Say goodbye to boring rice forever! I’m sharing 17 easy sauces that turn a simple bowl of grains into the star of the meal. Rice is a beloved staple all around the world, and that means one glorious thing: an endless parade of sauces to drizzle, spoon, and smother on top.
1. Gochujang Sauce
Gochujang is a fiery Korean sauce that also brings sweetness and deep savory umami. The traditional version is made from fermented soybeans, Korean chili peppers, and salt. If you lean hard into spicy Asian flavors, you’re going to absolutely love it.
2. Best Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweet and sour is a classic, and from scratch it’s on another level. You can play with the amount of brown sugar to get the sweetness just where you want it. Do the same with the cornstarch slurry to dial in the thick, glossy texture.
3. Best Tahini Sauce
Do yourself a favor and memorize this recipe. It’s so delectable you’ll find yourself wanting to swirl it into everything.
Salad dressings, veggie dips, sandwiches, falafels, you name it. The ingredient list doesn’t call for anything wild, either.
4. Mole Sauce
Rice goes from plain to phenomenal when you smother it in mole! This classic Mexican sauce features a ton of dried chiles and chocolate. I know the list of ingredients reads long, but trust me, the final result is beyond worth it.
5. Orange Sauce
Do you get an intense hankering for that orange chicken sauce from Panda Express? When that craving strikes, this sauce is ready and waiting. The combo of orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and chili sauce is almost dead on.
6. Chimichurri Sauce
I made chimichurri with white rice the other night, and now I’m daydreaming about how to use up the leftovers. Should I drizzle it over juicy grilled chicken and rice?
Or maybe swap in flaky salmon skewers? Either way, I’m in.
7. Garlic Butter Sauce
Looking for a sauce that plays well with absolutely any cuisine? Garlic butter sauce is your answer.
It’s a quick and simple way to infuse your rice with flavor that feels universal. Pair it with all sorts of proteins and veggie sides. It just works.
8. Mushroom Sauce
A cozy mushroom sauce like this makes staying in on a Friday night feel like a true treat. It’s creamy and earthy with a buttery finish, and all you need is 20 minutes.
Thickened cream makes it extra rich, and a glug of white wine adds lovely complexity. Pour it all over a mound of white rice and dig in.
9. Pesto Cream Sauce
This sauce is devilishly good! It’s got all the fresh, herby magic of the best pesto, except butter and milk make it extra creamy.
So it’s half healthy and half indulgent. Hey, every way of eating needs a little richness, so whip some up tonight!
10. Sauce for Fried Rice
You don’t need a ton of kitchen experience to whip up fried rice. But honestly, getting the sauce just right is everything.
This one comes together crazy fast, just 2 minutes and 5 ingredients. It keeps beautifully in the fridge, too, so you’re set for future cravings.
11. Best Teriyaki Sauce
Once you start making teriyaki sauce at home, it’s almost impossible to go back to the store bought stuff. I find those bottled versions are usually packed with preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients.
Not this one. You can customize it exactly to your liking, and it tastes incredibly fresh.
12. 5 Minute Szechuan Sauce
If spicy is one of the flavors that makes your tastebuds sing, this Szechuan sauce is right up your alley. It definitely brings a kick, but everything stays beautifully balanced.
Maple syrup tames the heat while soy sauce packs in the umami. Toss in extra red chili peppers if you want to crank up the Scoville level.
13. Easy Beef Au Jus
I know au jus sounds all pinky out fancy. But it’s just the French way of saying “with juice,” and oh boy, is this sauce juicy! You take the drippings from roast beef and build flavor with onions, beef broth, cornstarch, and thyme.
14. Easy White Wine Sauce
Speaking of seafood, here’s a wonderful sauce to pair with your shrimp and rice dinner. It’s a creamy blend of butter, cream, dry white wine, parmesan cheese, and garlic. A handful of flour helps everything thicken into silky perfection.
15. Caribbean Pepper Sauce
You know that moment when a sauce is so ridiculously good you can’t stop thinking about it? That’s exactly what this Caribbean pepper sauce delivers. It’s a staple in Caribbean households and a must have for any hot sauce lover.
16. British Curry Sauce
The Brits can make a surprisingly good curry sauce, and honestly, what better way to enjoy it than over a fluffy mound of white rice? The spice profile features curry powder, cumin, paprika, turmeric, and coriander. The base comes together with water, tomato paste, and flour.
17. Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
A jar of roasted red peppers brings incredible depth to a creamy sauce. You only need six ingredients, and something tells me they’re probably lurking in your kitchen right now. It’s a lovely alternative to heavy red tomato sauces and a wickedly good addition to all your rice dishes.