Japanese Rice Cooker: Creative & Easy Recipes to Try

Are you looking for an easier way to get dinner on the table? Are you trying to bulk-prep a few meals in advance for work or school? You might not realize it, but that Japanese rice cooker on your countertop could be the perfect tool you’ve been missing! Check out these creative recipes to better utilize this amazing kitchen gadget!

One Pot Meals

The beauty of using a Japanese rice cooker is that it’s always a guaranteed one-dish-clean-up afterwards! Building off rice as your base, you can add your chosen protein like chicken, beef, pork, or for a vegetarian/vegan option, tofu. Add chopped vegetables, even cruciferous ones like broccoli and carrots, corn, tomatoes, or onions. Then, finish with your favorite sauces and spices to lock in all of those delicious flavors! 

The rice cooker works just like a pressure cooker or Crock Pot. It mixes all your favorite flavors together for a tasty one-pot meal!

Cakes

There’s one surefire way to make sure your cakes or desserts are moist and delicious every time: use a Japanese rice cooker! In Japan especially, typical ovens seen in Western countries are uncommon in the average household. So, this has led to some impressive rice cooker recipes just for cakes! 

Are you craving banana bread, Japanese-style cheesecake, chocolate lava cake, or thick and fluffy pancakes? A rice cooker makes baking sweets like these easy and hassle-free. With a timed setting option, you can also always ensure that your cakes aren’t accidentally overcooked or burnt.

Soups

Looking for a great way to enjoy a cozy night in? Let your Japanese rice cooker warm that delicious bowl of soup for you! Enjoy dishes like taco soup, chicken noodle soup, and even creamy options like tomato or miso soup. 

All you have to do is add your ingredients and let the rice cooker work its magic! Pro tip: keep the setting at a medium temperature. If you let it cook slowly, it will add a rich flavor to any soup!

Want to try some Japanese snacks while testing your recipes? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, snacks, drinks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest snacks directly from Japan!

Korean Rice Cakes (Tteokbokki)

Even if you don’t have a stove, you can still enjoy your favorite popular street foods with a Japanese rice cooker! Tteokbokki, a popular Korean street food, is typically cooked in a frying pan. However, using a Japanese rice cooker makes it simple and easy! 

All you need to do is add the tteokbokki rice cakes, either fresh or frozen, to the rice cooker along with water. Add your favorite gochujang sauce, fish cakes, or onions if you desire, and voila! Now, you can enjoy your tteokbokki as if you had just walked down the streets of Korea.

Pasta

Yes, you can, in fact, make mouth-watering pasta dishes in a rice cooker! And not just smaller shapes like macaroni elbow or bow-tie pasta, but even spaghetti or rocchetti pasta. Depending on your chosen pasta, there might be just one extra step: cooking it separately first. 

Since you don’t need to drain your pasta water, check to make sure you don’t add too much before you close the rice cooker. Otherwise, the pasta will absorb all of it and become mushy. Pro tip: if you’re worried about your pasta water foaming, add a small amount of cooking oil!

Japanese-Style Curry

Kare raisu, a traditional home cooked meal in Japan, is a perfect candidate for an easy rice cooker meal. Its simple ingredient line up includes beef or pork, potatoes, onions, and carrots. From there, a store-bought curry roux block adds all the flavor you need for a cozy home-style meal. 

An additional bonus of any Japanese rice cooker is the “keep warm” setting. This allows you to go back for seconds that are still hot and ready to eat!

Roast Chicken

This might be the final boss of any Japanese rice cooker expert, but fear not! Same as any recipe, the rice cooker does all the heavy lifting. First, make sure that your Japanese rice cooker is large enough to hold an entire roast chicken.

Next, prepare your chicken in a marinade first to ensure it soaks up all the aromatics and spices that you want. Then let the rice cooker make you a roast chicken! You can always chop the chicken into pieces for a slightly faster cooking time (and to save on space).

Quiche

What’s a quiche if not a giant egg cake? This classic French dish is stuffed with savory breakfast meats, crunchy vegetables, and creamy cheese. It is a great option for a Japanese rice cooker meal!

First, prepare your meats and vegetables separately to make sure they are cooked all the way. Then line your Japanese rice cooker with a sheet of baking paper. Pour in your beaten eggs and you’re done! The rice cooker creates a perfectly fluffy egg texture for the quiche—ready to enjoy any time of day!

Why should I use a Japanese rice cooker?

A Japanese rice cooker is a valuable tool in the kitchen for any type of chef. If you live in a dorm without a stove, or need a quick meal, a Japanese rice cooker is perfect. It can handle almost any recipe you want to make. 

A Japanese rice cooker also ensures that your food cooks evenly and locks in all of the delicious flavors. Which Japanese rice cooker recipe are you curious about? Let us know in the comments below!