Rice Recipes for Beginners

Cooking with rice lays the foundation for so many delicious dishes — especially if you want to eat well on a budget. We'll show you eight ways to make the most of this everyday pantry ingredient with easy recipes that'll have you cooking and eating it often. Watch the video above, and scroll below for appetizer, main dish, side dish, and dessert options. Who knew you could eat rice for every meal?!

01 of 08

Roasted Chicken with Risotto and Caramelized Onions

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This rich risotto with juicy roasted chicken and caramelized onions is perfect for a fancy dinner or just to treat yourself! Impress your guests with this delicious dish.

02 of 08

Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice)

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This 15-minute MyRecipes side dish will brighten up any plate. Try this vegetable-and-herb-packed recipe the next time your family is craving fajitas, tacos, or enchiladas.

03 of 08

Spanish Rice Video

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One cook's "Spanish" rice is another's "Mexican." Whichever way you put it, the result is delicious and always hits the spot. Tint the rice with the secret "red" ingredient: tomato paste! This Martha Stewart Living recipe will become a staple on your taco Tuesdays.

04 of 08

Lemon Brown Rice with Garlic and Thyme

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This tangy brown rice dish from Food & Wine is unexpectedly versatile: It can be served both warm or chilled as a salad or a side.

05 of 08

How to Make Cheesy Rice Balls

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In Italy, these decadently cheesy rice balls are called arancini, and are a popular street food. Fry these classic appetizers from MyRecipes until they've reached crispy perfection and serve hot as an appetizer with marinara sauce and lemon wedges.

06 of 08

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

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This comfort food classic from Southern Living features chicken and smoked sausage. Add a loaf of warm crusty bread, and in under an hour you can serve your family an authentic Creole dinner.

07 of 08

Sheet Pan Paella

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No paella pan? No problem! You can still make authentic-tasting paella with a sheet pan. This MyRecipes sheet pan paella is full of flavor, and with this method, all the components from the rice to the sausage and even the seafood turn out perfectly.

08 of 08

Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

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Think of it as a dessert risotto. This delicious rice pudding is creamy, silky, simple to make, and ready in half an hour. Top with cinnamon and enjoy!