17 Versatile Rice Cooker Recipes (That Don’t Include Rice)

A rice cooker is usually assumed to have only one use — cooking rice. And while it’s very good at cooking rice, especially for those of us who are constantly forgetting to shut off the stove and let the rice steam, it’s also perfect for a myriad of other tasks.

A rice cooker works by slowly ushering rice through the four stages of the cooking process. Rice first needs to sit in water before it boils, steams, and finally, rests. A rice cooker brings the added water to a boil and keeps it at 212 degrees Fahrenheit until all of the water evaporates. At this point, the interior heats over 212 degrees. Since it is impossible for water to surpass boiling temperature, the rice cooker senses the temperature increase and switches off to keep the rice from scorching. This allows the rice to rest without overcooking.

While the rice cooker’s design cooks rice perfectly, the same principles — and tools — can cook other ingredients and even full meals. Any slow-cooked dishes that need to be kept at a simmer can be made in a rice cooker with delicious results, like these 17 best rice cooker recipes.

A rice cooker works like a steamer, right? So it makes perfect sense that this steamed blend of veggies and tofu would end up perfectly cooked in a rice cooker. Think of this recipe as a stir fry but without all the added fat.

Ever find that your quinoa is ending up scorched at the bottom of the pot instead of light and fluffy, the way you like it? Well, one of the best rice cooker recipes uses this special heating technique for top-notch, steamed quinoa.

This macaroni and cheese recipe comes together in one pot thanks to the rice cooker. We love cooking the macaroni in broth for extra flavor as well as adding some broccoli for a dose of vitamins and minerals. While this recipe is super easy by design, don’t skip out on grating your own cheese; storebought pre-grated cheese contains cornstarch to keep the gratings separate which makes for a grainy cheese sauce.

There are chili recipes specially made for the rice cooker, but in all honesty, it wouldn’t be too tough to adapt your own chili recipe either. Just be sure that the meat you use is nicely browned before adding the other ingredients, and you can’t go wrong.

So this recipe is technically rice — but it’s so much more than plain white rice. This slow cooker rice pudding is one of the best rice cooker recipes for dessert and you can easily adapt it to your cooking or flavor preferences.

Thai curry is a snap to make in a rice cooker. All you have to do is add all the ingredients to the cooker, set the timer for one hour, and come back to a delicious curry flavored with coconut, peanuts, and tamarind.

One of the best rice cooker recipes is a classic dish of spaghetti and meatballs. You won’t believe how perfectly tender and juicy meatballs end up when made in a rice cooker. Use it as a topping for rice cooker spaghetti, and you have a quick and easy one-pot meal to serve.

One of the best rice cooker recipes is made with whole chicken. Yes, you can “roast” a chicken in your rice cooker — and you should. The results are impossibly juicy and full of flavor.

Your rice cooker is the perfect vessel for soaking and cooking beans. Why not try it with chickpeas and turn it into fresh hummus? It would be intimidating without a rice cooker, but since you can set it and forget it, making this recipe incredibly easy — and rewarding.

Don’t cast this one off right away. Even Wolfgang Puck recommends making risotto in a rice cooker — and if Wolfgang says it’s OK, then you know it has to be good. Thanks to a rice cooker, you avoid all of that pesky stirring and the possibility of overcooking your risotto.

Kimchi might surprise you as one of the best rice cooker recipes. Home-fermenting can seem a bit overwhelming, but by using your rice cooker, you can easily make delicious and tangy Korean kimchi.

Making oatmeal isn’t all that tricky, but it can be when you’re running around in the morning and nearly miss breakfast. How many times have you put on the pot only to forget about it when you’re looking for an earring or trying to get the kids’ socks on? This rice cooker method means you can prep steel-cut oatmeal and get other things done at the same time.

Once you’ve plated this dish, it’s impossible to tell it was almost entirely made in the rice cooker. First, marinate the chicken in balsamic Dijon and then place it on top of a farro and mushroom mixture to steam in the rice cooker. An hour of low, slow cooking creates chicken that is deliciously moist and allows for relatively little cleanup.

Do you think that mochi is too tough to make at home? Luckily, not with a rice cooker. This is one of the many rice cooker recipes you’ll want to turn to for a treat. Plus, you can serve mochi with sweet or savory toppings depending on your mood.

Take your pork roast to the next level with Japanese flavors including soy sauce and ginger. Using a rice cooker means that the pork stays tender and juicy. It will also soak up even more of the flavors of the sauce as it steams.

Filled with cheese and bacon, this savory take on monkey bread might surprise your taste buds. A rice cooker will ensure the inside of your dough cooks perfectly until just melted. Serve on the side of a savory dinner or even as a party appetizer without having to watch them in the oven.

This matcha green tea cake is super easy to make in a rice cooker — and what’s more, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who can tell the difference. The caveat about rice cooker cakes is that the top tends to develop craters as it bakes. However, if you flip it over before serving, no one will ever know. The rest of the cake will be moist and full of flavor.

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