Quick Cheesy Rice: The Ultimate Comfort Food Side Dish
You need a fast, creamy side dish that everyone loves? This stovetop cheesy rice recipe delivers rich, melty cheddar flavor in under 30 minutes. It is the perfect easy cheesy rice recipe for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic powder and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked rice to the saucepan and toast it for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly until the edges look slightly translucent.
- Pour in the chicken broth, milk, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Do not lift the lid during this time.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Uncover the rice. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese until the cheese melts completely and the rice is creamy.
- Serve your cheesy rice immediately as a comforting side dish.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, substitute 1/4 cup of the milk with 2 tablespoons of cream cheese when adding the liquid.
- This recipe pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken or steak.
- You can use pre-cooked rice to cut the cooking time down to about 10 minutes total.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup cooked
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 14
- Cholesterol: 35