An easy rice bowl is the perfect solution for busy days when you’re not quite sure what to make for dinner. Simply start with a base of cooked rice, then get creative adding in proteins, vegetables, sauces and other ingredients for an easy and versatile all-in-one meal. With no hard and fast ingredients list, you can often prepare a rice bowl using what you have on hand without a trip to the store, making them perfect for using up ingredients or bringing new life to leftovers.
Tips for Building an Easy Rice Bowl Everyone Will Love
What makes for a great rice bowl? While ingredients and flavors vary in every rice bowl, there are a few guidelines that can help you create a great-tasting meal every time.
- Include a variety of textures. You don’t want a rice bowl that blends together into one texture. Include fresh or pickled vegetables, chopped herbs or nuts when you need a crunch!
- Balance your flavors. Avoid a rice bowl that tastes one-note by adding rice bowl toppings that provide a multitude of flavors. Use savory proteins for umami, pickled vegetables or lemon juice for acidity, and raw vegetables or herbs for freshness.
- Chop everything. The toppings of your rice bowl should be cut into small, bite-sized pieces so that there’s no need for cutting while you’re eating.
- Use the right amount of sauce. While sauces are great in rice bowls to help marry all of the ingredients together with the rice and make the dish feel cohesive, too much sauce can overwhelm the other ingredients. Use just enough to get great flavor while still letting the taste of the other ingredients shine through.
As the name suggests, rice is the key to every rice bowl, and the kind of rice that you choose can make a big difference. Various types of rice—like white, brown, basmati and jasmine—can offer different textures and aromatic flavors that might be preferred based on the other ingredients in your bowl. You can also try flavored rice, like Minute’s flavored rice cups, to add an extra layer of flavor to your rice bowl without the need for an additional ingredient.
When you’re in need of a rice bowl for a quick and easy meal on a busy day, using Minute Instant Rice or Minute Rice Cups can be incredibly helpful. Unlike traditional rice made in a rice cooker, Minute Instant Rice can be prepared on the stovetop or in the microwave in as little as five minutes—saving you precious time when preparing a meal. For an even quicker preparation, Minute Rice Cups are ready in just one minute in the microwave. Plus, they’re already perfectly portioned to be the base for your next rice bowl.
With plenty of varieties and flavors to choose from, Minute Rice is a great pantry staple to keep on hand to help you build quick, delicious rice bowls in minutes.
Quick & Easy Rice Bowl Recipes
These quick rice dinner ideas are perfect when you need a flavorful meal without the fuss—and they start with Minute Rice Cups for speed and convenience. The possibilities for rice bowls are endless, and you can often make a delicious meal using just the ingredients you already have on hand. These are just a few rice bowl recipes to get you started, but get creative by putting your own spin on these recipes using your preferred flavors and available ingredients.
The beauty of these recipes is that they all generally follow the same simple instructions: prepare the rice, then combine the ingredients together. The simplicity of rice bowls is what makes them so ideal for quick meals!
Mediterranean Tofu
Give classic Mediterranean ingredients a kick of spice with this Mediterranean Tofu rice bowl. Using a Minute Hot Honey Chicken Seasoned Rice Cup as a base, this bowl offers the perfect blend of sweet and heat alongside Mediterranean staples like chickpeas, feta and cucumbers. Crispy tofu and pickled onions add a great crunch and flavor to this bowl too!
Another easy Mediterranean-inspired rice bowl is this Mediterranean Bowl from recipe creator Tati Vegan Cooking. With fresh ingredients like cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, cucumbers and a simple homemade dressing, this rice bowl is refreshing and extremely simple to assemble.
Poke Bowl
This fresh and colorful Poke Bowl is a quick version of the Hawaiian classic that combines rice with edamame, carrots, poke sauce and shrimp for a filling and refreshing meal. This bowl uses Minute Sticky Rice Cups, which help you get the perfect sticky rice texture for sushi and poke bowls right at home. For a twist, try a smoked salmon rice bowl version with seaweed, cucumbers, and a sesame-soy drizzle.
Long Grain & Wild Rice Curry Bowl
Packed with flavor using just a few ingredients, this Long Grain & Wild Rice Curry Bowl won’t disappoint. The bowl starts with a Minute Long Grain & Wild Seasoned Rice Cup, a fusion of long grain and wild rice enhanced with a savory seasoning of onion, garlic and zesty herbs. This flavorful base is enhanced with the addition of curry powder, along with carrots, apples and walnuts for freshness and crunch.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
For a twist, try swapping in ground beef for a quick ground beef rice bowl Mexican-style dinner. To kick your leftover chicken up a notch, try using it in this Chicken Burrito Bowl. Simply prepare a Minute White Rice Cup and mix in shredded chicken, beans, diced tomatoes and guacamole to enjoy a burrito in a bowl in just a few minutes.
Elote Rice Bowl
Rice bowls are a great way to experience the flavors of classic dishes in a new way, like in this Street-Corn Style (Elote) Rice Bowl. With vibrant flavors of corn, cotija cheese, a hint of lime and the mild spice of Minute Jalapeño Rice Cups, you can enjoy the taste of elote in a meal that’s both quick and delicious.
Chicken Banh-Mi-Style Rice Bowl
While classic banh-mi is a sandwich, you can enjoy the traditional flavors of this Vietnamese dish in this Chicken Banh-Mi-Style Rice Bowl. Chicken, fresh herbs and crisp veggies are combined with Minute White Rice Cups and mixed with an easy homemade dressing of soy sauce, honey and sesame oil for the classic flavors of banh-mi in a bowl.
Sriracha Salmon, Kale and Basmati Rice Bowl
This Sriracha Salmon, Kale and Basmati Rice Bowl is a well-rounded meal packed with protein, vegetables, grains and nuts all in one bowl. Plus, thanks to the speed of Minute Basmati Rice Cups, it’s easy to put together in no time when you’re in need of a quick meal.
Teriyaki Beef Bowl
Another great well-rounded rice bowl is this Teriyaki Beef Bowl, which combines classic stir-fry ingredients like beef, roasted peppers, broccoli and teriyaki sauce with an aromatic Minute Jasmine Rice Cup for a filling meal ready in no time.
California Turkey Bowl
Light, fresh and easy to assemble in just minutes, this California Turkey Bowl is a smart option when you need a simple bowl of rice that satisfies. Plus, it uses ingredients that you may already have on hand, like avocado, tomato, turkey and ranch dressing, combined with hearty Minute Brown Rice Cup for some whole grain goodness.
Spicy Hummus Rice Bowl
Add a little heat to your next meal with this Spicy Hummus Rice Bowl. Using a Minute Brown & Wild Rice Cup, this rice bowl comes together quickly—all you have to do is prepare the rice and combine with cucumber, tomato, red onion and of course, spicy hummus. Top with a soft-cooked egg to make this rice bowl extra filling and dig in!
Hot Honey Chicken Bowl
Another great rice bowl when you’re in the mood for spice is this Hot Honey Chicken Bowl by recipe creator Ashley Sampson. She mixes eggs with Minute Hot Honey Chicken Seasoned Rice Cups to bring some sweet heat and plenty of flavor to the bowl, then tops with crispy chicken, yum yum sauce and green onion for a hearty meal in just minutes.
Crispy Rice Cucumber Salad
You can add more texture to your rice bowl by frying the rice like in this Crispy Rice Cucumber Salad. After preparing Minute Butter & Sea Salt Jasmine Rice Cups, fry the rice until it’s slightly crispy. Then, top the rice with thinly sliced cucumbers mixed with vinegar, sugar and soy sauce for a fresh rice salad with plenty of texture and flavor. Try adding some chili paste to this bowl for some added spice!
Easy Meals for Every Mood
Easy to make and endlessly versatile, rice bowls are the ideal meal for when you need something well-rounded but are unsure where to start. Plus, using Minute Rice, you can prepare delicious rice bowls faster than ever and enjoy a variety of rice flavors to further enhance your meal.
Looking for more easy rice bowl inspiration? Check out our Mix It Up rice bowls, quick meal ideas made with ingredients you already have on hand. Whether you’re craving a smoked salmon rice bowl, something spicy, or just need suggestions for new rice bowl ingredients, we’ve got you covered.
Easy Rice Bowl Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients do you need for a rice bowl?
Start with cooked rice, then add your choice of protein (like chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu), a mix of vegetables (fresh, roasted, or pickled), and your favorite sauce or dressing. Rice bowl toppings like avocado, sesame seeds, herbs, or a soft-cooked egg help add flavor and texture. With the right rice bowl ingredients, you can build a satisfying meal in minutes.
What are good toppings for a rice bowl?
Try avocado, pickled onions, roasted veggies, herbs, nuts, or a soft-cooked egg for texture and flavor.
Can I use leftovers in a rice bowl?
Absolutely! Rice bowls are a great way to repurpose leftovers into something new and delicious.
How do I make a rice bowl with what I have on hand?
Think of your fridge and pantry as inspiration. Use leftovers, frozen veggies, canned beans, or pre-cooked proteins to build your base. Start with a Minute Rice Cup, then layer on what’s available—shredded rotisserie chicken, roasted veggies from last night, or even a hard-boiled egg and salad greens. With a quick drizzle of sauce, you’ve got a flavorful, homemade easy rice bowl without a trip to the store.
What rice is best for a rice bowl?
Any kind of rice can work in a rice bowl, and Minute Rice has a number of rice cup varieties— like Jasmine, Basmati, Brown, Sticky, and more—so you can match your rice to your craving.
