Description
Creamy, indulgent cheesy rice with a perfect balance of gooey melted cheese and fluffy grains. A versatile side that pairs well with proteins or stands alone as a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (or Jasmine/Basmati)
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Rinse rice until water runs clear, then drain well.
- Heat butter and olive oil in saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion for 3 minutes until translucent, then add garlic for 30 seconds.
- Add rice and stir to coat grains with fat, toasting for 1 minute.
- Pour in broth, bring to boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 15-18 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat, let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
- Stir in milk/cream, then gradually add cheeses while rice is still hot. Mix until fully melted.
- Season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, stir in 2 tbsp cream cheese with the other cheeses.
- Broth adds more flavor than water – use homemade if possible.
- Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
- Add cooked broccoli, bacon bits, or diced ham to make it a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
