Give Rice A Delicious Upgrade With 15 Canned Ingredients

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Rice is a staple food for millions of people in the United States, with the average American consuming 27 pounds per year. Although there are medium and short grain types of rice, and black and red varieties with nuttier taste profiles, more often than not, home cooks are working with plain ol' long-grain white rice. 

White rice may not be the most exciting of ingredients flavor-wise, but pair it with certain canned foods and things get a lot more interesting. Although we've elevated rice with just a single herb, it can be combined with a wide variety of foods to transform into more exciting side dishes, or turned into a hearty main course. Canned ingredients are quick, tasty, and cheap ways to upgrade rice. Here are our picks for canned foods to use with rice, including fruits, veggies, and proteins. Keep in mind these upgrades will work with most kinds of rice, not just white!

There's a can of tuna or two lurking in many a home cook's pantry, and it is a delicious way to perk up a plate of rice. However, if you want something a little more daring, pair the carb staple with bolder canned fish, like mackerel or sardines. Don't make the mistake of buying tins of the latter in water, the ones in oil taste better, and you can drizzle that liquid onto the rice for an even deeper fishy flavor.

Canned chicken and rice is a hearty, go-to supper for tired and hungry workers across the land, and we're 100% here for it. The classic protein-carb combo delivers on all counts, all in the time it takes the rice to cook. You can amp up the fiber content by switching from white to brown rice, and it's important to rinse the canned chicken before adding it to the dish.

We're suckers for a bowl of rice pudding, whether it's served piping hot or perfectly chilled. Canned fruits are a quick 'n' easy way to ramp up the flavor and sweetness without necessarily driving up your processed sugar intake. Don't sleep on trying out savory fruit and rice blends though. A can of fruit cocktail takes pilaf rice to the next level, and canned peaches are what makes a black bean and rice salad so special.

A can of potatoes will boost scrambled eggs, but these carbs also make a yummy Indian dish called potato pulao or aloo rice. It's essentially a blend of the two carb-heavy foods, alongside whichever herbs and spices you want to throw in. The pre-cooked potatoes mean it's a snip to pull together, making it a perfect weeknight side or a warming supper.

While it would be tempting to list every canned veggie available in stores here, that's not much fun. Suffice to say, there is a huge range of canned vegetables that will upgrade plain rice, from carrots, sweetcorn, and peas, if you prefer a sweeter taste profile, to more sophisticated veggie options, such as asparagus or artichoke hearts. The only limits are your imagination.

Give a home cook a can of corned beef and chances are they'll pair it with potatoes and turn it into a warming pan of hash. We say sub out the taters for rice for an equally satisfying carb boost. White and brown rice both work great in this combination, though we would lean toward the latter. The soft beef coats the grains, enhancing the nuttiness of the brown rice for a truly delicious plate.

Putting a dollop of salsa on anything makes our day better, and the same goes for a plate of perfectly cooked rice. The bright zing of the tinned salsa cuts through the starchy carb, and if you leave it for a few moments, the grains will soak up the tomatoey, spicy liquid, making them even tastier. Top the lot with some sharp cheddar and crushed tortilla chips for your next fave weeknight dinner.

If you have any cans of pumpkin purée left over from making this spooky-season soup or Thanksgiving pie, don't let them sit idly in the pantry. Crack them open and team them with a bowl of fluffy, white rice for a delicious, swavory dish that's perfect for colder nights. You can make it with chicken broth or coconut milk, if you want to amp up the sweetness, we've tried both and they're equally yummy!

Upgrading a plate of rice, whether it be white, brown, or wild, doesn't always need a zillion added extras. Sometimes, just a can of chiles is enough to transport those carbs to the next level. We're suckers for throwing chopped jalapeños into the creamy carby mix for warmth and earthy sweetness, but whatever tin you crack open of course depends on your personal heat preferences.

You might raise a brow at serving carbs with more carbs, but just as beans are heavenly in mashed potato, they're amazing with rice too. There's a wide range of cheap and tasty tinned legumes to choose from, including lupini, navy, and cannellini beans. Alongside their creamy, nutty flavor, they'll help you add drama to the rice with color, from red kidney beans to vibrant green edamame.

This iconic canned meat is a love-it-or-loathe-it pantry staple, and we count ourselves among its fans. Pull your Spam from the tin and you've got instant, flavorsome kebabs, a tasty breakfast protein, and a wonderful addition to a bowl of rice. The carb-heavy grain takes the edge off the deeply savory meat, and if you throw in a drained can of peas or sweetcorn, you'll bump up the vitamin intake too. If you're watching your salt intake, Spam has a low-sodium option too.

This fermented veggie works wonders with rice on so many levels. The piquant cabbage is delicious with white or brown rice, while the juxtaposition of textures — crunchy veg with soft, pillowy rice — takes it to the next level. Use some of that zingy brine to cook the rice (save the rest to tenderize your next steak) and your tastebuds will definitely thank you.

A handful of rice is a great thickener for home-made soups, but the canned versions are a quick 'n' easy way to add oomph to a bowl of rice. Cooking the grains in a clear broth will imbue them with oodles of flavor, while half a tin of soup makes a delicious sauce for a plate of rice. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to the kinds of soups to use, but if you're watching your sodium, two Campbell's flavors have got you covered.

Black or green olives are unsung pantry heroes in our opinion. They're packed with vitamin E and antioxidants, are ridiculously flexible, and are a fantastic way to elevate a bowl of rice. A splash of good quality extra virgin olive oil will enhance most foods, but sautée a few olives in a pan with some garlic and lardons, stir the lot through a plate of brown or wild rice, and you've got yourself a jaw-dropping dish in moments.

Most of us buy our bacon fresh, but we're delighted to say it comes in tins too. It's ideal for long-term storage, and will sit in the pantry or RV until you're ready to chow down on some smoky, savory goodness. Brown or white rice pairs amazingly with canned bacon, as the creamy carb helps temper the meat's robust flavor profile.