37 Leftover White Rice Recipes [For Fritters & More]

Who says you need to go to a Mexican restaurant for traditional Mexican rice? By adding green chilies and taco seasoning to the leftover rice in your fridge, you can make authentic, traditional Mexican rice.

Additionally, this traditional dish is so easy to make! Since you’re using leftover rice, it’s as simple as throwing together garlic, chilies, onion, chicken stock, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning and letting it heat in the pot.

This dish is great by itself but also makes for a tasty complement to refried beans.

For an extra kick, I love using tobacco hot sauce as a topping!

This Mexican beef and rice casserole is made with thick layers of corn, black beans, lean ground beef, and most importantly, cheese!

I love this dish because it’s an easy way to recreate the taste of burritos from my favorite Mexican restaurant with leftovers in the oven at home.

The great thing about baking a Mexican casserole is that you can use either fresh or frozen corn.

Additionally, these ingredients make this casserole a great way to ensure your family gets a balanced diet.

Add cilantro, hot sauce, chili powder, or a squeeze of lime juice for a little more flavor.

This is my absolute favorite meal to cook for date night. To make your instant pot chicken tinga intensely flavorful, simmer chicken in chicken or vegetable stock and tomato paste.

This will quickly saturate the meat to replicate the most mouthwatering of marinades. Additionally, the use of chipotle sauce and cumin gives it a flavorful kick!

I also love this dish because it is truly Mexican. Originating in Puebla, Mexico, this dish proudly resembles Mexican culture and cuisine!

Once you simmer the chicken, it is ready to be added to the leftover rice. While you can serve as is, salsa, beans, sour cream, and tortillas make excellent sides!

Known as Cumin Rice in English, Jeera rice is an easy, nutritious recipe that combines the leftover rice in your fridge with cumin seeds for a zesty midweek dinner.

You can’t go wrong with combining the perfect ratio of cumin, oil, and leftover white rice to make this light, delicious meal.  

The secret is to add 2 parts of water for every 1 part of rice that you use!

The convenience and minimalism of Jeera make it a godsend for finding an enjoyable way to use up leftover rice.

For a little zest, add some roughly chopped basil or cilantro and a squeeze of lemon.

Perhaps one of the most popular dishes of Indian cuisine, chicken tikka masala calls for garam masala, cumin, ground coriander, and turmeric.

Use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts for the best, juicy results, as chicken thighs will retain the sauce better. Naan or other flatbreads are great sides for this decadent rice dish.

No list of Indian rice recipes would be complete without this Biryani recipe! This biryani is by far one of the best because it uses two essential ingredients: saffron and milk.

Other spices include ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon, peppercorns, and green chili.

The mix of these spices with orange and sliced onions makes leftover white rice unbelievably flavorful and entices even the pickiest eater.

Personally, this is one of my favorite things to make when I’m having guests for lunch or a light dinner. To serve, add a few mint sprigs and salt to taste.

One of my children’s favorite lunchtime snacks, this restaurant-quality chicken fried rice is a must-have in my kitchen.

This chicken fried rice is delicious and healthy, as it contains peas, shallots, and carrots.

Additionally, the bouillon powder, soy sauce, and cooking wine bring out the savory flavor of the chicken thighs.

If you’re feeling creative, you can even add some diced onion or shredded ginger. I always add a squeeze of lime, as citrus acid acts as a natural flavor enhancer!

If you’re looking for a seafood option, this easy shrimp fried rice is a great option. This refreshing dish uses ginger to highlight the delicate taste of shrimp and make your leftover rice pack a spoonful of flavor.

I recommend serving with extra green onion and topping with a fried egg.

Pork fried rice provides a sweet and smoky flavor through its use of apple cider vinegar and soy sauce to complement the pork.

If you’re looking for fried rice to remind you of Thanksgiving stuffing, this is the perfect fried rice for you.

By incorporating sausage, mung bean sprouts, scallion, and egg into leftover rice, this dish tastes like everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving side!  

In addition to being savory, I love this Chinese sausage fried rice because the sausage and sesame oil incorporate elements of sweetness.

If you want to eat as-is, go for it. Otherwise, bean sprouts make an excellent topping for this meal.

This is my favorite meal to make on a rainy day because it is creamy and hearty. It’s made like risotto, so the rice soaks up all of the butter, chili powder, chipotle, and chicken broth, yielding intense flavor in every spoonful.

The elements of cream and spice are perfectly balanced, as this dish calls for 1/3 cup of fresh jalapeños and 1 tablespoon of butter.

If you want to increase the creaminess, try adding a spoonful of sour cream just before serving!

While it calls more a lot of spice, and while it is absolutely delicious, you can omit the spices if desired. I typically skip the cumin and chili powder when I make it for my kids.

A West African favorite, jollof rice uses a combination of Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Habanero Peppers, and Red Peppers.

The use of three peppers adds an intense kick that makes leftover rice into a main course.

While this dish packs a lot of spice, I don’t find it overpowering, and serve it to even my most sensitive guests.

Another delicious pick from African cuisine, this meal is a great way to make leftover rice taste like it’s freshly delivered from the restaurant.

By using chili flakes, onion, peas, and chicken stock, this recipe takes your leftovers to the next level.

Paprika and turmeric are what separate this rice from the typical fried takeout dish to a true gastronomic delight.

The spices perfectly enhance the flavors of the rice, vegetables, and chicken stock after they have been cooked.

What’s better than making restaurant-quality food in your own kitchen?

The first time I made this rice I was blown away by how similar it tasted to the rice I’d ordered at Nando’s. And the best part? My kids can hardly tell the difference!

More accurately baked than cooked, Charleston red rice is one of my favorite ways to cook leftover white rice.

The addition of onion, green pepper, and canned tomatoes contribute a fresh, sweet flavor to the otherwise savory rice and bacon.

This wonderful balance is only enhanced by the addition of 1 tablespoon of butter.

While this meal is typically savory, you can sweeten it with 2 tablespoons of sugar and salt and a pinch of pepper to taste.

I find baking the rice along with the other ingredients makes it delectably soft and even sweet.

When I’m in the mood to serve something cheesy with dinner, this is one of my go-to dishes.

Using over 2 cups of shredded cheese and chicken broth, this meal possesses a flavor that rivals the best of comfort foods.

Despite its decadent cheesy layers, the other main ingredient of this deep dish is broccoli.

One of the things I like most about this cheesy chicken and broccoli rice is that it takes only 30 minutes to make!

Made with chicken broth and butter, this is the rice version of homemade chicken noodle soup.

Not only does it combine 4 cups of chicken broth, but it also uses onion soup seasoning for a truly unique taste.

For garnish, I recommend adding chopped parsley upon serving. While it does not explicitly call for vegetables, you can try adding sauteed carrots and celery to the rice after cooking.

I love to make this on sick days, as it yields all of the nutrients of traditional chicken noodle soup with a filling rice base.

Creamy garlic parmesan rice is one of my husband’s favorites. It calls for parmesan cheese and butter to achieve a creamy, cheesy flavor profile.

Additionally, the use of parmesan cheese instead of cheddar cheese makes it a healthier choice, as parmesan cheese is low fat.

Add butter, parsley, and garlic to the rice before adding the cheese to make sure it is mixed evenly. Once you add the parmesan cheese, the rice will take on a gooey, cheesy texture.

Leftover rice is perfectly suited for this dish because it is more amenable to becoming saturated in flavor. The older rice lacks firmness, which helps create a soft texture.

I use this garlic-butter recipe almost every week. By simmering cooked rice in chicken stock, garlic, and butter, dull, leftover white rice is transformed into a show-stopping side dish.

When making sides, I’m always careful to choose options that won’t overpower the meal’s main dishes.

While these flavors are delicious, they’re mild enough to go with nearly any course.

I love serving this meal with meat, like chicken, turkey, or beef, and with steamed carrots or broccoli.

If you’re looking for a refreshing, savory complement to your meat entre, this mushroom rice will exceed your expectations.

By using 250 grams of shiitake mushrooms with garlic, onion, and parsley, this meal creates an earthy, umami flavor that is downright decadent.

Hint: Sauteing garlic, onion, parsley, and scallion in olive oil makes the perfect base to capture the rich flavors of mushroom and add it to the leftover rice.

Additionally, the use of vegetable stock helps spread the flavor throughout the entire dish.

I love serving this mushroom rice with steak or duck. The mushroom enhances the flavor of the meat while being light enough to not compete with it.

Additionally, this side is rich and will elevate any meal to the next level with its sophisticated taste.

This is my favorite rice to serve with light meat, like chicken or fish. Using spices like paprika, salt, and turmeric along with cilantro, garlic, and sweet onion creates a light, zesty flavor that goes well with any dinner.

Additionally, the turmeric yields a soft, yellow color to the rice, making it as optically pleasing as it is delicious.

This recipe definitely lives up to its name! Aside from rice and olive oil, fiesta rice is comprised of bell pepper, onion, tomato, corn, and lime. With no added dairy or sugar, this rice is one of the healthiest you can eat.

The fresh, colorful vegetables make this dish look almost as good as it tastes. Additionally, the black beans make fiesta rice a filling meal.

I love adding fresh avocado on top when they’re in season! The combination of healthy grains and a multitude of vegetables make this meal the ultimate power food.

This is one of my favorite things to make with leftover white rice and I serve it at least once per week.

What I like most about spinach rice is that it makes spinach tasty enough for my kids to eat it without protest!

It uses spinach, olive oil, garlic, onion, lemon, and veggie broth to create a healthy but delicious dinner.

Additionally, dill is used as a seasoning. The sharp taste of dill really makes this meal come alive as a zesty dinner.

It tastes so good that it is sure to make spinach anyone’s favorite vegetable!

This rice is good enough to eat on its own, but I often serve it with chicken or lamb. I also save extra dill for fresh garnish.

Made with only cilantro, lime, rice, and black beans, this rice dish is simple yet delicious.

While there are only four ingredients, they work together to make a bold and filling meal.

I love making cilantro-lime rice for barbecues and summer picnics.

Renowned for its immunity-boosting properties, this turmeric rice is a surefire way to boost the immune system.

Additionally, it adds black pepper, which enhances the healthy properties of turmeric.

The mild taste of turmeric makes this rice work well for nearly any meal. I serve it either with chicken at dinner or eggs for breakfast.

Try adding some fresh, chopped scallions on top before serving.

Thai Pineapple Rice is one of my husband’s favorite meals. The pineapple adds a sweet and refreshing twist to traditional fried rice.

What’s even better is how easy this Thai pineapple rice is to make from leftover white rice.

Just add some pepper, pineapple, and curry powder to a pan and fry. Additionally, it’s so colorful that it adds zest to any meal!

Three bean salad calls for black beans, cannellini beans, and kidney beans, to be mixed with parsley, red bell pepper, and red onion.

So, where does the rice come in? After mixing the beans, red bell pepper, parsley, and red onion together, you can add the leftover white rice.

Once the rice is added, you’re free to dress in Dijon mustard.

I love this dish because it enables me to make one more tasty meal out of the last of my leftovers.

It works no matter how little rice you have left, so you never have to worry about wasting food!

For the quintessential vegetarian rice dish, you must make this extra vegetable fried rice. It’s called “extra vegetable rice” because it mixes carrots, garlic, ginger, green onions, kale, and broccoli!

After sautéing the vegetables and combining them with rice, you can use red pepper flakes and salt to season. I love saving fresh green onions and bits of ginger for garnish.

While the recipe calls for brown rice, you can use white rice and achieve the same restaurant-level flavor.

Serve this meal by itself or add an egg on top for some extra protein!

I love making this fun and tasty dirty rice. Why do they call it Vegetarian Dirty Rice?

The recipe is derived from the original Creole recipes that use meat. To rival the taste of meat, the dish is made with tomato paste, onions, celery, and red bell pepper.

Additionally, the recipe uses spices like Cajun seasoning and Worcestershire sauce to rival the umami taste of meat.

I typically only eat this meal as-is, as it is too flavorful to mask with other foods. However, I do recommend using fresh scallions or some chili powder to season.

This five-ingredient recipe is one of my favorite ways to start the day. With only cooked white rice, water, whole milk, unsalted butter, and sugar, you can make a delicious, sweet breakfast at only a moment’s notice.

It is one of the best breakfast rice meals on this list because it is tasty, and each ingredient is a common kitchen staple! Serve with a side of fruit or toast and you’re ready to go!

Want an elevated way to serve eggs for breakfast? This Korean rice combines two basic foods – egg and white rice – into a delicious, sophisticated dish. Additionally, you can add green onion, soy sauce, sesame seeds and oil, and butter.

I love relying on this hearty meal for nutritional breakfasts for my kids on busy mornings before school.

For a Hawaiian twist on the classic English breakfast, try this tasty, filling Loco Moco rice.

This decadent meal uses shiitake mushrooms and furikake seasoning to bring zest to rice, beef, and eggs.

Its warm, welcoming flavor is enough to keep everyone around the table for the perfect weekend breakfast.

Leftover rice is great for making these rice and cheese fritters. It uses milk and parmesan cheese to make a crispy, savory fritter.

Mix the milk, rice, and parmesan cheese together and mold the substance into 1–2-inch patties. Once fried, these paste-like patties will transform into a heavenly hashbrown.

Since fritters are fried, you can save this recipe for your leftover rice when it's on its last leg. These rice and cheese fritters are one of my kid's favorite after-school snacks.

I also recommend serving with sunny-side-up eggs because they’re perfect for dipping!

I always make these delicious zucchini and rice fritters for summer barbecues. These zucchini fritters require zucchini, mint, brown onion, and peas to be mixed with the rice, breaded, and then fried in olive oil.

While traditionally made with brown rice, I’ve found that white rice yields a sweeter flavor. The sweeter flavor also makes these fritters appetizing as savory desserts.

For a spicier option, try this Rice Pakora Fritter recipe. Because of the garam masala and coriander, you can use leftover rice for these pakora fritters at any stage without worrying about them being dry.

The use of ginger, chilies, and curry leaves creates a vibrant flavor and makes them perfect to serve on their own or with a sauce like ketchup on the side!

I always use these fritters as appetizers during dinner parties because of their zest.

My favorite thing about this rice pudding is that it requires leftover, cooked rice. It enables me to turn the last of my rice into a sweet treat that my family loves!

Try adding some apple pie spice or nutmeg for a bit of a twist. And for a fun garnish, place a full-sized cinnamon stick in the cups for serving!

Thai Mango Sticky Rice is perhaps the easiest dish to make on this list, but it is far from simple.

By soaking the rice in coconut milk and adding a few teaspoons of sugar and a pinch of salt, this simple treat is one of the most delicious desserts around.

I use this Thai Mango Sticky Rice as a healthy dessert that my kids love and that doesn’t take a ton of time.

Even though it’s incredibly straightforward, it still looks beautiful on the plate because of the diced mango.

If you want a unique take on the traditional recipe, add a very small pinch of black pepper to the mango.

While it’s more time intensive than the other recipes on this list, Biko is a delicious Filipino sticky rice cake.

It’s made with coconut milk, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt, making a sweet, decadent dessert that practically melts in your mouth!

Because this dessert requires the rice to be cooked in sugar and coconut milk, leftover rice is perfectly suitable.

To get that lustrous, caramelized finish, simmer the brown sugar and remaining coconut milk in a small saucepan.

With a texture similar to pumpkin pie, try adding a dollop of whipped cream and a pinch of cinnamon for garnish.