The $1.50 Dollar Tree Find I Always Keep in the Pantry for Busy Weeknights

My family eats a lot of rice. My partner is Sri Lankan and grew up with rice as a primary food group, but even this girl, with her Polish roots, appreciates how fast, convenient, nutritious, and satisfying the carb can be.

I keep several varieties at home, including white jasmine and brown basmati for meals multiple days a week, Arborio or Carnaroli for making risotto, and often another more exciting version, like black or wild rice (which isn’t actually rice at all), to add dimension to soups, grain salads, and pilafs.

I cook rice four nights a week, at least. So you might find it surprising that I also stock single-serve packs of Eat Regal Ready to Eat Rice from Dollar Tree. At just $1.25 a pouch, they’ve earned a priority spot in my pantry. 

How I Use Heat & Eat Rice Packs

I reach for them most often on weeknights when my kids arrive home tired, hangry, and needing dinner 15 minutes ago. They’re ready in 90 seconds, providing a quick meal solution that allows me to attend to other tasks.

90 seconds gives me time to open a can of tuna, chop an avocado, shred a carrot, dice a cucumber, and pull out a package of seaweed snacks for a low-key Emily Mariko-style salmon and rice bowl. The kids love this dish, but if they’re not in the mood for it, I’ll scramble some eggs and mix it in with rice, along with shredded cheddar and any leftover veggies and herbs.

On a rare night when I’ve somehow gotten the kids settled and haven’t yet eaten myself, I lean into Eric Kim’s Gyeran Bap, which he describes as a “lifesaving Korean pantry meal”—a very accurate description.

I also rely on the rice packs for quick lunches. My husband and I work from home and often have leftover curry, stew, soup, stir-fry, and so on, but without the rice to round it out. I would happily eat whatever we had in the fridge as-is, but if we share the leftovers we need something else to beef it up, and these packs do just that. They can also form the entire backbone of a “nourish bowl” or a “clean out the fridge” bowl.   

Why I Am Obsessed With Heat and Eat Rice Packs

They are the definition of convenience. I try to cook “from scratch” as often as possible, but it can be challenging with two kids and a busy work life. These pouches make perfectly cooked rice in 90 seconds flat! They save my mental health when time is tight, and we need something filling and satisfying.

These rice packs are flavorful and versatile. While the sprouted brown rice or white jasmine packs are my typical go-to’s, I’ve also found other flavors like black rice, riceberry with shiitake mushrooms, riceberry and red beans, Spanish rice, veg fried rice, and cilantro and lime rice. There are enough options to go with various dishes that suit everyone’s palates.

Like Myo’s beloved Hetbahn packs (also PSA: make that gingery, garlicky ground beef!), these humble heat-and-eat rice pouches have become trustworthy helpers. Whether I need a lightning-fast side or am building out a more elaborate dish but just don’t have it in me to also cook the rice, they ensure I always have a wholesome, filling foundation ready in a flash.