Transform your leftover rice into a delicious, quick meal with these easy Leftover Rice Tacos! Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe makes use of simple ingredients like that carton of leftover rice and ground beef. Whether you’re using up leftover rice from dinner or prepping for a make-ahead meal, these tacos are a flavorful, customizable option that everyone in the family will love. Ready in just minutes, these tasty tacos will quickly become a go-to in your recipe rotation.
Leftover Rice Tacos
Don’t you side eye that carton of rice in your fridge! Leftover rice is a gift! You can make Pork Fried Rice with it! You can make Cilantro Lime Rice with it! And you can make these delicious tacos!
Leftover rice is one of the best parts of takeout because it just keeps on giving! Use leftover rice to make these delicious tacos that use a whole container of leftover rice. I make these tacos with both Chinese and Indian takeout rice.
My family loves these Leftover Rice Tacos so much I think they sometimes like it better than the actual takeout! You need to try these because I think they’ll become a favorite on your dinner menu list!
How much rice is in a takeout carton?
A takeout box has about 2 cups of rice in it, which is exactly what you need for this recipe. If you have a little less rice (like 1 or 1.5 cup – that’s ok too!).
How long is leftover rice good for?
Leftover rice is best used within 4 days when you’re storing it in the refrigerator. Did you know you can also freeze leftover rice for 2 months?
Ingredients for Leftover Rice Tacos
- Ground beef. We prefer these tacos with ground beef, but you can also use ground pork, turkey or chicken!
- Taco Seasoning. You’ll need 1 packet.
- Water
- Corn. You’ll need 1 can of corn. If you only have frozen corn that’s ok too!
- Leftover Rice. You’ll need 2 cups!
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese. You can use white or orange cheddar cheese.
- Flour Tortillas. You’ll need (8) 6 inch tortillas.
- Salsa. Use your favorite jarred salsa, pick something that’s tasty!
How to Make Rice Tacos
Cook ground beef in a large skillet until browned.
Add taco seasoning..
And corn…
And leftover rice….
And finally cheddar cheese. I love using sharp cheddar cheese on tacos that I shred myself in my food processor.
Continue to heat on the stove until the cheese is completely melted.
Spread a little bit of the beef and rice mixture in the bottom of a 11×8 baking dish.
Start to make the tacos by adding the beef mixture into each tortilla, followed by some cheddar cheese. Add them to the baking dish, it should be a tight fit.
If any ground beef or cheese is left, sprinkle it on top of the tortillas.
Now add a jar of salsa on top.
Bake until cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.
Serve warm! And enjoy! These are delicious! I hope you love these Leftover Rice Tacos!
Can I turn these into vegetarian tacos?
If you want to make vegetarian tacos, you totally can! Skip the ground beef and either 1) double the rice or 2) substitute 2 cans of beans (black or pinto) for the ground beef.
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Quick & Easy Leftover Rice Tacos
PrintIngredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1.25 oz packet taco seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 15 oz can whole kernel corn drained
- 2 cups leftover white rice
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 6 inch flour tortillas
- 1 16 oz jar salsa
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- In a large skillet cook ground beef over medium-high heat, until beef is browned and fully cooked. Drain and put back into skillet on stove, reducing heat to medium.
- Add taco seasoning, water, corn, rice and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Cook until the cheese is completely melted in the mixture.
- In an 11×8 casserole dish, spoon 2 tablespoons of beef mixture on the bottom of the dish, spreading around to lightly cover.
- Grab the tortillas and add about 3 tablespoons of beef mixture into each one, and then sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on top. Fold the tortilla up and place in baking dish. Continue until all of the tortillas are gone.
- If any ground beef/rice mixture is left, add it on top of the tortillas. Pour jar of salsa on top, all over the tortillas. Finally, add any additional shredded cheese you have left on top.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tacos are crispy. Remove from oven and serve.
Vicki says
You’re right, these are delicious! The whole family loved them.. Next to try are theblack bean tacos!.