Rice cookers, ingenious kitchen wonders can save you both time and burnt rice. Using the right ratio of water to rice, these creative steamers cook perfect rice- every time, saving you the hassle of burnt pots and scorched rice. But why on earth would you buy an appliance that just cooks one thing?
The secret is out: rice cookers aren’t just for cooking rice! You can make a variety of dishes in one single pot, eliminating a kitchen mess of pots and pans and even the need for a stove. Traveling? Take a rice cooker! College bound? Invest in a rice cooker! Check out these 17 rice cooker recipes that aren’t rice. You may consider throwing out the rest of your cookware!
Dishes you can create in a rice cooker
Rice cookers come with different functions[1]- rice cooking, steaming, sauté, simmer, slow cook, soups and even cake functions. Make sure your rice cooker has the applicable function before you try the recipe, and always open the top away from you, so you won’t get burned by the steam.
Rice Cooker Breakfasts
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Start off your morning with these tasty delights:
The Perfect Omelet by Aroma Test Kitchen
A breakfast omelet is a beautiful thing, as you can choose exactly what ingredients to add. Like bacon? Throw in some bacon and cheese, tomato & onion. Add a dash of turmeric for health and fresh chopped jalapenos for a spicy kick. Mix and match- add what ever you like! Cooking an omelet in a rice cooker keeps the temperature even. When you are done, just flip it out onto your plate! Aah- the perfect omelet!
Steel Cut Oats by Taste Spotting
For a truly healthy start, try some Steel Cut Oats, a simple recipe, taking only 25 minutes. You can upgrade this dish with the addition of fruits, nuts & berries of your choice. Blueberry & walnut oats, anyone?
No Fuss Banana Bread by Wide Island View
Banana bread can be eaten as a breakfast, snack or even a dessert! Coat the inside of the rice cooker pot with vegetable oil or vegetable spray so the banana bread won’t stick. Add blueberries and walnuts, or even cinnamon for extra flavor.
Rice Cooker Pancakes by I am a Food Blog
This Japanese inspired dish is almost like the southern-styled strawberry shortcake, but you can top it with anything, like these fresh blackberries! This cake sized pot-pancake is large enough to share with your friends, so grab some extra forks!
Rice Cooker Side Dishes
Pull Apart Pizza Bread by Taste Made
Such an easy dish! This recipe creatively uses tinned biscuits along with pizza topping favorites to make a yummy pizza bread.
Pomegranate & Quinoa Salad by The Hedonista
Quinoa, a nutritious grain, can be cooked just like rice in your rice cooker, and added to cold dishes, used as a side or topped with a protein for a meal.
Macaroni & Cheese by Happy Slip
Every college kid’s dream, this easy recipe takes approximately 20-25 minutes and the aroma will have your neighbors knocking on your door to try it!
Scalloped Potatoes by Koala Munchies
Though the directions of this recipe require you to cook the butter garlic and onion in a skillet first, if you don’t have a stove, you can cook it in your rice cooker on the sauté option (if your model has one).
Rice Cooker Dinners
Yellow Split Pea Dal by Vegetarian Times
One meal in one pot, start to finish. Again use the sauté option on your rice cooker at the beginning of the recipe as instructed.
Chicken Noodle Soup by XO Jane
Hearty and healthy, this soup will warm you on a chilly day. Add noodles towards the end of this recipe so they won’t go mushy.
Rice Cooker Black Bean Chili by Cooking with Your Kids
This dish is a great way to get the kids involved in cooking. You can sauté the onions & garlic straight in your rice cooker if you prefer, and let the kids choose the toppings like cheese, sour cream and chives. Maybe even some nachos?
Balsamic Dijon Chicken with Faro Mushrooms by Clean Eating Mag
Another healthy rice-cooker meal, this recipe requires some preparation and takes a little over an hour. You have to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator before cooking. However, it’s a one pot meal, so if you have the time & the refrigerator, this tasty dish is for you!
Jumbo Stuffed Cabbage by Taste Made
This is an entire meal-meat, veggies & rice-all made inside a head of cabbage! When it’s done, flip in onto your plate and chow down.
Rice Cooker Desserts
Poached Pomegranate Spiced Pears by Jeanette’s Healthy Living
This dish takes a little under an hour to cook, but for more flavor, you can marinate the pears overnight first.
Easy Cheesecake by Washoku Guide
A classy, smooth cheesecake recipe. Make sure to spray cooking spray inside your rice cooker before you begin for easy removal. You can top it with berries and compote or even drizzle chocolate across the top. Best eaten chilled.
Lemon Ricotta Pancake by Taste Made
Bake a cake to impress- in a rice cooker! This recipe uses a pancake mix you can purchase in the store and milk & ricotta cheese, but comes out smoother than an oven-made one!
Rice Cooker Apple Cake by Washoku Guide
Though you will be cooking the apples in a skillet first, the cake is made in the rice cooker. Check your rice cooker to make sure it has a cake function before doing this recipe. Don’t have apples? No problem, you can substitute them with pears or even peaches.
Now chuck out that old cookware, grab your rice cooker and create a feast fit for a king with these handy rice cooker recipes!
Reference
| [1] | ^ | aroma housewares: Rice Cookers 101 |
