Healthy Brown Rice Recipes

Brown rice is officially no longer just a simple side. From hearty breakfast meals to full casseroles, you can use brown rice for a myriad of delicious dishes.

Start Slideshow

1 of 22

Brown Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms

Go to Recipe

The wonderfully nutty and chewy brown rice in this simple pilaf is a great source of fiber.

Delicious, Quick Side Dishes

2 of 22

Sweet Brown Rice Risotto with Kale and Cremini

Con Poulos

Go to Recipe

"Despite its name, sweet brown rice isn't sweet," says chef Marco Canora. Instead, this short-grain glutinous rice resembles whole-grain sushi rice. Here, Canora uses it to make a hearty vegetarian risotto.

More Risotto Recipes

3 of 22

Chicken Burrito with Brown Rice

Go to Recipe

Instead of beans, add healthy brown rice to this delicious chicken burrito.

More Chicken Recipes

4 of 22

Edamame Fried Brown Rice

Go to Recipe

Edamame is a great addition to this simple fried brown rice dish, which works beautifully if you use day-old rice.

One-Bowl Rice Dishes

5 of 22

Stir-Fried Brown Rice and Cabbage with Toasted Nori

Go to Recipe

Adding lots of shredded cabbage and toasted nori to this dish make for an amazing umami-packed brown rice stir fry.

More Stir-Fry Recipes

6 of 22

Nutty Brown-Rice Tabbouleh

Go to Recipe

Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern salad typically made with bulgur (dried and ground or crushed wheat berries that are parboiled). Here, warm brown rice takes bulgur's place.

More Salads with Grains

7 of 22

Brown Rice Pilaf with Green Olives and Lemon

Go to Recipe

Alain Coumont makes this creamy (yet cream-free) rice dish with lemony Lucques olives and nutty organic Camargue red rice, but almost any green olive or short-grain brown rice would be terrific. Vegans should leave out the tangy goat cheese shavings.

More Healthy Recipes

8 of 22

Herbed Brown Rice Salad with Corn, Fava Beans and Peas

Go to Recipe

Cyril Renaud, who grew up in Brittany, had brown rice for the first time when his Irish-American wife, Brigette, introduced him to it. Now he loves this heart-healthy, nutty-flavored grain, especially because its chewy texture holds up beautifully in salads, like this slightly spicy one full of vegetables and herbs.

More Salad Recipes

9 of 22

Curried Brown Rice with Roasted Cauliflower

Go to Recipe

This Indian-inspired brown rice dish is full of flavor and healthful spices.

One-Bowl Rice Dishes

10 of 22

Brown Rice Salad with Roasted Green Beans and Mustard Vinaigrette

Go to Recipe

This brown rice salad is healthy, delicious, and the beans and dressing can be prepared in advance.

Salads with Grains

11 of 22

Breakfast Fried Brown Rice

Go to Recipe

A great way to use leftover cooked brown rice, this delicious fried rice made with thinly sliced scallions, chopped spinach and egg takes just 15 minutes.

Whole Grain Breakfasts

12 of 22

Brown Rice Pilaf with Toasted Almonds and Parsley

Go to Recipe

Toasted almonds and chopped parsley are healthy additions to this super-simple, gluten-free brown rice dish.

Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes

13 of 22

Brown Rice Pilaf with Leeks and Wild Mushrooms

Go to Recipe

While this recipe calls for shiitake mushrooms, you can use any combination of wild mushrooms (oyster, chanterelle, porcini, crimini, etc.), and white button mushrooms will work fine in a pinch.

Rice Pilaf Recipes

14 of 22

Brown Rice with Truffle and Chive

Go to Recipe

White truffle oil is a wonderful but assertive flavor, and a little goes a long way. If you're unsure of how much truffle flavor you prefer, start with 1 teaspoon and add more to your own taste.

Thanksgiving Rice Dishes

15 of 22

Quinoa and Brown Rice Bowl with Vegetables and Tahini

Go to Recipe

"While in Los Angeles filming the second season of Top Chef Just Desserts last year, I discovered Cafe Gratitude, a vegan cafe with a cult following," Gail Simmons says. "For me, its fresh, simple food was the perfect antidote to all that sugar. I became addicted to aptly named dishes like I Am Fortified--a bowl of whole grains with lots of cooked vegetables. When I got back to New York, I developed my own version."