and Parmesan Chicken-Broccoli Casserole You'll find plenty of rice, broccoli, and cheese in one casserole dish with this recipe. 07 of 50 Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grilled Curried Chicken Thighs with Charred-Vegetable Rice Blend your favorite bright curry flavors with the ease of the grill in the summertime with this colorful dinner. 08 of 50 Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl Have you ever seen such a beautiful dish that only took 30 minutes to make? 09 of 50 Country Captain Chicken Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Country Captain Chicken For this recipe, you'll want to make sure you use fresh, high-quality curry powder for the best flavor. 10 of 50 Lightened-Up Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Lightened-Up Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Your family will never know that this casserole is lightened-up for a healthier spin on the classic dinner dish. 11 of 50 Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup We love the healthy boost collard greens give this classic chicken-and-rice soup. 12 of 50 Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole From start to finish, this comforting casserole takes just 40 minutes to come together. 13 of 50 Burrito Bowls Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Burrito Bowls Set up a burrito bar for this totally customizable dinner that will leave even the pickiest eaters satisfied. 14 of 50 Shrimp Étouffée Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Shrimp Étouffée You can cook the rice ahead of time and reheat it before serving to save even more time on this Cajun staple. 15 of 50 One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice Winner, winner chicken dinner! This budget-friendly recipe has everything you need for a complete meal in one dish. 16 of 50 Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Seared Scallops with Lemon-Herb Rice This light and bright recipe is the ultimate seafood supper for al fresco dining in the warm weather months. 17 of 50 Jessica Harris' Red Rice Victor Protasio, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Jessica Harris' Red Rice This classic Lowcountry dish started in West Africa, and cookbook author and culinary historian Jessica Harris shared her recipe for it with us. 18 of 50 Chicken Casserole D'Iberville Southern Living Recipe: Chicken Casserole D'Iberville If you don't have time to cook the chicken yourself, we've also included express instructions that adapt this recipe to be made with store-bought chicken instead. 19 of 50 Red Rice-Smoked Chicken Perloo Peter Frank Edwards; Prop Styling: Kendra Surface; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Red Rice-Smoked Chicken Perloo Ashleigh Shanti, the chef behind Benne on Eagle, a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, created this dressed-up version of the Lowcountry classic. 20 of 50 Foil Packet Red Beans and Rice Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Foil Packet Red Beans and Rice Foil-packet suppers are the absolute easiest way to get dinner on the table with zero cleanup afterward. 21 of 50 Shrimp Fried Rice Jennifer Davick Recipe: Shrimp Fried Rice Chopped pineapple adds just the right amount of sweetness to this under-30-minute supper. 22 of 50 Jambalaya de Covington Jambalaya de Covington Recipe: Jambalaya de Covington This 1987 recipe from Covington, Louisiana, the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, north of Lake Pontchartrain, will be your new favorite way to prepare jambalaya. 23 of 50 Sea Island Crab Fried Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sea Island Crab Fried Rice This version of the Lowcountry favorite crab rice almost seems too easy to be so flavorful. 24 of 50 Creamy Rice with Scallops Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Creamy Rice with Scallops Impressive enough for the mother-in-law but easy enough for a weeknight, this recipe will quickly become a go-to in your home. 25 of 50 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole This vintage casserole is still around for a reason: It's simple, easy, and always a crowd favorite. 26 of 50 Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls Brighten up the dinner table with this healthy, one-bowl meal. Add grilled shrimp or chicken for even more protein. 27 of 50 Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya The only thing this one-dish Creole supper needs is a loaf of crusty white bread to sop up every last bit of flavor. 28 of 50 Jambalaya Melina Hammer Recipe: Jambalaya This quick recipe for jambalaya is sure to warm your family up on a cold winter night. 29 of 50 Beef-and-Brussels Sprouts Stir-fry Greg DuPree Recipe: Beef-and-Brussels Sprouts Stir-fry This savory, Asian-inspired dinner comes together in so fast. 30 of 50 Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Skillet Rice Double up on protein with this flavorful meal that includes fresh summer veggies like okra and tomatoes. 31 of 50 Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice Greg DuPree Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice You can serve this versatile dinner over rice, as pictured, or stuff it in a pita the next day with leftovers. 32 of 50 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole We took the retro favorite and made it even simpler (and honestly, so beautiful!) with this skillet version your family will love. 33 of 50 Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Pam Lolley's Crispy Chicken with Rice and Pan Gravy You know that a recipe is going to be good when it has Test Kitchen extraordinaire Pam Lolley's name attached to it. 34 of 50 Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken You can serve this five-ingredient dinner over rice, between tacos, on a salad, or even over nachos. 35 of 50 Chicken Bog Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken Bog If you've never heard of chicken bog, prepare to meet the easiest, kid-friendly dinner ever. 36 of 50 Savannah Red Rice Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Savannah Red Rice This recipe came to us from Millie Givens in November of 1989, and we've been revisiting this classic ever since. 37 of 50 Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice This quick, colorful supper is the ideal one-dish recipe for summertime. 38 of 50 New Orleans Red Beans and Rice Iain Bagwell Recipe: New Orleans Red Beans and Rice This red beans and rice recipe comes together with just two steps and your slow cooker. 39 of 50 Shrimp Perloo Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Shrimp Perloo You can use chicken, sausage, or whatever seafood you have on hand for this Lowcountry rice dish. 40 of 50 Instant Pot Jambalaya Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Instant Pot Jambalaya Our Test Kitchen pros could not stop raving about this new version of jambalaya. 41 of 50 Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Pork and Bok Choy Stir-Fry Pork tenderloin is a great pick for this stir-fry, as it cooks quickly and pairs well with the bright sauce. 42 of 50 Chicken-and-Collards Pilau Greg Dupree Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau This version of the Lowcountry rice dinner is quick, and we love the healthy addition of Southern collards. 43 of 50 Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli In need of healthy, fast recipes for lunch or dinner meal prep? We've got you covered. 44 of 50 Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Teriyaki Salmon Bowls with Crispy Brussels Sprouts These beautiful salmon bowls start with salmon that's been slow cooked with fresh spring veggies for a tender, never dry, fillet. 45 of 50 Ginger and Collard Green Fried Rice Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Thom Driver Recipe: Ginger and Collard Green Fried Rice Leave it to chef and cookbook author Todd Richards to create an incredibly flavorful, Southern twist on fried rice. 46 of 50 Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms Recipe: Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Mushrooms There is nothing easier than a slow-cooker soup, and this one is made with store-bought shortcuts like prechopped veggies to make it even speedier. 47 of 50 Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice Howard Lee Puckett Recipe: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice Few dishes embody the true tastes of the South more than red beans and rice, and this slow-cooker recipe helps you get their flavors on the table without spending all day in the kitchen. For this recipe we've used thinly sliced smoked turkey sausage, which works wonderfully in a slow cooker, as well as sweet onion, two types of bell pepper, and a hint of Creole seasoning. To give this quick-fix dinner a little extra spice, you can add hot sauce if you like. Top this Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice with finely chopped red onions, or finely chopped green onion. Both will add a little extra spice to this amazing dish 48 of 50 Easy Chicken Fried Rice Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Easy Chicken Fried Rice In the amount of time it takes for takeout to be delivered to your door, our homemade Chicken Fried Rice will be on the table and ready to eat. 49 of 50 Cajun Shrimp Casserole Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Casserole This casserole is a delicious and easy way to add Cajun flavor to a weeknight. 50 of 50 Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Don't wait hours on the stovetop for red beans and rice when you can whip it up in your Instant Pot. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit