Its the holy grail of dinner shortcuts.

Heat-and-eat rice packs are an effortless way to round out a meal.

They come in four tasty flavors that I constantly reach for to round out a meal.

Dollar Tree storefront

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And these rice blends really help!

is the Caribbean Style.

The spices have a lot of oomph, so I liked pairing it with bright ingredients like cucumber salad.

Ben’s Original rice pouches against a graphic background

Simply Recipes / Ben’s Original

Leftover grilled chicken and drained chickpeas rounded out the meal.

It would be a hearty backbone to crisp-tenderChinese green beansor complimentspiced pulled pork.

And, of course, a pouch is ready in just 90 seconds.

It’s the kind of smart, budget-friendly shortcut I only wish I’d discovered sooner.

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