Instead of making rice multiple times through out the week, I make one large batch. I am usually pretty good about matching the amount I make with the amount we will need, but occasionally I end up with excess rice. Below are a few ways we use up leftover rice:
~ Leftover rice is the perfect base for Fried Rice, especially if it is a little dried out!
~ Add 1 cup of cooked rice to 1 pound of uncooked hamburger. Season as usual, then form patties and fry or barbecue. Use can also use it in place of breadcrumbs or oatmeal when you make meatloaf.
~ Add to soup. Our favorite is Chicken and Rice Soup:
~ Add to a salad. Rice makes a hardy addition to any salad. My husband likes to put rice on a bed of greens and then top it all off with salsa.
~ My oldest son often mixes leftover rice with beans and cheese and makes a Bean and Rice Burrito.
~ My daughter likes to make personal rice bowls to take to school. She puts leftover rice in a reheatable container and tops it with leftover veggies.
~Use in place of noodles in a casserole:
What is your favorite way to use up leftover rice?
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tamilyn says
I rarly make rice-it always seems to end up sticky. I may need to invest in a rice cooker-would like to get a new staple worked into our dinners.
'Becca says
I love leftover rice! It's so useful.
Warmed-up rice is delicious with butter, diced tomato, and either seaweed sprinkles or nutritional yeast flakes, salt, and dill. Here's more about the yeast and seaweed, both of which are much more delicious than they sound! 🙂
I make rice bowls like your daughter for my lunch at work. In fact, I'm eating one (with homemade veggie burger and cheese) as I write this.
Your Frugal Friend, Niki says
Wow, who knew it was so versatile? We usually just eat it as a side.
Stop by and visit me over at Free 2 Be Frugal sometime soon…we are back up and running once again!
LV says
I love rice. Just cook it, butter and sugar. I never have any left for things like this. Thanks for your visit.
Money Saving Maine-iac says
I use left over rice to bake rice pudding! The recipe is here:
Thanks for the ideas Alea.
betchai says
wow, i've been eating rice all my life but never learned how to do some of your rice left-over meals especially the rice burger, did not know i can substitute rice for bread crumbs. and that rice lasagna looks so yummy!
PS….thanks for visiting our site, The Salitype Society
Mary says
Love the idea of using it in lasagna! Thanks for the tip 🙂
Audra Marie says
I've missed lasagna since going gluten free – think I might adapt our lasagna recipe using rice instead of noodles. Thanks for the idea. 🙂
Alea says
Caroline, I have skipped the cottage cheese and just used plain rice before and it turned out fine.
I never knew that rice was so popular for breakfast. That opens up a whole new world of possibilities for me! 😀
The Book Lady Online says
Sheila (previous commenter) we are also from Southwest Louisiana, though we do not currently live there (miss it terribly).
Alea, some of these ideas I have never heard of and am looking forward to trying them (especially the last one, Lasagna Rice Casserole. Looks delicious.
Caroline Mukisa says
That lasagna rice casserole is an unusual one! I'll definitely try that one. I don't usually have cottage cheese in the fridge, can I substitute philadelphia or yoghurt?
Sheila says
We eat a lot of rice in this house so I usually have some in the fridge. I hadn't thought of a few of the things you posted–thanks for sharing those. I am from southwest Louisiana so I could eat rice for every meal. I love rice and eggs in the morning–or any time really!! Have a wonderful day!!
Annie Jones says
I've done many of the things you listed, but I think my favorite way to use it up is for breakfast. I warm it up and add a little sugar and some milk or half-n-half. Believe it or not, this was the only way we ate rice at home when I was growing up.