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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Desserts

By Joanie Zisk Published: Jul 23, 2022 · Updated: Nov 8, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Homemade Rice Pudding For One

Jump to Recipe
a mini rice pudding in a small baking dish on a tray

A classic, simple rice pudding recipe made with cooked rice and a few pantry staples. It's a wonderfully rich and creamy single serving dessert.

Baked rice pudding topped with whipped cream and ground cinnamon in a small baking dish on a tray

Have you ever found yourself with leftover cooked rice in your fridge? I certainly have. If you've got a small amount of rice sitting in the fridge, you should definitely consider making baked rice pudding. Making rice pudding with leftover rice is unbelievably easy and so incredibly delicious.

Jump to:
  • What Is Rice Pudding?
  • Why This Recipe Works
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Rice Pudding For One
  • Expert Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Variations
  • Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
  • Recipe

What Is Rice Pudding?

Rice pudding is a rice-based dessert featuring rice, milk, and a few other ingredients.

Some old-fashioned rice pudding recipes call for cooking the rice in milk similar to the way we make our chocolate rice pudding. Other recipes call for using cooked rice. I love using cooked rice because it is a wonderful way to use any that might be leftover from a previous meal. This easy rice pudding recipe can be a quick dessert to throw together on a whim.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Use any kind of cooked rice: Use cooked white rice, brown, long-grain, or short-grain.
  • Use any kind of milk: Using whole milk will give you a richer and more velvety rice pudding but you can also use lower fat milk such as 2%, skim, coconut milk, or almond milk.
  • A great way to reduce waste: If you have cooked rice leftover from a previous meal, rice pudding is a great way to use it.
  • Recipe doubles well: If you'd like to make more, just double the ingredient amounts and use a larger baking dish.

RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One

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Ingredients

rice pudding ingredients on a kitchen counter

Ingredient Notes

To make the best rice pudding with cooked rice, you will need:

  • Egg: 1 large egg helps to create a custard-style rice pudding.
  • Milk: I've experimented with different kinds of milk and I prefer using whole milk which gives the rice pudding a creamy, smooth texture.
    • 2% milk can be used instead but the pudding will be less rich.
    • Skim milk will make the pudding much less rich and with a more watery flavor.
    • You can use non-dairy milk in this rice pudding recipe like coconut milk or almond milk which both impart rich flavors into the rice pudding.
  • Salt and vanilla extract: For flavor.
  • Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg are perfect in this recipe.
  • Sugar: 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar add the perfect amount of sweetness.
  • Rice: 1 cup of cooked rice is all you need to make this rice pudding.
  • Whipped cream: Optional, but delicious.
  • Butter or oil spray: For greasing the baking dish.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

How To Make Rice Pudding For One

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. Preheat the oven to 325° F (165° C). Lightly butter a 4x6 or a 5x5-inch baking dish.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, salt, spices, sugar, and vanilla.
rice pudding ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  1. Stir in the rice and pour into a small baking dish.

Pro Tip: I use a 4x6-inch baking dish that has a base area of 24 square inches. You can also use a 5x5-inch baking dish with a base area of 25 square inches or a 6x6-inch dish which will yield a thinner pudding and may bake faster.

uncooked rice pudding in a small red baking dish
  1. Boil a kettle of water to make a water bath. Place the baking dish with the rice pudding into a larger baking pan. I use either an 8x8-inch pan or an 8 or 9-inch round pan. Pour the boiling water into the larger pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the rice pudding dish.

Place the pan on a rimmed sheet pan which will make it easier to transfer into and out of the oven.

Pro Tip: This is called a water bath or a bain marie. A water bath is a dish of water used to bake recipes requiring gentle, even heat. It insulates the dish so that it doesn't overcook. Please don't be put off by this, it's incredibly easy. You will need to find a pan that will comfortably hold your small baking dish while maintaining an inch or more of space around the sides for the water. A small to medium-sized roasting pan works well.

making a water bath to make a rice pudding
  1. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until lightly browned and set.
Baked rice pudding in a small baking dish on a tray

Expert Tips

  • Use any kind of leftover rice: Any cooked rice is great for making a classic rice pudding.
  • Recipe doubles well: If you'd like to make extra rice pudding, just double the ingredients in the recipe and use a larger baking dish.
  • Add-ins: Feel free to add 2 to 3 tablespoons of raisins to your rice pudding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Dish Do You Use?

For this mini rice pudding recipe, we use a 4x6-inch baking dish that has a base area of 24 square inches.

Other alternative baking dishes:
5x5-inch dish
6x6-inch dish (this will yield a thinner rice pudding)
6-inch round dish

These baking dishes can be viewed on our Store page.

If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

How Do You Serve Rice Pudding?

Rice pudding is incredibly delicious on its own but I love adding fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to the top of mine.

How Long Can Rice Pudding Be Stored?

Store the rice pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay good for four days.

Can This Recipe Be Doubled?

Yes! If you'd like to make more rice pudding, double the ingredients in this recipe and bake in an 8-inch round pan or a 9x5-inch loaf pan.

What Is The Best Rice To Use In Rice Pudding?

For this baked rice pudding recipe, use any kind of cooked rice you have. White rice works beautifully, and so will brown.

Baked rice pudding topped with whipped cream and ground cinnamon  in small baking dish

Variations

Although I love this old-fashioned rice pudding just as it is, you might like these rice pudding variations:

  • Add raisins: Add a few tablespoons of raisins to your rice pudding before baking.
  • Top with fruit: Add slices of fresh pears or bananas along with a drizzle of honey to your baked rice pudding.
  • Add a dollop of whipped cream: You can't go wrong with homemade whipped cream. It makes the rice pudding extra creamy!
  • Butter: Right after you remove the rice pudding from the oven, add ½ tablespoon of butter to melt into the pudding - heavenly!

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this easy rice pudding recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

  • Eggs: Cheesy Baked Eggs, Two Ingredient Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cream Pie, Banana Upside Down Cake
  • Cinnamon: Donut Holes, Apple Cinnamon Scones, Snickerdoodles, Fried Apples
  • Nutmeg: Alfredo Sauce, Apple Galette, Mini Spice Cake, Apple Butter
  • Rice: Fried Rice, Pork Stir Fry, Spicy Peas With Mint, Chickpea Curry
A spoonful missing from the homemade rice pudding topped with whipped cream and ground cinnamon in a small baking dish

If you’ve tried this mini rice pudding recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!

Recipe

a mini rice pudding in a small baking dish on a tray

Rice Pudding For One

A classic, creamy rice pudding recipe made with cooked rice and a few pantry staples. It's a wonderfully rich and creamy single serving dessert.
4.67 from 18 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Course: Dessert
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 478kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • 5-inch baking dish or a 4x6-inch baking dish
  • Mixing bowl
  • Baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • ¾ cup milk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup cooked rice
  • Optional: whipped cream
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325° F (165° C). Lightly butter a 4x6 or a 5x5-inch baking dish.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and vanilla.
  • Stir in the rice and pour into a small baking dish.
    Pro Tip: I use a 4x6-inch baking dish that has a base area of 24 square inches. You can also use a 5x5-inch baking dish with a base area of 25 square inches or a 6x6-inch dish which will yield a thinner pudding and may bake faster.
  • Boil a kettle of water to make a water bath. Place the baking dish with the rice pudding into a larger baking pan. I use either an 8x8-inch pan or an 8 or 9-inch round pan. Pour the boiling water into the larger pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the rice pudding dish.
    Place the pan on a rimmed sheet pan which will make it easier to transfer into and out of the oven.
    Pro Tip: This is called a water bath or a bain marie. A water bath is a dish of water used to bake recipes requiring gentle, even heat. It insulates the dish so that it doesn't overcook. Please don't be put off by this, it's incredibly easy. You will need to find a pan that will comfortably hold your small baking dish while maintaining an inch or more of space around the sides for the water. A small to medium-sized roasting pan works well.
  • Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until lightly browned and set.
  • Enjoy with whipped cream, if desired.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Use any kind of leftover rice: Any cooked rice is great for making a classic rice pudding.
  • Recipe doubles well: If you'd like to make extra rice pudding, just double the ingredients in the recipe and use a larger baking dish.
  • Add-ins: Feel free to add 2 to 3 tablespoons of raisins to your rice pudding.
Nutrition Facts
Rice Pudding For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 478 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 192mg64%
Sodium 730mg32%
Potassium 432mg12%
Carbohydrates 90g30%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 45g50%
Protein 17g34%
Vitamin A 645IU13%
Calcium 287mg29%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Garlic Girl says

    September 30, 2022 at 12:12 am

    I have not had rice pudding in eons....this was a splendid comeback!

    Reply
  2. Christina says

    August 02, 2022 at 10:24 am

    Hi! I'm such a fan of your website and recipes, but this will be my first time making one myself :). I wanted to ask if you think half and half would work or how it'd affect the rich and creamy effect that you mention with whole milk. Do you think it'd be doable? I've never baked with half and half!

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      August 02, 2022 at 12:56 pm

      Yes, half and half will work just fine and should make the rice pudding extra rich.

      Reply
  3. J. Hegyi says

    July 24, 2022 at 12:38 pm

    Great recipe.

    Reply
  4. Tracy Hansen says

    July 05, 2021 at 3:51 am

    Delicious! So nice. What a lovely light custard.

    Reply
  5. Barbara says

    May 07, 2021 at 11:24 am

    I made your rice pudding recipe last night. I only had heavy cream and added raisins. It’s super easy to make and I ate about 1/4 of it last night so can look forward to more today! Delicious!

    Reply
  6. Nancy says

    February 07, 2021 at 9:39 am

    Hello Joanie: I have 2% milk and heavy cream. Would one or the other or a blend be my option for success. I love rice pudding. I used to make a Norwegian version Riskrem but makes way too much for just me these days. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      February 07, 2021 at 11:36 am

      Hi Nancy, you could use either or a blend. The higher the fat content of the milk you use, the richer your rice pudding will be. Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Clara says

    December 14, 2020 at 9:36 am

    Can i make this recipe without the egg?

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      December 14, 2020 at 11:36 am

      I recommend using an egg in this recipe. Since this is a baked custard style rice pudding, the egg is necessary. If you'd like to make a rice pudding without using an egg, you might like to try this chocolate rice pudding recipe - https://onedishkitchen.com/chocolate-rice-pudding-recipe-for-one/

      Reply
  8. Nancy says

    June 29, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    I’ve made this about 3 times now - works perfectly....I use full fat coconut milk and add raisins as well....very very tasty!!

    Reply
    • Joanie Zisk says

      June 29, 2018 at 5:16 pm

      Nancy,

      I'm so happy you enjoy the recipe and it's great to know that full fat coconut milk works well too. Thank you for letting me know! Have a wonderful weekend.

      Reply
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