The rice cooker is the easiest way to make a quick, filling one pot meal or delicious side dish. Whether you’re looking to make a quick weeknight dinner, hearty breakfast, or even sweet treat, these rice cooker recipes will help you make the most of your small and mighty appliance.
Table of contents
Why use a rice cooker?
The rice cooker is one of the most essential appliance in many Asian households. If you eat rice everyday (like we do!) using a rice cooker offers ease and convenience. Here’s why every rice lover should own one:
- No stove needed: With the press of a button, there is no need to adjust the fire temperature on the stovetop.
- Keeps rice warm - The automatic function on all rice cooker, when done cooking keeps the rice warm for hours until you’re ready to eat.
- No burnt rice - Preset cooking functions and a nonstick covering on the pot prevents scorching rice sticking on the pot.
- Fluffy soft rice - Once you nail the water to rice ratio, the rice cooker does the rest of the work.
- Cooks large batches - For those with big families, a rice cooker is more practical for daily use. Or use it for weekly meal prep.
- One pot meals - not just for plain rice. You can get creative with this one pot to make meals and flavorful rice and many other grains.
Rice Cooker Recipes
Rice cookers are very versatile. From breakfast to dinner and even dessert, here are some of my favorite rice cooker recipes!
Steelcut oats
Wake up to a warm, hearty bowl of rice cooker steel cut oats—no stovetop required. Just set it and forget it with this rice cooker oatmeal hack!
Get the recipe: Steel cut oats rice cooker
Fried rice
Learn how to cook “fried rice” in your rice cooker with all your favorite ingredients like eggs, Chinese sausage and veggies! This one-pot cooking method doesn’t include any stir-frying, yet the rice cooker still infuses the rice with wonderful salty and umami flavors.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker fried rice
Hard Boiled Eggs
Using your rice cooker to make hard-boiled eggs is a simple, hands-free method. It’s a great way to prepare a protein-packed breakfast or snack, especially when a stovetop isn’t available. This method is perfect for college students or travelers with just a basic rice cooker on hand!
Get the recipe: How to cook eggs in a rice cooker
Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro lime rice made in the rice cooker, is a light, fragrant, and flavorful dish! With just six simple ingredients, this Chipotle copycat recipe is easy to make and ideal for busy weeknights.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker cilantro lime rice
Hainanese chicken rice
This easy rice cooker Hainanese chicken rice is a great dish to make when you're short on time. This one pot meal is made by cooking chicken and rice in a flavorful broth.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker Hainanese chicken and rice
Pilaf rice
This rice cooker pilaf rice recipe guarantees the most flavorful rice! With the convenience of a rice cooker, it's great for hands off and easy cooking. It's made with wholesome and savory ingredients, like chicken broth, mushrooms, garlic and crunchy almonds.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker pilaf rice
Rice pudding
This creamy, sweet and comforting rice pudding is made in the rice cooker for effortless cooking! Made with just 4 simple ingredients: rice, milk, sugar and salt! Enjoy it for breakfast, dessert or snack time with your favorite toppings!
Get the recipe: Rice cooker rice pudding
Yellow rice
Learn how to cook fluffy and flavorful turmeric rice in the rice cooker. Turmeric is the key ingredient that makes the dish golden yellow and fragrant, along with garlic, onion and chicken broth. It’s an easy set it and forget it kind of dish and takes only about 35 minutes to make.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker yellow rice
Spanish rice
My most popular rice cooker recipe, this Spanish rice is a delicious tomato-based rice pilaf with garlic, onions and savory spices.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker Spanish rice
Congee and chicken
Rice cooker congee is perfect for breakfast, or served as a hot and steaming bowl of comfort for a sick loved one. The flavor is light and balanced, and will have them feeling better in no time.
Get the recipe: Rice cooker congee
Rice Cooker Reviews: Which One is Best?
I’ve used several rice cookers over the years. Here’s my take on some of the brands and models that I’ve used.
CUCKOO CR-0675FW 6-Cup -This sleek, modern rice cooker looks great on my counter and includes many cooking options like brown rice, porridge, and sticky rice. However, I mostly use the quick cook setting for white rice.
- Pros: Fuzzy Logic Technology that “ guarantees perfectly cooked rice every time” and helps prevent burning. Multi-function versatility.
- Cons: The touchscreen-style buttons are not responsive — I often have to press hard multiple times. I’ve never used the auto-clean function, preferring to hand-wash.
- Verdict: Works well but not my favorite interface. Likely trying a new brand next time.
Tiger JBV- S series - This is a personal favorite. I got this for a great price from Costco but had to toss it after failing to find a replacement pot.
- Pros: Easy-to-use buttons, built-in timer, compact, and efficient. The "Automatic Cooking Logic" technology consistently made perfect rice. Easy to clean.
- Cons: None worth noting—though the nonstick coating eventually started to chip, this was likely due to user error from not handling it carefully.
- Verdict: I plan to repurchase this rice cooker once my Cuckook retires!
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 - Great for those who prefer to not have a single-purpose appliance.
- Pros: Non-toxic stainless steel inner pot. Multi-use functionality, makes more than just rice. In the instant pot, you can make meals like hearty Instant pot chicken soup with whole chicken, easy side dishes like Instant pot mashed potatoes and delicious Vietnamse pho broth!
- Cons: Rice sticks to the stainless steel and makes it hard to clean. Steam isn’t well-regulated, resulting in mushier rice than preferred.
Verdict: Better for soups and stews than for cooking rice regularly.
Tayama- this is a basic one function cooker with an automatic warmer.
- Pros: Lightweight, compact, easy to clean, and budget-friendly. Cooks up to 10 rice-cooker cups. Cooks the rice well, great as a starter cooker.
- Cons: One function mode.
- Verdict: A great starter rice cooker at an affordable price.
Zojirushi NS-RPC10FJ - This is the gold standard of all rice cookers. I grew up with a Zojirushi and it’s built to last! We cooked rice for a family of 7 daily!
- Pros: reliable and durable (ours lasted 10+ years), nonstick interior, great for big families or big batch cooking, consistently cooks fluffy rice.
- Cons: a bit pricier than other rice cookers.
- Verdict: this is a great cooker for big families and worth the investment.
How to use a rice cooker
As simple as it may seem, it’s important to know how to use your rice cooker properly to ensure it cooks your rice perfectly every time.
1. Rinse the rice - rinsing the rice gets rid of extra residue and starch. Add rice and water to the rice cooker pot and use your hands to agitate the rice. Then pour the water out. Rule of thumb is to rinse the rice three times. Alternatively, you can use a fine mesh, add the rice to it and rinse with water. Then pour the drained rice back into the rice cooker pot.
2. Choose the right setting - Simple cookers only require one button. Multi-cookers may have settings for white rice, brown rice, porridge, etc.
3. Measure accurately - Use the correct water-to-rice ratio for your grain.
4. Dry the exterior of the pot - Use a towel to dry the water from the outer pot. This prevents damage to the rice cooker.
Rice cooker troubleshooting
Adding too much liquid/water is a common issue. It’s hard to salvage mushy rice so measure carefully.
Both methods work. Using a rice cooker is more convenient as it will cook on its set timer and function and will keep the rice warm when done. Stovetop cooking will require more maintenance.
Yes you can open your rice cooker while cooking, but not recommended. Opening the lid disrupts the cooking process. However, I’ve opened the lid many times to check the doneness of my rice and it’s never hurt anything.
This usually happens when cooking recipes that require high water content (like oatmeal or congee). When there is too much liquid boiling quickly, the steam is not letting out quickly enough, which results in overboiling.
Each rice cooker is different, some rice cookers may be able to handle the higher amount of liquid and some may not.
Quick fixes: cook with the rice cooker lid open or place a long wooden spoon or chopsticks between the pot and the lid. This allows steam to escape, reducing the chance of a boil-over.
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