7 dishes you can make in a rice cooker — that aren’t rice

Rice cookers are a kitchen staple for many households, but few people know how versatile they truly are.

From banana bread to chicken dinners, here are seven recipes you can make in a rice cooker that don’t involve rice!

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1. Rice cooker oatmeal

Making oatmeal in a rice cooker saves time and makes clean-up a whole lot easier! Add some cinnamon and brown sugar to sweeten your oatmeal.

2. Rice cooker hard-boiled eggs

Most rice cookers come with a steamer tray that is especially handy for boiling eggs. Boiling them in the rice cooker actually keeps eggs from bumping into each other since they are steamed instead of sitting in the water itself. Try it out the next time you make deviled eggs!

3. Rice cooker banana bread

A rice cooker may be smaller than an oven, but it’s just as mighty when it comes to baking moist and tasty banana bread. Once you pour your batter into the rice cooker, just push a button and wait! Don’t forget to coat the inside of your rice cooker with cooking oil.

4. Rice cooker mac ‘n’ cheese

Making mac ‘n’ cheese from scratch in your rice cooker is faster and easier than waiting for a pot of water to boil. Use vegetable broth to add to the cheesy classic’s delicious flavor!

5. Rice cooker hummus

Making hummus at home can be an intimidating venture, and many people think they need a fancy food processor to get it right. Never fear, your rice cooker will produce delicious hummus just fine.

6. Rice cooker ‘roasted’ chicken

You can’t technically “roast” something without a fire, but you can cook an entire chicken in a rice cooker! If your living space (like a college dorm) doesn’t have oven access and you’re missing a classic meal, try this out!

7. Rice cooker steamed shrimp

Shrimp finds its way into a variety of dishes, from shrimp cocktail to a summer salad, so it only makes sense that steaming it should be doable practically anywhere. All you need is water, your rice cooker and plenty of raw shrimp. Bon appétit!

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