Rice Cooker Recipes: 17 Easy One-Button Meals, From Jambalaya to Fluffy Sponge Cake

Rice cooker recipes go way beyond plain white rice, and millions of people have already figured that out. One video of simple rice cooker recipes from the channel Taste Show has more than 26 million views, and another from Nino’s Home has more than 18 million. Tasty even asked a chef to make a full three course meal in one. Most American kitchens and dorm rooms have a rice cooker that only ever makes rice. That is a waste. Add the ingredients, press one button and walk away, and it can make dinner, breakfast, soup and even cake while it keeps everything warm. Here are the best ones to try..

Rice Cooker Recipes That Do the Work for You

That rice cooker on your counter has a secret life. A basic cooker heats until the liquid is absorbed, then switches itself to warm, so it cannot boil over or burn like a pot on the stove. That makes it perfect for busy parents, college kids and small kitchens. Start with this simple rule for any rice dish, then try the recipes below. What is the only thing your rice cooker makes right now..

You will need: 1 cup long grain rice, 1 1/4 cups broth or water, 1 tbsp butter, salt, add-ins of your choice.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear. 2. Add rice, liquid, butter and salt to the pot. 3. Lay quick-cooking add-ins on top. 4. Close the lid and press cook. 5. When it clicks to warm, let it rest 10 minutes. 6. Fluff with a fork and serve.

Chicken and Rice, the Easiest of All Rice Cooker Recipes

This is the dinner that makes people fall in love with their rice cooker. Seasoned chicken thighs cook right on top of the rice, so the juices soak in. Add frozen peas and carrots for a full meal in one pot. Always check that the chicken reaches 165F before serving. Thighs or breasts: which does your family like?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, 1 lb boneless chicken thighs cut in pieces, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 cup frozen peas and carrots, 1 tbsp butter, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice and add it to the pot with the broth. 2. Season the chicken with paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. 3. Lay the chicken on top of the rice. 4. Press cook. 5. When it switches to warm, stir in the peas and carrots and butter. 6. Close the lid 10 minutes, then check the chicken and serve.

Rice Cooker Jambalaya With Smoked Sausage

All the flavor of a New Orleans classic with almost no work. Smoked sausage, chicken, the trinity of onion, celery and green pepper, and Cajun seasoning all go in with the rice. The rice soaks up every bit of the spicy, tomato rich broth. Make it as mild or as hot as you like. How spicy do you go?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, 8 oz smoked sausage sliced, 1 cup diced cooked chicken, 1/2 onion, 1 celery stalk, 1/2 green pepper, 2 tsp Cajun seasoning.

How to make it: 1. Brown the sausage in a skillet for flavor, or skip this step. 2. Rinse the rice. 3. Add rice, broth, tomatoes and seasoning to the pot. 4. Stir in the vegetables, sausage and chicken. 5. Press cook. 6. Rest 10 minutes on warm and fluff.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice, One of the Best Rice Cooker Recipes for Kids

This is the side dish kids ask for again and again. The broccoli steams right on top of the rice, then everything gets stirred together with sharp cheddar until it turns creamy. It tastes like the boxed version but without the powder. Serve it with rotisserie chicken for an easy dinner. Would your kids eat broccoli this way?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, 2 cups chicken broth, 2 cups small broccoli florets, 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 2 tbsp butter, 1/4 cup milk, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice and add it with the broth. 2. Press cook. 3. When about 10 minutes are left, lay the broccoli on top and close the lid. 4. When it switches to warm, add butter, milk and cheese. 5. Stir until creamy. 6. Season and serve.

Mexican Style Red Rice With Black Beans

Restaurant style red rice is easy in a rice cooker. Toast the rice in a little oil first if you have time, then blend tomato sauce with garlic and cumin for the liquid. Stir in black beans at the end for a filling meatless meal or a big side for taco night. Is red rice a must at your taco night?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups long grain rice, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained, cilantro and lime.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice, or toast it in 1 tbsp oil in a skillet until golden. 2. Add rice, tomato sauce, broth and spices to the pot. 3. Stir once and press cook. 4. When done, stir in the black beans. 5. Rest 10 minutes on warm. 6. Top with cilantro and lime.

Ginger Chicken Rice, Hainanese Style

Hainanese chicken rice is one of the most loved dishes in Singapore and Malaysia, and many home cooks make a shortcut version in a rice cooker. The rice cooks in chicken broth with ginger and garlic, and the chicken steams on top until tender. Serve it with cucumber and a quick ginger and green onion sauce. Have you ever tried it?

You will need: 1 1/2 cups jasmine rice, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, 1 lb boneless chicken thighs, 2 tbsp grated ginger, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp sesame oil, salt, cucumber slices, green onions.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice and add it with the broth. 2. Stir in half the ginger, garlic and sesame oil. 3. Salt the chicken and lay it on top. 4. Press cook and rest 10 minutes on warm. 5. Check the chicken is 165F, then slice it. 6. Mix the rest of the ginger with green onions and a pinch of salt for the sauce.

Rice Cooker Recipes Can Be Fancy: No-Stir Mushroom Risotto

Risotto usually means 25 minutes of stirring at the stove. In a rice cooker, you just press the button. Arborio rice cooks in warm broth with mushrooms and garlic, then Parmesan and butter make it creamy at the end. It feels fancy enough for a date night at home. Would you believe it came from a rice cooker?

You will need: 1 cup arborio rice, 3 cups warm chicken or vegetable broth, 8 oz mushrooms sliced, 1 small onion minced, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp butter, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.

How to make it: 1. Saute the mushrooms, onion and garlic in butter, or add them raw. 2. Add rice and broth to the pot. 3. Press cook. 4. When it switches to warm, stir hard for 1 minute. 5. Stir in the Parmesan and a splash of broth. 6. Serve right away.

Rice Cooker Mac and Cheese for Dorm Rooms

If you have a rice cooker and a box of pasta, you have mac and cheese. Elbow pasta cooks in milk and water, then cheese melts in at the end. Of all rice cooker recipes, this is the favorite of college students who only have a dorm room and no stove. It is also a lifesaver on a busy weeknight. Shells or elbows?

You will need: 2 cups elbow pasta, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup milk, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar, 2 tbsp butter.

How to make it: 1. Add pasta, water, milk and salt to the pot. 2. Press cook and stir once halfway through. 3. If it switches to warm early, stir and press cook again. 4. Check that the pasta is tender. 5. Stir in butter and cheese until creamy. 6. Add a splash of milk if it is too thick.

Rice Cooker Chili With Beans

Hearty rice cooker recipes like this chili can cook while you are at work or at practice. Use cooked ground beef so the chili is safe and ready faster. Beans, tomatoes and spices simmer on the cook setting, and the warm setting keeps it hot until dinner. Top it with cheese, sour cream and onions. Beans or no beans?

You will need: 1 lb cooked ground beef, 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 onion diced, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, salt.

How to make it: 1. Brown the beef in a skillet and drain. 2. Add everything to the rice cooker pot. 3. Stir well and press cook. 4. When it switches to warm, stir and press cook again for a thicker chili. 5. Season to taste. 6. Serve with your favorite toppings.

Rice Cooker Recipes for Breakfast: Steel-Cut Oatmeal With Apples

Steel-cut oats take a long time on the stove, but a rice cooker makes them creamy without any watching. Many cookers have a porridge setting, but the regular setting works too. Diced apples and cinnamon cook right in, so breakfast smells like apple pie. Top it with pecans and maple syrup. What is your favorite oatmeal topping?

You will need: 1 cup steel-cut oats, 3 cups water, 1/2 cup milk, 1 apple diced, 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of salt, maple syrup and pecans to serve.

How to make it: 1. Add oats, water, milk, apple, cinnamon and salt to the pot. 2. Use the porridge setting if you have one. 3. Or press cook and stir when it switches to warm. 4. Press cook again if it is still thin. 5. Rest 5 minutes. 6. Top with maple syrup and pecans.

Fluffy Steamed Eggs

This silky steamed egg is a favorite side dish in Korea and China, and a rice cooker makes it easy. Whisk eggs with broth, pour them into a heatproof bowl, and steam it in the cooker. The eggs puff up soft and tender like a savory custard. Add green onions and a drop of sesame oil on top. Have you ever had eggs this way?

You will need: 4 eggs, 3/4 cup chicken broth or water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 green onion sliced, a few drops of sesame oil, a small heatproof bowl.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the eggs, broth and salt until smooth. 2. Pour into a heatproof bowl and cover with foil. 3. Add 1 cup water to the rice cooker pot. 4. Set the bowl inside or in the steamer basket. 5. Press cook and steam about 15 minutes until set. 6. Top with green onion and sesame oil.

Rice Cooker Recipes for Soup Night: Chicken and Corn Chowder

A creamy chowder is perfect when it is cold outside. Potatoes, corn and cooked chicken simmer in broth, then a little cream makes it thick and cozy. It only needs one pot and one button. Serve it with crusty bread or crackers. This is one of those rice cooker recipes people never expect to work so well. Crackers or bread?

You will need: 2 cups diced potatoes, 1 1/2 cups corn, 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken, 1/2 onion diced, 3 cups chicken broth, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp flour, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Add potatoes, corn, onion and broth to the pot. 2. Press cook. 3. When it switches to warm, check that the potatoes are tender. 4. Whisk the flour into the cream and stir it in with the chicken. 5. Press cook again to thicken. 6. Season and serve.

Quinoa and Black Bean Bowls

Quinoa is one of the easiest rice cooker recipes, fluffy every time. Use it as the base for a quick bowl with black beans, corn, peppers and salsa. Make a big batch on Sunday and pack lunches for the week. It is a filling meatless meal that kids can build themselves. What toppings would you add?

You will need: 1 cup quinoa, 2 cups broth, 1 can (15 oz) black beans drained, 1 cup corn, 1 bell pepper diced, salsa, avocado, lime, cilantro.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the quinoa well. 2. Add quinoa and broth to the pot. 3. Press cook. 4. Rest 10 minutes on warm and fluff. 5. Warm the beans and corn. 6. Build bowls with quinoa, beans, corn, peppers, salsa and avocado.

Rice Cooker Recipes for Baking: Moist Banana Bread

Yes, you can bake in a rice cooker. Banana bread comes out moist and tender, almost like it was steamed. It will not have a crisp crust, but nobody seems to mind. It is a great way to use up brown bananas if you do not have an oven, or if your oven is full of holiday food. Have you ever baked in a rice cooker?

You will need: 3 ripe bananas mashed, 1/3 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups flour.

How to make it: 1. Grease the rice cooker pot well. 2. Mix bananas, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla. 3. Stir in baking soda, salt and flour. 4. Pour into the pot. 5. Press cook, and press it again each time it switches to warm, about 3 or 4 times. 6. It is done when a toothpick comes out clean.

Fluffy Sponge Cake, the Most Viral of All Rice Cooker Recipes

This is the viral one. A light sponge cake rises tall and soft in the rice cooker, and videos of it have millions of views. Whip the eggs well, because the air is what makes it rise. Slice it in half and fill it with jam and whipped cream for a holiday dessert. Would you trust your rice cooker with a cake?

You will need: 4 eggs at room temperature, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup cake flour, 3 tbsp melted butter, 3 tbsp milk, 1 tsp vanilla, jam and whipped cream to fill.

How to make it: 1. Grease the pot and line the bottom with parchment. 2. Beat eggs and sugar for 8 to 10 minutes until thick and pale. 3. Gently fold in the flour. 4. Fold in butter, milk and vanilla. 5. Pour into the pot and press cook 2 or 3 times until a toothpick comes out clean. 6. Cool, slice and fill with jam and cream.

Creamy Rice Pudding Like Grandma Made

Grandma stood at the stove stirring rice pudding. You just press a button, like all the rice cooker recipes here. Rice, milk, sugar and a pinch of cinnamon turn thick and creamy, and you can serve it warm or cold. Top it with berries, raisins or a sprinkle of nutmeg. It is cheap comfort food at its best. Warm or cold?

You will need: 3/4 cup short grain rice, 4 cups whole milk, 1/2 cup sugar, pinch of salt, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, berries or raisins to serve.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the rice. 2. Add rice, milk, sugar and salt to the pot. 3. Use the porridge setting or press cook. 4. Stir every time it switches to warm and press cook again, 2 or 3 times. 5. Stir in vanilla and cinnamon. 6. Serve warm or chill until cold.

Rice Cooker Cornbread for Chili Night

Rice cooker cornbread is soft, moist and golden on the bottom. It is the perfect partner for the chili above, and a smart trick when the oven is full on Thanksgiving. Want more ideas for busy weeks? See our Instant Pot dinners. And for real inspiration, watch Tasty’s three course rice cooker challenge. Sweet or savory cornbread?

You will need: 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup milk, 1 egg, 1/3 cup melted butter.

How to make it: 1. Grease the pot well. 2. Whisk the dry ingredients. 3. Add milk, egg and butter and stir just until mixed. 4. Pour into the pot. 5. Press cook 2 or 3 times until a toothpick comes out clean. 6. Flip it out onto a plate and slice.