This whole grain is officially having a moment, and we’re here for it. Its nutty, versatile flavor and satisfying bite mean it plays well with just about any flavor you throw at it. The only problem? Traditional brown rice has a bit of a reputation for being high-maintenance. Long cook times, exact water ratios, and a whole lot of waiting around don’t exactly scream weeknight meal-friendly.
That’s where Minute® Brown Rice changes the game. It has everything you love about brown rice, without the wait, the guesswork, or the stress. Whether you’re feeding a family, meal-prepping for the week, or just trying to get dinner on the table after a chaotic day, meals just got a whole lot easier.
Let’s break down why this staple deserves a permanent spot in your rotation—and how Minute rice helps make it effortless.
What Is Brown Rice?
- Packed with whole grain goodness. Brown rice is a whole grain, meaning it contains the bran and germ that are removed during the refining process of white rice. Whole grains like brown rice offer some pretty impressive benefits to your health, like reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancers. Plus, it contains vitamins and minerals like folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and iron to help you meet your daily nutritional goals and keep you energized all day. Translation: brown rice is a solid, feel-good base you can build on for solid, satisfying meals.
- Brings texture to the table. This grain has a slightly chewy, nutty texture that gives meals more substance. It’s not just there to fill space on the plate when your meal needs some carbs—adds body, balance, and that “this is actually satisfying” feeling to bowls, stir-fries, salads and even snacks.
- Seriously versatile. Savory? Sweet? Breakfast? Dinner? Snacks? This grain works everywhere. Savory bowls, sweet snacks, bold sauces, simple add-ins—if it tastes good, brown rice can handle it.
How to Prepare Minute® Brown Rice
Here’s the thing: traditional methods can be a little tricky. Simmer times are long, and you have to get the water ratio just right to avoid crunchy rice—a little too much babysitting for a weeknight dinner. When life’s moving fast, that’s usually a dealbreaker.
But worry not: Minute Brown Rice keeps everything you like about it, and ditches everything you don’t. It’s fast—ready in minutes, not close to an hour. Minute Instant Brown Rice is ready on the stovetop in about 10 minutes, and a Minute Brown Rice Cup goes from microwave to plate in just one minute. No planning ahead, and no waiting around.
Even better? It’s completely no-stress. No measuring gymnastics, no constant checking, no second-guessing. Just perfectly cooked every time, so you can spend less time managing dinner and more time enjoying it.
TL;DR: Preparing Minute Brown Rice
- Stovetop (Instant): Ready in about 10 minutes
- Microwave (Rice Cups): Ready in 1 minute
- No measuring or soaking required
Why Minute Brown Rice Just Makes Sense
Minute rice is your versatile pantry hero, and you can use it in ways you might not think. Keep these tips in mind when you’re prepping your next brown rice meal:
- Get flavorful: Minute Brown Rice is a pro at absorbing flavors. A super easy way to add an extra punch of flavor to your meal is to replace the water when preparing Minute Instant Rice with a different liquid to meld the flavors directly into each grain. Add savory depth with broth, creaminess with coconut milk, or some zest by mixing water with some orange juice. With no extra steps, the finished dish just got a lot more flavorful.
- Stretch its versatility: You probably think of brown rice as a side dish at dinner or the base to a rice bowl. But it’s so much more than that! Brown rice is just as delicious in hearty breakfasts, filling snacks and even decadent desserts. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
- Try the blends: It’s hard to get bored of something this versatile, but if that sad day comes, don’t fret—Minute has some delicious grain blends to keep the whole grains coming! Try Minute Instant Rice & Quinoa or Minute Brown & Wild Rice Cups for added flavor and texture twist.
Brown Rice Recipes: Bowls, Breakfasts and Easy Dinners
Now for the fun part: brown rice recipes that prove just how versatile and delicious this whole grain can be.
Green Goddess Rice Bowl with Burrata
Minute Brown Rice adds the perfect hearty base for the crisp veggies, bold green goddess dressing and creamy burrata in this Green Goddess Rice Bowl with Burrata. It’s a fresh, creamy, crunchy, herby and anything but basic rice bowl. It’s great with store bought dressing, but if you have a few extra minutes, whip up homemade green goddess dressing with Greek yogurt, some fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and apple cider vinegar.
Southwest Brown Rice & Egg Breakfast Bowl
With more than your daily recommended amount of whole grains per serving, Minute Brown Rice can be a perfect way to start your day. Try this Southwest Brown Rice & Egg Breakfast Bowl from recipe creator The Gee Life for a busy morning solution that you can customize based on your morning mood.
Coconut Curry Chicken Rice Bowls
These Coconut Curry Chicken Rice Bowls from recipe creator The Millennial SAHM are your new weeknight hero. Hearty, delicious and easy to prep thanks to Minute Instant Brown Rice, you’ll be shocked how easy this meal can be while still packed with flavor.
Hot Honey Chicken & Garlic Butter Rice Bowl
Minute Instant Brown Rice is infused with garlicky, buttery goodness in this Hot Honey Chicken & Garlic Butter Rice Bowl from recipe creator Savvy Saving Couple. It’s the perfect base to add a punch of flavor to leftover chicken—all drizzled with a touch of hot honey for some sweet heat.
Mediterranean Rice Bowl
For a five-minute fix to solve your hunger problems, this Mediterranean Rice Bowl is your new best friend. It’s as easy as combining crispy veggies, creamy garbanzo beans and a touch of feta cheese with a Minute Brown & Wild Rice Cup—the perfect hearty base to hold this bowl together. Add some protein on top for an extra filling meal, or double the recipe for a colorful side dish for a family dinner.
Banana Peanut Butter Rice Bites
These Banana Peanut Butter Rice Bites are chewy, nutty, naturally sweet and dangerously snackable. With a Minute Brown Rice Cup, banana, chocolate chips and crunchy peanut butter, they’re great for kids…and great for adults who pretend they’re “just having one.”
Whole Grain Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry
Put a spin on your typical stir-fry using Minute Instant Rice & Quinoa in this brown rice staple: Whole Grain Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry. It’s got all the goodness of Minute Brown Rice, plus red rice, wild rice and quinoa for even more whole grains. For this recipe, the Minute Instant Rice & Quinoa is prepared in vegetable broth instead of water—it’s a quick way to add a lot of deep flavor to a meal without any extra steps.
Mix It Up with Brown Rice
For delicious brown rice bowls in no time, Minute rice’s Mix It Up Rice Bowl ideas have your back. They’re quick and easy bowls you can make your way: start with a Minute Brown Rice Cup, add whatever you’re craving (or whatever’s in the fridge), mix it up and dig in. No rules, no stress—just a solid, whole-grain bowl in minutes.
If you’re looking for some bold flavors in a short amount of time, this Asian Pork Bowl delivers big flavor fast, pairing leftover pork with crispy wonton strips, crunchy bean sprouts and a generous drizzle of hoisin sauce. More into fresh, West Coast vibes? This California Turkey Bowl keeps things light and satisfying with turkey, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado, all brought together with ranch dressing.
Brown Rice, Stress-Free
This grain doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious. With Minute Brown Rice, you get all the hearty texture and whole-grain goodness, without the long cook times, trial and error or extra effort. It’s the shortcut that doesn’t feel like cutting corners.
