One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

Servings: 4 Total Time: 50 mins Difficulty: Beginner
A Simple, Vibrant, One-Pot Meal Bursting with Flavour and Colour.
One pot rainbow brown rice pinit

Have you ever considered getting yourself a rice cooker? If you haven’t, this recipe might just convince you! Over the 30-plus years I’ve been cooking, my rice cooker has been a trusted kitchen companion. It simplifies my routine, the first step of my dinner prep is always putting the rice cooker on. While it takes about 45 minutes for the rice to cook, I use that time to prepare the main dish.

But with One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice, my rice cooker takes care of the entire meal! All I have to do is prep the ingredients, pop them in the pot, press the cook button, and wait to enjoy a healthy, delicious and colourful dish.

Ingredients for One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice is a great way to use up leftover protein and vegetables in your fridge. However, there are a couple of tips to keep in mind: Avoid using leafy vegetables or quick-cooking vegetables. Since the rice cooker takes about 45 minutes, these veggies will overcook and loose their texture.

One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice ingredients

Protein

Today, I used ham, chopping into cubes as it needed to be eaten. Leftover chicken, pork or any other protein works perfectly here – just use whatever you have on hand.

Vegetables

For this dish, I chose:

  • Carrots (chopped into cubes)
  • Sweetcorn kernels
  • Edamame beans

These were readily available in my fridge and freezer. Feel free to substitute with other options like frozen peas. My goal was to achieve a vibrant mix of colours, so choose vegetables that add to the rainbow.

    Sauce and Seasonings

    For a flavourful dish, you’ll need:

    • Soy sauce (light or dark – I prefer dark for its bold, dramatic colour)
    • Ground pepper
    • Sesame oil (or olive oil, though sesame oil adds a nutty, fragrant touch)

    Mix these ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside. This sauce beautifully ties the dish together.

    Rice

    The base of the dish is brown rice, which is perfect for this recipe. Not only is it healthier, but the grains separate nicely when cooked. If you prefer white rice, that’s fine too – just remember to use slightly less water during cooking.

    How to make One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    This dish is as easy as it gets!

    Prepare the ingredients

    Chop your protein and vegetables, and mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, and seasoning.

    Assemble

    Add brown rice, prepared vegetables, protein and sauce into the rice cooker pot.

    Add ingredients
    Add sauce

    Add water

    Pour in just enough water to cover all the ingredients.

    Add water

    Cook

    Press the cook button and let the rice cooker do the rest.

    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    Serving Suggestion

    After about 45 minutes, your One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice is ready! The result is a dish bursting with colour and packed with flavour. For an extra touch:

    • Sprinkle some fried onions on top.
    • Add a squeeze of lime juice before serving.
    • For a fun presentation, I beat a couple of eggs and fry them into a thin, even layer like a crepe. Place the cooked rice in the egg layer, wrap it up and flip it upside down onto a serving plate. Cut open the top for a dramatic reveal of the colourful, flavourful rice inside. This simple trick adds a touch of elegance and excitement to your meal.
    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    Why this dish works

    • Minimal Effort: One step and your rice cooker handles the rest.
    • Nutritious: Packed with whole grains, protein and a rainbow of veggies.
    • Customisable: Swap in whatever you have in your fridge.

    This recipe isn’t just convenient, it’s a satisfying meal that feels like a treat every time. If you’ve been debating whether to invest in a rice cooker, let this dish be your sign!

    Enjoy the fuss-free, flavourful One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice.

    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    If you prefer fried rice, give these recipes a try:

    Hanoi Beef Fried Rice with Pickles.

    Turkey Leftovers Fried Rice

    Egg Fried Rice

    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 45 mins Total Time 50 mins
    Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 4

    Description

    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice is a vibrant, healthy rice cooker meal combining brown rice, protein, veggies and a savoury sauce - all in one easy step. Perfect for using up leftovers, it's nutritious, customisable and bursting with flavour!

    One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice

    Cooking Mode Disabled

    Instructions

    1. Prepare Ingredients
      • Dice the protein and vegetables. 
      • Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and ground pepper in a small bowl.
    1. Assemble
      • Add brown rice, protein, vegetables and sauce to your rice cooker. 
    1. Add water
      • Pour water until just covers all the ingredients. 
    1. Cook
      • Press the cook button on your rice cooker and wait about 45 minutes. 
    1. Serve
      • Once cooked, fluff the rice and garnish with fried onions and a squeeze of lime juice, if desired. 

    Nutrition Facts

    Servings 4


    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 665.25kcal
    % Daily Value *
    Total Fat 12.23g19%
    Saturated Fat 1.59g8%
    Cholesterol 28.5mg10%
    Sodium 866.54mg37%
    Potassium 700.44mg21%
    Total Carbohydrate 117.53g40%
    Dietary Fiber 6.76g28%
    Sugars 2.94g
    Protein 21.06g43%

    Vitamin A 129.73 IU
    Vitamin C 4.99 mg
    Calcium 71.02 mg
    Iron 3.48 mg
    Vitamin D 0.35 IU
    Vitamin E 0.23 IU
    Vitamin K 4.3 mcg
    Thiamin 0.95 mg
    Riboflavin 0.19 mg
    Niacin 8.4 mg
    Vitamin B6 0.95 mg
    Folate 57.96 mcg
    Vitamin B12 0.21 mcg
    Phosphorus 500.52 mg
    Magnesium 234.82 mg
    Zinc 3.82 mg

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

    Note

    • Protein Options: Use whatever you have on hand - ham, chicken, pork, tofu.
    • Vegetables: Avoid quick-cooking or leafy vegetables (like spinach) as they will overcook in the rice cooker. Frozen peas, carrots, sweetcorn, or edamame beans are excellent choices.
    • Rice Type: Brown rice is ideal for this dish, but you can substitute white rice. If using white rice, reduce the water slightly to avoid sogginess.
    • Flavour Boost: Add a dash of chilli sauce, garlic powder for extra depth.
    • Garnishes: Fried onions, lime juice.
    • Customisation: This dish is perfect for using up leftovers - swap in any protein or veggies to suit your taste and fridge contents.
    Keywords: One Pot Rainbow Brown Rice, Easy rice cooker recipes, Healthy brown rice recipes

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag #summerandspicefoodblog if you made this recipe. Follow @summerandspicefoodblog on Instagram for more recipes.

    Pin this recipe to share with your friends and followers.

    pinit
    File under
    Recipe Card powered by WP Delicious

    Thao Bui

    Food Blogger, Stylist and Photographer

    Hi there, it’s lovely to meet you! I am a home cook, food lover and the founder of Summer and Spice. Originally from Hanoi, Vietnam—a city abundant in rich, diverse flavours—I now live in the UK with my husband and three kids.

    Rate this recipe

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Add a question

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Min

    Share it on your social network