15-Minute Meals You Can Make With Jasmine Rice, the Pantry Hero of Dinnertime

It’s no wonder why rice is beloved by so many and considered the number one food staple consumed globally. Aside from being vital to so many cultures and cuisines and integral in supporting communities by providing a bevy of health benefits with each small grain, there’s something about its delicious chewiness and ability to pair with just about any food that makes this nourishing ingredient a must-have pantry staple.

Whether you’re enjoying a big ol’ bowl of steamy rice on its own or pairing it with protein and veggies, there’s no limit to what you can create with this simple ingredient. In other words, rice has never, ever failed us. Ahead we’re delving into some of our all-time favorite, fool-proof, 15-minute meals (think a one-pan shrimp rice or spicy rice soup) you can make starring jasmine rice, a pantry superhero.

A few health benefits of jasmine rice

First things first, why jasmine rice, you may be wondering? Indeed, there’s a lot of different rice varieties to pick from—Arborio, basmati, wild, to name a few. The good news? All of them have health benefits including fiber, vitamin B, magnesium, and carbs. (Yes, carbs are part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, fam!)

That said, we’re particularly fond of jasmine rice—a type of rice that’s originally from Thailand—due to its long-grain shape and soft, sticky texture when cooked. Because it has a mild taste—less flavorful than black rice, for example—it can be used in a variety of dishes to make it heartier and even more comforting. That said, the best rice is ultimately the one you have on hand. Thankfully, most recipes can easily be adapted to feature the rice of your choice.

Need some ideas? Rounded up here are eight cheap and healthy rice recipes that take less than 15 minutes to make. Some of the recipes don’t explicitly specify that jasmine rice should be used, but don’t worry. Jasmine rice will not only work just fine but taste downright delicious, too.

8 jasmine rice recipes you can make in 15 minutes or less

1. Sweet and Spicy Basil Chicken and Rice

Enjoy sweet, spice, and everything nice? Say no more. This recipe by My Food Story is exactly what you’re looking for. The highly flavorful dish features a simple combination of sauces and spices that makes for a tongue-tingling experience. Here’s what to have on hand: garlic, Thai red chilis, onion, dark soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and Thai basil. Once you have your ingredients ready to go, the dish comes together really quickly (we’re talking just five minutes of prep work).

Get the recipe: Basil Chicken and Rice

2. One-Pot Vegetable Rice

This easy one-pot meal by Veena Azmanov is the epitome of weeknight cooking. In other words, if you have jasmine rice, vegetable stock, and some frozen mixed veggies on hand, you’re 90 percent on your way to making this extremely quick and easy dinner. Round out this meal by adding a protein, like chicken, tofu, or chickpeas—all of which can cook in less than 15 minutes on the stovetop. Hungry yet?

Get the recipe: One-Pot Vegetable Rice

3. Creamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

Love your Instant Pot as much as we do? This easy Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe by Feel Good Foodie is proof that there really isn’t anything this handy kitchen workhorse can’t do. 10 minutes is all the hands-on work you’ll need to do to get dinner on the table stat. And although this recipe calls for wild rice, remember the world is your oyster, so feel free to BYOR (bring your own rice) into the mix. Thankfully, Yumna Jawad, the recipe developer behind Feel Good Foodie agrees that just about any rice will do when making this recipe. “Brown rice or jasmine rice should work well in place of the wild rice blend. [But,] I don’t recommend par-boiled, instant rice as it will turn mushy in the pressure cooker,” Jawad says on the blog.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

4. One-Pan Shrimp and Rice

It’s always a bonus when you can throw all the ingredients for your dinner into the same pan or pot and cook it all together—which is exactly what goes down in this recipe for shrimp and rice by Gimme Delicious. Season everything with cumin, garlic, onion, and pepper to ensure that each bite is as packed with flavor as it is nutrients. Plus, it’s a great way to meet some of your protein goals. After all, dietitians agree 30 grams of protein is the gold standard per meal, and one cup of cooked shrimp alone contains 25 grams of the nutrient. #Goals

Get the recipe: One-Pan Shrimp and Rice

5. Cozy Ginger Rice Soup

Some nights just call for a piping hot bowl of soup, much like this cozy ginger rice soup by RecipeTin Eats. The beauty of it is that instead of using noodles, this soup calls for jasmine rice that works just as well, if not better than your usual pasta choice. To make this dish even more delicious, simply combine rice with broth, white fish, choy sum (a leafy green veggie), onion, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce together in a pot. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, folks. Plus, it has so many immunity-supporting ingredients in one bowl! Swoon.

Get the recipe: Chinese-Inspired Rice Soup

6. Easy Congee with Rice and Chicken

A classic meal in China and other parts of East Asia, congee is traditionally a hearty, nourishing breakfast or late supper, but there’s no denying that this recipe by Red House Spice is perfect for any time of the day. The rice helps form the thick porridge and chicken, mushroom, and a hard-boiled egg are added into this dish, making it super rich in protein (and flavor).

Get the recipe: Easy Congee with Rice and Chicken

7. Turmeric Jasmine Rice with Leftover Chicken

The inspiration for this recipe by A Worthey Life was finding a super quick way to use up leftover chicken, but if you’re vegetarian or vegan, it works just as well with plant-based protein sources, like tofu, too. The trick to making this tasty turmeric jasmine rice with leftover chicken dish? Spices, and lots of ’em. Spices are the key to making any leftover food taste fresh and the ones used here—turmeric, cumin, garlic, and red bell pepper, to name a few—are full of anti-inflammatory benefits. Flavor and health benefits: a win-win.

Have more leftovers to make use of? Discover additional leftover rice recipes to ensure none of your ingredients ever go to waste again.

Get the recipe: Turmeric Jasmine Rice with Leftover Chicken

8. Instant Pot Cranberry Pistachio Jasmine Rice

Cranberries definitely deserve more love than just on Thanksgiving. Here, the seasonal fruit is combined with protein-rich pistachios and, of course, the jasmine rice—all made in the Instant Pot. Boost the protein even more by adding chickpeas, which pair well with the core ingredients.

Get the recipe: Instant Pot Cranberry Pistachio Jasmine Rice

Watch the video below to see how adding garlic to your soup will benefit your body: