Rice is a good cheap eat! Not only that, it tastes great, is gluten-free, and serves as a great base for any number of delectable dinners. There are so many cheap rice meals you can make. Check out these easy rice recipes to be inspired and save money.
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There’s a reason why rice is enjoyed in all cultures all over the world. It’s easy to grow, simple to make, tastes delicious, and it’s a cheap ingredient that many can afford and the whole family enjoys.
There are so many different types of rice and so many ways to prepare it, you really could enjoy cheap rice meals almost every night of the week. Let’s count the ways:
- A bowl of white rice drizzled with soy sauce and topped with a fried egg is delicious.
- A pot of Mexican rice is a tasty side dish to serve on Taco Tuesday.
- You can even enjoy creamy rice pudding for a breakfast or dessert!
Whether you prefer white or brown rice, jasmine or basmati rice, it’s one of the best pantry staples worth stocking up on. In fact, it’s one of our favorites on the budget grocery list!
Why Make These Cheap Rice Meals
They are easy. A simple recipe for rice with meat and veg or even meatless is a delicious complete meal for anyway of the week.
They are cheap. Rice is an affordable ingredient that can be dressed up with just a handful of ingredients. Rice bowls are an economical choice when you’re watching your grocery spending.
They are delicious. Everyone loves rice, and you can easily make it more with additional protein, veggies, and sauces.
FAQs
There are many types of rice, but some of the most common available at grocery stores include: white, long grain rice, brown rice (both long and short grain), jasmine rice, basmati rice, and arborio rice.
Cook’s Illustrated and the Kitchn recommend rinsing long grain rices in order for your rice to have a better texture. They say not to worry about rinsing rice that you want to be creamy in texture, such as risotto.
Other sources, such as Consumer Reports and The New Food Lover’s Companion, recommend rinsing for health reasons; you can remove up to 30% of the rice’s inorganic arsenic content by rinsing it in cool water until the water runs clear. Brown rice has a higher arsenic content than white, so it’s probably a good candidate for rinsing, even though you won’t see starch in the water when you do so.
Store rice in a cool dry place in an airtight container. White rice is good indefinitely, but brown rice will go rancid after 6 months in storage. You can extend the life of brown rice by refrigerating it.
How to Cook Rice
You can easily cook rice three different ways:
- in a pot on the stove with a tight-fitting lid – Stovetop Rice was tradition in my childhood home and the method that I think brings the best texture to long grain white rice.
- baked in the oven – If you’re already heating the oven, slide in a pan of this easy baked rice for a great side dish. It’s practically hands-free and produces perfect rice. Baking rice is a revelation. Have you tried it yet?!
- cooked in the instant pot or a rice cooker – Using a rice cooker or the instant pot for cooking rice is a hands-free and quick way to make cheap rice meals.
Cheap Rice Meals You’ll Love
These are some of the best Good Cheap Rice Meals to be had. You’re sure to find an easy rice recipe that the whole family will love.
One Dish Dinners
Cheap rice meals can often be one-dish dinners with protein and veggies added to the rice for an easy recipe that tastes delicious.
Sides
Cheap rice side dishes are a great way to balance out the cost of a meal. But, it doesn’t have to be plain rice. Consider these dressed up versions of the simple rice dish.
More Cheap Meal Ideas
Tell us what you think!
We love to hear your experiences with Good Cheap Eats. Click the STARS on the recipe card or leave a STARRED comment to let us know what you think of the recipe.
This post was originally published on October 2, 2016. It has been updated for content and clarity.
MH
I haven’t done much research on rice either – I remember reading years ago that basmati has less impact on glycemic index than other types of rice. We mostly do brown basmati, though yesterday I made white basmati – some went into a creamy chicken rice soup and the rest will go into rice pudding – I just can’t see making rice pudding with brown rice. 🙂
P.S. Your picture of the veggie fried rice and potstickers looks SO good!
Jessica Fisher
I don’t know if I’ve ever made rice pudding with brown rice either. Hmmm…..
Sally
I have two rice dishes that I like. First is confetti rice: for each cup of rice to be cooked I add one clove of garlic (minced), 1/2 cup each diced onion, diced carrot and diced red bell pepper. I cook the rice and vegetables as usual and at the end of the cooking time I stir in 1/2 cup frozen peas and let it sit for 5 minutes. It’s good as is as a side dish. Leftovers are good reheated with an egg on top or stir fried with some leftover protein or stir-fried protein. Sometimes instead of adding peas at the end I add parboiled broccoli florets or asparagus.
Another is a rice-a-roni type dish. I sauté some sliced mushrooms, diced onion and a clove or two of minced garlic in olive oil. When the mushrooms have released their liquid and the onions are translucent, I remove them from the pan and set aside. In olive oil I sauté about a cup of long grain rice and a cup of orzo (or fine noodles or angel hair pasta broken into short pieces) until the rice is translucent and the pasta slightly browned. Return vegetables to the pan and add about 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, cover and cook until rice is done.
I’ve been making both of these for years and one or the other or both show up at least monthly. Leftovers of both can be the basis of more meals. Another rice dish I like is the Spanish Rice from Simply Recipes.
Jessica Fisher
I should not answer comments when I’m hungry. That all sounds great!
Yvette
I was surprised to see shrimp in 2 recipes on a list of budget friendly meals. It’s so much more expensive than other protein options.
Jessica Fisher
It really depends on how and where you shop. Per gram of protein, it’s actually more efficient.
Amy
I LOVE the baked rice with lemon and thyme!!! I could(and do!) eat it by the bowlful.
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you love it!
Alice E
I think it would be the pilaf. but the chicken fried rice would be a close second. I like both, but fix pilaf much more often. I don’t always add pasta, but would probably add the vermicelli I buy in the 7 ounce packages in the Mexican food section of my store. I keep it on hand for soups, etc. and don’t usually have or use orzo. I do usually add onion and other vegetables as the urge hits me. Any excuse to add more vegetables to meals works for me.
One of my husband’s favorites is a recipe called Soup Bowl Cabbage Roll that calls for ground beef, cabbage, rice and at the last tomatoes. It is a Taste of Home recipe from years ago that is now available online but was originally published in Healthy Cooking. When I first made it I didn’t have the crushed tomatoes it called for and substituted diced, which is how he still wants it. However the crushed do make it more saucy. I substitute what ever ground meat I have handy and adjust the seasoning, of course, since recipes are rarely set in stone around me. Lol.
Now that you have discovered rice at Costco, you might try the pinto beans for making huge batches of refried beans and other such uses.
Jessica Fisher
Sounds yummy!
Re: beans, when we were in debt, dry beans were the only kind I could afford. While it’s a luxury to buy canned beans, it’s one I indulge in. It’s so much easier. And I always forget to soak my beans when I want them. It’s like forgetting to thaw.