Tasty, versatile, and budget-friendly, rice is a great staple that transforms easily from a reliable side dish to a show-stopping main. And it doesn’t have to be complicated; as these recipes show, it can all come together in one easy, satisfying dish.
Below, we’ve rounded up our favourite one-pot recipes for tasty rice dishes.
Jamie Oliver’s Giant Madras Spiced Meatballs
You only need six ingredients and a good roasting tray to whip up this flavour-packed traybake. This convenient recipe is adaptable for your needs; it can be easily made vegetarian by replacing the lamb with meat-free alternatives, or scaled up to accommodate more people for a dinner party.
The Ottolenghi Test Kitchen Sweet Spiced Mushroom and Rice Pilaf
This Ottolenghi Test Kitchen recipe offers a step-by-step guide on how to elevate your basmati rice with the earthy, umami flavours of portobello, porcini, and oyster mushrooms, combined with warm notes of cinnamon, star anise, and apricot. Better still, it’s suitable for vegans.
Bangers and Tomato Rice
This recipe is the antidote to a long, hard day. Rice is cooked with shallots, tomatoes, bacon, garlic, and sriracha in rendered sausage fat, toasted and topped with crispy pork sausages. A hearty dish with a kick of spice, it’s the perfect weeknight pick-me-up.
Prawn Fried Rice
If you need a quick, hassle-free meal, this Asian-inspired prawn fried rice recipe is a lifesaver. As healthy as it is delicious, the base of this stir fry is brown rice, cooked with prawns, vegetables, and a winning combination of soy sauce and aromatics, such as ginger, garlic, and onion. It all comes together in 30 minutes, and makes a great dinner for anyone looking to cut down on ultra-processed foods.
Jane’s Patisserie Chicken Fajita Traybake
Satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings instantly with this chicken fajita traybake. In a single roasting tin, chicken, vegetables, black beans and rice are seasoned generously with smoked paprika, cumin, garlic and onion powder and baked to perfection. Once ready, it can be garnished with coriander and served with fresh salad and a few dollops of sour cream.
Chicken Tikka Rice
Don’t overcomplicate things when cooking for a large group of people. This crowd-pleasing recipe brings together authentic Indian spices, aromatic basmati rice, and tender chicken in one pot. And don’t forget to follow author Anisa Karolia’s tips on how to achieve fluffy, evenly-cooked rice, such as soaking your washed rice in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes in prep.
Bored of Lunch’s Chicken Fried Rice
For those who are really pressed for time, this easy 30-minute recipe only requires an air fryer and is made all the more flavoursome with a finishing touch of of curry sauce.
José Pizarro’s Arroz al Horno with Pork Ribs
Slow-cooked pork ribs, marinated in lemon, oregano and pimentón, form the rich flavour base for this delicious Spanish rice dish.
One-Pan Peri Peri Chicken and Rice
Smoky, spicy, and zesty, this one-pan chicken and rice dish is a true medley of flavours, made all the richer with a quick 30-minute marinade.
