22 Rice Side Dishes That Elevate Every Plate

Rice is a fantastic side dish that can go with almost any meal you are making. These recipes show just how many different and tasty ways there are to prepare it. You can find simple recipes for busy nights and more interesting ideas for when you want to try something new. Each one is easy to follow and will add a lot of flavor to your dinner plate alongside your main course.

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Arroz Mexicano (Mexican Rice)

Arroz Mexican served in a clay bowl and topped with a cilantro leaf. — Arroz Mexicano. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Tomatoes are blended into the cooking liquid for this Arroz Mexicano, which gives the rice its classic red color and a really great savory taste that everyone loves.
Get the recipe: Arroz Mexicano

PF Chang’s Fried Rice – Copycat Recipe

A bowl of flavorful fried rice with vegetables like broccoli and snap peas is placed on a wooden table. A spoon is resting in the rice. In the background, a skillet filled with more rice and a small dish of sliced green onions are visible. — PF Chang’s Fried Rice – Copycat Recipe. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

You can make a restaurant-style fried rice at home with this PF Chang’s copycat recipe that mixes rice with vegetables and a special sweet sauce for a dish that is ready in about half an hour.
Get the recipe: PF Chang’s Fried Rice – Copycat Recipe

Herbed Rice Pilaf with Orzo

A pot of creamy risotto garnished with fresh herbs. The rice is fluffy and slightly yellow, suggesting a buttery or cheesy flavor. The metal pot contrasts with the white background, while green herbs add a pop of color. — Herbed Rice Pilaf with Orzo. Photo credit: Three Olives Branch.

Tiny pasta called orzo is cooked together with rice and a blend of herbs to create a Herbed Rice Pilaf that is buttery, fluffy, and goes with many main dishes.Get the recipe: Herbed Rice Pilaf with Orzo

Arroz Blanco (Mexican white rice)

Arroz blanco served on a decorative blue plate. — Arroz Blanco. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

A simple onion and garlic sauce gives this Arroz Blanco its delicious flavor, resulting in a pot of fluffy white rice that is a classic side in Mexican cooking.
Get Recipe: Arroz Blanco

Savory Chicken Rice

A white bowl filled with cooked rice garnished with chopped green herbs. A wooden spoon rests on the bowl's edge. The background is a light, textured surface. — Savory Chicken Rice. Photo credit: Flavorful Eats.

This Savory Chicken Rice is seasoned to taste just like the boxed kind but is made from scratch at home, making it a much tastier and easy side dish.
Get the recipe: Savory Chicken Rice

Egyptian Rice with Vermicelli (Roz bel Shareya)

A bowl of fluffy rice mixed with golden noodles, garnished with fresh parsley. A fork is lifting a portion. A bowl of uncooked rice in the background on a striped cloth. — Egyptian Rice with Vermicelli (Roz bel Shareya). Photo credit: Chocolate & Chai.

Thin vermicelli noodles are toasted and then cooked with rice to make Egyptian Rice with Vermicelli, a simple and comforting side that is common in many Middle Eastern homes.
Get the recipe: Egyptian Rice with Vermicelli (Roz bel Shareya)

Yellow Saffron Rice

A bowl of fragrant rice with raisins, pine nuts, and saffron threads, accompanied by a cinnamon stick. A wooden bowl filled with pine nuts is nearby. A spoon rests in the rice, ready to serve. — Yellow Saffron Rice. Photo credit: Spabettie.

A few threads of saffron give this Yellow Saffron Rice its bright yellow color and a unique, slightly sweet flavor that makes a simple meal feel special.
Get the recipe: Yellow Saffron Rice

Instant Pot Mexican Rice

This Instant Pot Mexican Rice is fluffy and full of flavor from tomatoes and spices, making it a perfect side for your favorite tacos or fajitas on any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Chinese Egg Fried Rice

A bowl of fried rice is on a wooden table. The rice is mixed with scrambled eggs and garnished with chopped green onions. A decorative blue and white pattern lines the bowl's rim. A dark napkin and a blurred plate are partially visible nearby. — Chinese Egg Fried Rice. Photo credit: Beyond Kimchee.

Scrambled egg pieces and green onions are stir-fried with rice and a little soy sauce to make a classic Chinese Egg Fried Rice that is ready in minutes.
Get the recipe: Chinese Egg Fried Rice

Pork Fried Rice Recipe

A white plate with beef fried rice garnished with green onions. The rice includes peas and diced red peppers. A fork is placed nearby, and there's a portion of the dish visible in a white bowl at the top right corner. A green cloth is on the left. — Pork Fried Rice Recipe. Photo credit: The Forked Spoon.

Leftover rice is stir-fried with small pieces of marinated pork and mixed vegetables to create a hearty and complete Pork Fried Rice meal in one pan.
Get the recipe: Pork Fried Rice Recipe

Easy Char Siu Fried Rice

A plate of fried rice garnished with vegetables and diced meat, served on a decorative woven mat. The dish includes peas, carrots, and scrambled eggs, providing a colorful and appetizing appearance. — Easy Char Siu Fried Rice. Photo credit: Savour The Pho.

Pre-cooked Chinese barbecue pork, called char siu, is chopped up and fried with rice and eggs to make this super fast and flavorful Easy Char Siu Fried Rice.
Get the recipe: Easy Char Siu Fried Rice

Bacon Fried Rice

A dish of fried rice with diced carrots, green onions, scrambled eggs, and bacon bits served in an oval blue and white bowl. Chopsticks are placed beside the bowl on a burlap mat. — Bacon Fried Rice. Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

Crumbled bacon is stirred into a simple fried rice along with its tasty grease, giving the whole dish a wonderful smoky flavor that is really hard to beat.
Get the recipe: Bacon Fried Rice

Korean Corn Rice

A bowl of rice mixed with corn is placed on a wooden tray. Next to it, there is a small bowl of dipping sauce garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. A wooden spoon and a colorful napkin are also on the tray. — Korean Corn Rice. Photo credit: Beyond Kimchee.

Fresh sweet corn kernels are mixed into warm short-grain rice with a little butter to make a simple and sweet Korean Corn Rice that is very comforting.
Get the recipe: Korean Corn Rice

Arabic Rice With Vermicelli

A bowl of golden rice garnished with slivered almonds and fresh parsley. The rice is set on a decorative green plate with intricate patterns, which sits on a textured woven mat. A fork is placed at the top of the bowl. — Arabic Rice With Vermicelli. Photo credit: Nuts and Twigs.

Toasted vermicelli noodles are cooked with long-grain Basmati rice to make Arabic Rice With Vermicelli, which is a nutty and fluffy side dish for many meals.
Get the recipe: Arabic Rice With Vermicelli

Easy Coconut Rice

Two bowls of white rice topped with cilantro and lime wedges. A lime is in the background, and a fork rests nearby on a wooden surface. — Easy Coconut Rice. Photo credit: The Soccer Mom Blog.

Jasmine rice is cooked in coconut milk instead of water to make an Easy Coconut Rice that is slightly sweet and very fragrant, going great with Asian food.
Get the recipe: Easy Coconut Rice

Whole30 Vegan Harvest Rice

A white casserole dish filled with a colorful mixture of rice, Brussels sprouts, pecans, cranberries, and roasted sweet potatoes. A spoon rests in the dish, which is placed on a light-colored cloth. — Whole30 Vegan Harvest Rice. Photo credit: Organically Addison.

Riced cauliflower is used as a base and mixed with fall vegetables and herbs to make a Whole30 Vegan Harvest Rice that is healthy and full of flavor.
Get the recipe: Whole30 Vegan Harvest Rice

Chimichurri Rice

A plate of seasoned rice with herbs and red pepper flakes, garnished with fresh parsley. A spoon rests on the plate, and a bottle with a cork stopper is nearby. A light-colored cloth is draped beside the dish. — Chimichurri Rice. Photo credit: Daily Dish.

A bright green and herby chimichurri sauce is stirred into plain white rice to make Chimichurri Rice, which adds a huge burst of fresh flavor to any meal.
Get the recipe: Chimichurri Rice

Classic Vegetable Fried Rice

A close-up of a bowl of vegetable fried rice topped with sesame seeds. The dish includes carrots, peas, and onions mixed with rice and soy sauce. Chopsticks are resting on the side of the bowl. — Classic Vegetable Fried Rice. Photo credit: Strength and Sunshine.

A mix of your favorite vegetables like peas, carrots, and corn are quickly fried with rice to make a Classic Vegetable Fried Rice that is a complete meal.
Get the recipe: Classic Vegetable Fried Rice

Healthy Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice

A bowl of brown rice garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges. The rice is speckled with herbs and sits on a light surface. Nearby are chopsticks and a partially visible lime. — Healthy Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice. Photo credit: Haute and Healthy Living.

Brown rice is cooked in coconut milk and then mixed with fresh cilantro and lime juice for a Healthy Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice that is full of fresh flavor.
Get the recipe: Healthy Coconut Cilantro Lime Rice

Indian Lemon Rice in Desi Ghee {Gluten Free Recipe}

A vibrant plate of yellow rice garnished with a lime slice and herbs, served with two small bowls of sauce and yogurt. A floral-patterned cloth and a smaller bowl of rice sit nearby, with a red cloth accenting the arrangement. — Indian Lemon Rice in Desi Ghee. Photo credit: Veg Buffet.

Leftover rice is tempered with mustard seeds, curry leaves, and lemon juice to make a tangy and flavorful Indian Lemon Rice that is often eaten on its own.
Get the recipe: Indian Lemon Rice in Desi Ghee {Gluten Free Recipe}

Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole

A wooden bowl filled with creamy chicken and wild rice soup garnished with fresh herbs. The hearty dish shows a mix of tender chicken pieces, wild rice, and creamy broth, topped with a sprig of green herbs. The background includes scattered ingredients. — Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Xoxo Bella.

Leftover turkey and wild rice are combined in an Instant Pot with a creamy sauce to make a comforting casserole that is perfect after a big holiday.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Casserole

Kimchi Bokkeum Bap

A colorful plate featuring kimchi fried rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg and seaweed strips, on a decorative blue and white floral-patterned dish. — Kimchi Bokkeum Bap. Photo credit: Savour The Pho.

Spicy and tangy kimchi is fried with rice and often some pork belly to make Kimchi Bokkeum Bap, a popular Korean dish that is very flavorful.
Get the recipe: Kimchi Bokkeum Bap