What else can you cook in a rice cooker besides rice? The answer genuinely surprised me the first time I tried it — steamed vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, even a full one-pot chicken dinner, all from an appliance most people assume does exactly one thing.

Quick Reference: 10 Things You Can Cook

What Else Can You Cook in a Rice Cooker? 10 Things It Can Actually Make

1. Steamed Vegetables

Most rice cookers include a steaming tray specifically for this — add water to the pot, place vegetables (broccoli, carrots, green beans) in the tray above, and cook while your rice finishes simultaneously below. It’s a genuinely efficient way to get a side dish done without using a separate pot.

2. Hard-Boiled Eggs

This is the easiest entry point if you’ve never cooked anything besides rice in yours. Place eggs directly in the steaming tray (or even on top of dry rice) with a few cups of water in the pot, and let the cooker do the rest — no monitoring a pot of boiling water required.

3. Oatmeal and Porridge

A rice cooker handles oatmeal beautifully since the same gentle, even heating that makes good rice also prevents oatmeal from scorching or sticking, a common stovetop problem. Just adjust your liquid ratio higher than you would for rice.

4. One-Pot Chicken Dishes

Season chicken thighs or breast with soy sauce, garlic, and your preferred aromatics, place directly over uncooked rice with the appropriate water ratio, and cook together. The chicken’s juices actually flavor the rice as everything cooks, similar to a simplified version of Japanese takikomi gohan.

5. Pasta

Boiling pasta directly in a rice cooker works surprisingly well for smaller portions — add pasta and enough water to cover, cook, then drain and toss with your usual sauce ingredients.

6. Quinoa, Barley, and Other Grains

The same forgiving, even-heat method that cooks rice well handles other grains just as reliably. Quinoa and barley generally need a bit more water than white rice (roughly 1:2 ratio) but otherwise cook using the same basic settings.

7. Beans and Legumes

Dried lentils and other legumes cook consistently in a rice cooker, though they typically need pre-soaking and more water than rice does. It’s a genuinely hands-off way to prepare a beans-based side or base for other dishes.

8. Soups and Stews

A rice cooker can function similarly to a slow cooker for soups, particularly on a “keep warm” or extended cook setting. It won’t replace a dedicated slow cooker for very long cook times, but for a simpler soup, it works well.

9. Steamed Fish and Seafood

Similar to vegetables, fish and shrimp steam well in the tray above cooking rice, letting you prepare a complete protein-and-rice meal in a single appliance without dirtying a second pan.

10. Simple Cakes and Desserts

Using a heat-safe ramekin or small container placed inside the pot with some water for steam, simple cake batters can bake surprisingly well in a rice cooker — not a replacement for a real oven, but a fun option when that’s not available.

What Actually Matters Before You Experiment

Now that you know what else can you cook in a rice cooker, start with the easiest options first — steamed vegetables and hard-boiled eggs are nearly foolproof and a good way to build confidence before attempting a full one-pot meal.

Adjust your expectations for anything beyond rice and grains. A rice cooker isn’t a replacement for an oven or a dedicated slow cooker, but for a home without much counter space or extra appliances, it genuinely extends what one machine can do.

For food safety guidance on cooking meat, poultry, and eggs safely regardless of appliance, check the USDA’s food safety basics for minimum safe cooking temperatures.

Want a Rice Cooker That Handles All of This Easily?

Once you know what else can you cook in a rice cooker, a versatile multi-function model makes experimenting easier. Our top pick, the COMFEE’ 6-in-1 Multi Cooker, includes dedicated steam and slow-cook settings that handle many of these recipes right out of the box.

FAQ

Can any rice cooker handle these non-rice recipes, or do I need a fancy one?

Now that you know what else can you cook in a rice cooker, most basic models can handle steaming, eggs, and simple one-pot dishes. Fuzzy logic or multi-function models offer more precise settings for things like cakes or slow-cook style dishes, but they’re not strictly required.

Will cooking non-rice foods damage my rice cooker?

Generally no, as long as you’re not exceeding the pot’s capacity or cooking anything overly acidic or abrasive that could damage the non-stick coating over time.

What’s the easiest non-rice recipe to try first?

Among what else can you cook in a rice cooker, hard-boiled eggs or steamed vegetables are the most foolproof starting points — minimal variables, low risk if something goes slightly wrong, and immediate proof that your rice cooker does more than you thought.

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Also read: Best Rice Cookers in 2026, Rice Cooker vs Instant Pot in 2026, and Rice Cooker Water Ratio Chart.