Rice cookers are versatile kitchen appliances that can do so much more than simply cook rice. They offer a convenient and healthy way to prepare a variety of dishes with minimal effort. This article explores a range of healthy rice cooker recipes, from flavorful chicken and salmon bowls to hearty vegetarian options, perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping.
One-Pot Chicken and Rice
This recipe is a foolproof and delicious way to cook chicken and rice together in a rice cooker. It's a perfect one-pot dinner that requires barely any dishes, making it ideal for busy weeknights. With approximately 35 grams of protein per bowl, it's also a healthy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs (skin-on for maximum flavor)
- Rice
- Minced garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Stir minced garlic, fresh ginger, salt, and pepper directly into the rice mixture. Rinse rice until the water runs clear for fluffy grains.
- Close the rice cooker lid and set it to the standard “Cook” setting.
- Once it switches to “warm,” check that the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain steam.
- Let everything rest for 5 minutes, then fluff the rice gently with a fork and slice the chicken.
Tips and Variations
- Use skin-on chicken thighs for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Rinse rice until the water runs clear for fluffy grains.
- Don’t open the lid during cooking; steam is what cooks everything perfectly.
- Substitute regular soy sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Add diced bell peppers or snap peas during the last 10 minutes of cooking for extra nutrition and vibrant color.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with thinly sliced cucumbers dressed with rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a pinch of sugar.
- Toss shredded cabbage and julienned carrots with a light dressing of rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of honey.
- Serve with roasted broccoli florets seasoned with minced garlic and soy sauce.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerate leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
- Freeze portions in individual containers for up to 3 months.
- Add a splash of chicken broth when reheating to restore moisture.
This recipe doubles easily for meal prep, making it a convenient option for the week.
Salmon Rice Bowl
This salmon rice bowl recipe is another excellent one-pot dinner option that is brimming with nutrition and super easy to make in a rice cooker. It's a quick and healthy cooking method that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- Sushi rice (or any short grain rice)
- Water (or chicken/vegetable broth)
- Shelled edamame
- Frozen corn kernels (or peas)
- Green onions
- Cubed salmon (skinless and boneless)
- Stir fry sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Add washed rice, water, edamame, corn, and green onions to your rice cooker. Gently stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Place cubed salmon on top of the rice mixture.
- Close the lid and set your rice cooker to the regular white rice setting. Cook as normal.
- While that’s cooking, prepare your sauce. If you're using store bought, measure and set aside. If you're using a homemade recipe, whisk all ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup and set aside.
- When the rice is done cooking, pour in your sauce. Use the rice scooper to stir your rice until everything is evenly coated in sauce.
- Transfer to serving bowls.
Tips and Variations
- Use a rice cooker you’re comfortable with.
- Resist the urge to add extra veggies.
- Use a really yummy store-bought sauce, or make a homemade version.
- Use salmon fillets instead of cubed salmon, but ensure they’re small and fully cooked.
- Cube and portion salmon in advance and freeze in freezer-safe bags.
Storage and Reheating
- Open the lid of your rice cooker to let the meal cool.
- When it’s reached room temperature, transfer to a food container with a fitted lid.
- To reheat: Transfer your one-pot salmon rice meal to a microwave-safe bowl. Splash with some water and cover with a paper towel. Microwave for 60-90 seconds or until heated through, stirring occasionally as needed.
One-Pot Rice Cooker Meal (Kiam Peng)
This is a super easy and hearty One-Pot Rice Cooker Meal that you can make with your rice cooker! It’s a great way to pack in those vegetables and protein and also use up any produce you have left. Growing up we cooked full rice meals such as this in our rice cookers. We cook Kiam Peng, a Fukien dish meaning salty rice (kiam = salty, peng = rice) in our rice cooker. Kiam Peng isn’t actually that salty but it does have a hint of saltiness from the soy sauce.
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Ingredients
- Short grain or sushi rice (medium or long grain white rice can also be used)
- Water (1:1 ratio for white rice)
- Soy sauces
- Sugar (optional)
- Sesame oil
- Veg. oyster sauce
- Vegetables (edamame, corn, carrot, mushrooms, etc.)
- Protein (vegan ham, sausages, tofu, etc.)
Instructions
- Wash your rice 2-3 times until the water starts to run clearer. Drain excess water.
- In the rice cooker pot, add the rice, soy sauces, sugar (if using), sesame oil, veg. oyster sauce, and water. Mix well.
- Add your vegetables and protein over the rice.
- Cover your rice cook and set to cook.
- Once cooked, mix everything together.
- Feel free to season with more soy sauce to taste, if needed.
- Serve your rice with some sesame seeds and chili sauce/chili oil of choice.
Tips and Variations
- For brown or black rice, note that these usually take longer (sometimes double the time) to cook compared to white rice.
- Add vegetables and protein halfway through cooking if using brown or black rice to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- Use frozen vegetables if fresh ones are not available, but slightly lessen the water content.
Garlic Butter Rice
You can make delicious, savory, garlic butter rice in your rice cooker with a click of a button in just under 45 minutes. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and only uses five ingredients - just toss them into the pot, close the lid and press start!
Ingredients
- Rice (Jasmine rice recommended)
- Chicken broth
- Garlic
- Butter
- Salt
Instructions
- Wash and rinse the rice well. After you rinse the rice, make sure to drain the water very well. Give it a few hard shakes in the strainer to take out as much water as possible.
- Add the rice, chicken broth, garlic, butter and salt to the rice cooker pot.
- Stir the ingredients together well.
- Set the cooker to cook on the white rice cooking function.
Tips and Variations
- After you rinse the rice, make sure to drain the water very well. Give it a few hard shakes in the strainer to take out as much water as possible.
- For this recipe, using Jasmine rice, the ratio is 1 cup rice to 1 ½ cups liquid.
Other Rice Cooker Recipes
Beyond these main dishes, rice cookers can be used to create a variety of other healthy and flavorful meals:
- Broccoli Soup: A simple broccoli soup recipe that’s full of bright and cleansing flavors.
- Fat Burning Cabbage Soup: A tasty and comforting soup to help shed holiday pounds.
- Olive Oil and Garlic Pasta: A simple pasta dish seasoned with nutritional yeast and tossed with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and basil.
- Vegan Mediterranean Stew: A smokey and savory stew with Mediterranean flavors.
- Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice: Add all the ingredients (rice, chicken, aromatics) in the rice cooker and wait for the magic to happen!
- Brown Rice Tabbouleh: A brown rice recipe with Mediterranean flavors.
Tips for Using a Rice Cooker
- Even Cooking: A rice cooker is an electric kitchen appliance that was created to help you cook rice perfectly each and every time.
- Choosing the Right Rice: You can cook any variety of rice in a rice cooker but Jasmine or sushi rice are often preferred. Jasmine rice results in a fluffier texture while sushi rice is a bit more sticky.
- Rinsing Your Rice: Be sure when you’ve rinsed rice before adding it to the rice cooker that you drain it well.
- Measure Correctly: My recipes are all created using standard measuring cups rather than what comes with a rice cooker. This alleviates any issues caused if the rice cooker’s measures vary from brand to brand.
- Cooking Chicken: Like a slow cooker or pressure cooker a rice cooker can also be used to cook chicken and other meats. For me, I’ve found that the chicken actually cooks faster and ends up juicier!
- Avoid Overfilling: In most cases I’ve noticed that adding a lot of ingredients causes uneven cooking of the rice.
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