Leftover Chinese white rice that you don’t know what to do with? Today I’m going to share with you how to make this slow cooker 5 ingredient leftover rice chili recipe. I call it chili because it tastes like chili, but really it could be called a stew, it’s just an all around delicious crockpot beef beans and rice dish.
Do you ever have that feeling when you open the fridge and you see that lone container of leftover Chinese white rice…what to do with it? I surveyed my pantry and saw I had a can of black beans and salsa. Then I opened my freezer and saw I had a pound of beef.
The wheels in my mind started turning and I thought about just adding all the ingredients to a slow cooker, and loved the idea of the ‘set it and forget’ it style meal that crockpots are famous for. Plus, I was really low on time so I thought what could be better than coming home to dinner all ready?
Let me tell you – this slow cooker beef and rice was delicious! I literally put everything in the slow cooker and set it on low and then came home to an awesome meal.
It’s been a really insane couple of weeks. Work is busier than ever, and after work is equally as crazy. As you might remember from this post in August, we are trying to sell our house. I think we put it on the market a little too late last year, and houses in our area just weren’t selling, then I found out I was pregnant and the holidays rolled around so we took our house off the market. Well, now it’s back on the market (here is the listing in case you’re interested or know anyone who is, it’s a lovely house if I do say so myself). So the house has to stay clean and ready for showings. Prayers for the sale of our house would be very much appreciated!
So when it comes to cooking, I really don’t want to make a ton of dishes that require cleaning up – this week’s Five Ingredient Friday meal is perfect for low-maintenance cooking and cleaning, because you’re just putting things in a slow cooker and that’s it, no chopping or anything!!
Next time you’re looking for a use for your leftover rice or an all around easy and delicious slow cooker recipe, look no further than this 5 ingredient beef and rice chili recipe!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Easy Chili Con Carne made in an Instant Pot or Crockpot
- Vegan Red Lentil Chili
- Easy Sweet Chili Fish Tacos Recipe

5 Ingredient Leftover Rice Chili Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 jar 16 oz salsa (heat level of choice - I like medium)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 container of leftover rice about 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups
- 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 bunch of cilantro finely chopped for topping
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients, minus the cilantro into a crock pot. Turn on low and cook for 6-8 hours. Stir, breaking up the meat.
- Ladle into 4 bowls and top with cilantro and serve.
Nutrition
Jessica says
This looks easy and yummy! Perfect for a busy week night, thank you for sharing! Sending thoughts and prayers for a quick sale of your house – it’s an exciting time for you!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much, hope you enjoy the recipe. And man-o-man do I appreciate the thoughts and prayers for the house! We’ll see what ends up happening, fingers crossed 🙂
Shawnna Griffin says
hey girl- This is stuff that I come up with! yummy! Have a great weekend!
Sweetphi says
It’s the easy fun stuff that’s what we end up cooking, right? lol, thank you so much for commenting, glad to hear I’m not the only one that makes creations like this 🙂
jess larson | plays well with butter says
how comforting!! this looks like the perfect meal for a rainy night, like the one we’re going to have tonight in minneapolis. good luck with the sale of your home! we just bought last fall & i know it can be quite the overwhelming process. thinking of you! xx
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the well wishes on the house, definitely need those!! This meal is definitely so perfect for rainy nights or gloomy days (we’re having a lot of those here in Milwaukee) and I love that one literally just puts all the ingredients in the slow cooker and then one comes home to a meal.
Alexandra Robertson says
I add the beef raw? Also, should I break it up a bit or leave it in a chunk?
Sweetphi says
Yes, you add the beef raw. You can break it up if you want, but I just break it up at the end when it’s done cooking 🙂
Alexandra Robertson says
Thank you!! I cannot wait to try!