35 Budget Friendly Leftover Rice Recipes

Not sure what to do with leftover rice? This collection of simple, budget-friendly recipes will help! There is everything from main dishes to sides to appetizers and desserts. So many great ideas!

[{"selector":"#anim-06c68882-c076-423b-b797-ba2e44ec75d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-792106a7-0710-43b7-88cd-ea49007f0e8f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-112.84403%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

We love rice around here. Not only is it one of the cheapest pantry staples you can purchase but it’s also super versatile and delicious. In fact, two of my children love it so much they will happily eat it plain! Learn more

It’s not uncommon though for me to cook up a big pot of rice in my Instant Pot to eat with Garlic Chicken, Tikka Masala or Easy Mexican Rice Bowls but then have some rice leftover that I’m not sure what to do with.

[{"selector":"#anim-ecf694a8-a5c7-48cb-8e34-4fe5e10adaf7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c96face3-9ec2-4f20-90bb-a67909b9953c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.80001%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8065bef-98b9-4a37-b4c6-0da4a36d48ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn More

There are easy lunch options, main course meals, appetizers, and rice side dishes that are anything but ordinary. No matter what amount of rice you want to use, there’s definitely a recipe listed here for it. Learn more

LEMON BASIL CHICKEN SALAD

[{"selector":"#anim-f7fd972f-eca3-4707-9690-87dd1118f7ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c72b5200-a9e3-4a06-971a-a0897198ebcb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-126.35658%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07249df8-93ba-4847-b68b-40b48d0807e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84aab11d-fe8a-4046-ae33-5386f8952cac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119.01639%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-614df580-026c-4aca-a1de-efee71564252","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Use leftover rice and rotisserie chicken to make this healthy and refreshing chicken salad. Great for parties, ready in 10 minutes, gluten-free, and also makes a great lunch! No. 1 Learn more

ITALIAN RICE SALAD

[{"selector":"#anim-e1fac4cc-a427-4ef6-a22c-b744715b5cac","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-26f2f347-4d02-4285-a5eb-201d42da7ee8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.8576%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ab43fa4-66fc-4416-8b6a-b82bd1ea0211","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-84d6d451-7c7c-47d3-9d34-4f6b4d66bdf8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6db96823-d1c7-4352-b481-bcd9973a1251","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This salad is anything but boring and it's packed with protein from the tuna and eggs! It's fantastic for a light lunch or dinner especially in the warmer months and takes just 10 minutes to make! No. 2 Learn more

CORN FRIED RICE

[{"selector":"#anim-d43e002e-3205-4253-9cd4-98831850475b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf383040-99d9-4ae1-8361-03b4b0ffe520","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.97444%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":650,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fa5951f-d382-4fd9-8db5-4448a7ee57e8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-865d7375-4cb5-49aa-89e2-9d2a14273c23","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.52795%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c91b98cc-827d-49c0-a033-4e9d1158e007","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] No. 3 Learn more

swipe up for more

[{"selector":"#anim-449da001-c210-462e-bf13-a4b9fc927dd0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0869ff7c-979e-4916-9e4d-6335363548d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 557.96115%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More Stories

[{"selector":"#anim-e9f719d3-e148-4b51-87e9-a539a2bcdbe4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82672aa9-ef4d-49ca-81ef-10c1f97ebdac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-113.61501%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea457045-feb7-4351-954f-28224b11a0bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1ed4134-99a4-47c9-a001-f87980539900","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-168.20277%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e817a450-0379-45fa-8e3b-c5e6d0824bc4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67ee298a-bbb8-4d25-bed9-89d0a657e6c7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-159.43775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5f0f485-5f18-4cc5-967e-4d5ed6dff2ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21580048-17b2-4675-b793-9e031058355b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-166.0793%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e3da205-1ee4-4deb-9bbe-ecd38415dd58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-668bfe11-8ccd-4d8d-b86d-4f8ae85e267a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-129.78725%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-50713ef0-00d2-403b-b03d-4f14f9be2e77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a1a4dc6-baca-4d68-8d5a-868538d261ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-129.78725%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":250,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c06aab47-dd7b-4de2-a055-1ab5e9b24a6b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e51aebd2-9479-4246-b362-2e817ea95d2b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.85105%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7544d158-6904-4773-9465-e70cff895568","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa148e58-91e6-49af-b8c0-0fe5961c7615","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-167.40087%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-529b5915-c133-4654-9c57-070f5c4d45fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-669f2828-da4b-4d5d-acdb-1e62c04757dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-134.04256%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

35 Budget Friendly Leftover Rice Recipes

Not sure what to do with leftover rice? This collection of simple, budget-friendly recipes will help! There is everything from main dishes to sides to appetizers and desserts. So many great ideas!

It’s not uncommon though for me to cook up a big pot of rice in my Instant Pot to eat with Garlic Chicken, Tikka Masala or Easy Mexican Rice Bowls but then have some rice leftover that I’m not sure what to do with.

LEMON BASIL CHICKEN SALAD

ITALIAN RICE SALAD

CORN FRIED RICE

The ingredient list for this vegan-friendly leftover rice recipe is simple but full of flavor. Plus it's ready in less than 15 minutes- great for when you are short on time.

swipe up for more

Recipes

More Stories

20 INEXPENSIVE HOMEMADE GIFT IDEAS

4 EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT WILL HELP ORGANIZE YOUR HOME ON A BUDGET

EASY TOMATO BASIL SOUP WITH PARMESAN (CROCKPOT OR STOVE TOP)

ALDI MEAL PLAN: 7 DINNERS FOR UNDER $50 FOR A FAMILY OF 5