12 Ways to Use Up Leftover Rice

Give old grain some new life with our best rice recipes built on leftovers

By SAVEUR Editors | Published Jun 6, 2017 6:00 PM

Recipes by Ingredient

Bacon Fried Rice. Photography by Matt Taylor-Gross

We’ve all been there: you cook rice for a simple weeknight dinner, you end up eating about half of it, and then you throw the extra into tupperware and stick it in the refrigerator. When you take it out of the fridge the following day, you’re met with a dried-out chunk of starch that could use some revitalizing.

Fortunately, there’s a world of recipes that could put those leftovers to good use, whether that’s some of our favorite Southeast Asian recipes or Italian recipes. Ready your best frying pans and soup pots. From chile-laced Indonesian fried rice to creamy Venetian rice fritters, these dishes will turn that cold block of rice into something wonderful.

Brown Rice Salad with Avocado

Asparagus and Rice Sauté

This bright, deep sauté is a good way to salvage undercooked rice. Get the recipe for Asparagus and Rice Sauté »

Indonesian Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng)

For nasi goreng, leftover rice is stir-fried with a seasoning paste made from chiles, shrimp paste, and palm sugar, yielding a richly flavored dish that’s ridiculously delicious. A fried egg on top makes it a satisfying meal. Get the recipe for Indonesian Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng) »

Kale and Chicken Brown Rice Salad with Cherries

This summery salad, which pairs chicken with thin ribbons of raw kale and brown rice, offsets a garlicky pesto dressing with sweet red cherries. Get the recipe for Kale and Chicken Brown Rice Salad with Cherries »

Venetian Rice Fritters (Arancini Veneziani)

These cheesy rice fritters, often made with leftover risotto, are an addictive snack. Get the recipe for Venetian Rice Fritters (Arancini Veneziani) »

Bacon and Shrimp Fried Rice

Bacon adds smoky dimension to this stir-fry. It’s easily adapted to whatever leftovers you have in your fridge—roasted pork or chicken, egg, seafood, or just about any kind of vegetables. Get the recipe for Bacon and Shrimp Fried Rice »

Filipino Garlic Fried Rice with Vinegar Sauce (Sinangag)

This garlicky rice is a popular breakfast dish in the Philippines and is delicious served with fried eggs and a drizzle of vinegar sauce. Get the recipe for Filipino Garlic Fried Rice with Vinegar Sauce (Sinangag) »

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono)

Even though this soup is usually served at Christmas dinner in Greek households, the lemon flavor makes it great year-round. You can easily substitute cooked rice for the raw and shorten simmering time to get this going quickly. Get the recipe for Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (Avgolemono) »

Bacon Fried Rice

Bibimbap

This staple Korean rice dish can be made with meat or seafood and served hot, but we love this fresh-tasting cold, vegetarian version. Get the recipe for Bibimbap »