Cheesy Rice is a wonderful side dish for any dinner. It goes great with chicken, ribs, or a roast! This is an easy Cheesy Rice side dish recipe because you do not have to bake it. It is made completely on the stove top.
Rice is mixed with sauteed onions and celery and then coated in a deliciously tangy cheese sauce. The sauce is made with greek yogurt (making it a little healthier), mayonnaise, milk, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder. No “cream-of-soup” here.
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Cheese Rice Recipe ingredients
- Rice – this recipe was tested with long grain white rice. However it will work with any type of rice that you want to use (brown, basmati, jasmine) Just make sure you follow the cooking instructions on the package of the rice you use.
In any rice recipes I recommend rinsing your rice before cooking to remove the starch, giving you fluffier rice. In this dish there is no need to rinse your rice. Since this cheesy rice recipe is supposed to be creamy, the extra starch is a good thing! - Onions and Celery – a yellow onion is perfect for this recipe. The onion and celery create a perfect flavor base for the cheesy rice.
- Chicken Broth – using chicken broth to cook the rice just makes the dish a little more flavorful. You can absolutely use water in itโs place.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – it IS a cheesy rice after all! If you shred your own cheese from a block you will have a creamier, meltier cheese!
- Greek Yogurt & Mayo – You can sub in sour cream for the plain Greek Yogurt, either will work. A combo of the Greek Yogurt and Mayo create a perfect balance of flavor.
- Milk – any milk will work (1%. 2%, whole, half and half). It thins the sauce perfectly so it can coat the rice without being overly thick.
- Garlic Powder – flavor!
Rice Type
You can make this Cheesy Rice recipe with any type of rice that you prefer. I have written the recipe for long grain white rice. If you choose to use something like brown rice or basmati rice, simply follow the cooking times on the package.
Rinsing your Rice
In this dish there is no need to rinse your rice. The purpose of rinsing rice is to remove some of the starch dust that makes rice “creamy” instead of separate/individual grains. Since this cheesy rice recipe is supposed to be creamy, the extra starch is a good thing!
How to Make Cheesy Rice (stove top)
Step 1
In your sauce pot sautรฉ the onions and celery until soft. Stir in the rice and chicken broth. Bring it to a boil. Then lower the heat, pop the lid on. Cook per package instructions.
Step 2
While the rice cooks whisk together the cheese, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, milk and garlic powder.
Step 3
When the rice is done fluff it with a fork, then pour the cheese sauce over top and stir to coat the rice. The heat of the rice should melt the cheese.
Step 4
Serve hot!
Simple Cheesy Rice Recipe variations
Keto Cheesy Rice
If you are following a Keto diet you can sub out the rice for cauliflower rice. Warm it through if you are using frozen cauliflower rice and then add the cheese sauce to the warm “rice”.
If you are using fresh cauliflower rice, start by sauteing the onions and celery, then saute the cauliflower rice (3 cups) until it is al dente. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese sauce.
Instant Pot Cheesy Rice
You can absolutely make this rice dish in your Instant Pot. You will just need to adjust the rice to liquid ratio to 1 cup white rice and 1 ยฝ cups chicken broth.
Saute the onions and celery in the oil for about 5 minutes. Turn off the saute mode. Add 1 cup rice and 1 ยฝ cups chicken broth to the pot. Pop the lid on and set it to cook on Rice mode for 12 minutes. Then do a quick release.
Make the cheese sauce and pour over the rice. Stir to combine!
Using Frozen Rice
Frozen rice can be a real time saver!! If you use frozen rice simply warm 3 cups of rice in the microwave, per the package instructions.
In a skillet saute the onions and celery until they are totally softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the warmed rice.
Prepare the cheese sauce and pour over the rice.
How to store leftover Homemade Cheesy Rice
Store your leftover cheesy rice in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It will thicken when it cools in the fridge. To reconstitute when warming add a little broth or milk and stir to combine.
I wouldnโt recommend freezing this rice because of itโs cheese and milk content.
What to serve with this Cheesy Rice Recipe
This is a great side dish to serve instead of potatoes or a casserole. it is family friendly and a crowd pleaser! Here are some great entrees to serve with the Cheesy Rice:
Creamy Cheesy Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ยฝ cup yellow onions - chopped
- ยฝ cup celery - chopped (about 2 stalks)
- ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cups white long grain rice - can use other rice types, just cook according to package instructions
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ยฝ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ยผ cup plain greek yogurt - can sub sour cream
- ยผ cup mayonnaise
- ยผ cup milk
- ยผ teaspoon garlic powder
Optional add ins:
- 8 oz can water chestnuts - drained and chopped
- 6.5 oz can mushrooms - drained and chopped
Instructions
STOVE TOP INSTRUCTIONS
- In a saucepan saute the onions, celery and ยฝ teaspoon salt in 1 tablespoon oil until soft, about 5 minutes.Note: Make sure you use a pot that has a tight fitting lid to cook the rice correctly.1 tablespoon olive oil, ยฝ cup yellow onions, ยฝ cup celery, ยฝ teaspoon kosher salt
- Stir in the 1 cup rice and pour in the 2 cups chicken broth. Bring the pot to a boil.1 cups white long grain rice, 2 cups chicken broth
- Reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook according to package instructions.
- While the rice cooks whisk together the greek yogurt, mayonnaise, milk, cheese, and garlic powder. Set aside.ยฝ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ยผ cup plain greek yogurt, ยผ cup mayonnaise, ยผ cup milk, ยผ teaspoon garlic powder
- Fluff the rice with a fork. Optional: Stir in the chopped mushrooms and chopped water chestnuts.
- Pour the cheese sauce over the rice and stir to coat. The rice should be hot enough to melt the cheese.
- Serve as a delicious side dish!
INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS
- On saute mode soften the onions, celery, and salt in the olive oil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off saute mode.
- Stir in the chicken broth and rice. NOTE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS – 1 cup white rice and 1 ยฝ cups chicken broth.Set to cook on rice mode for 12 minutes.
- Do a quick release of pressure.
- Optional: Stir in the mushrooms, water chestnuts.
- Whisk together the mayo, yogurt, milk, cheese, and garlic powder. Pour over the rice and stir to combine.
- Serve as a great side dish!
FROZEN RICE INSTRUCTIONS
- In a skillet saute the onions and celery in 1 tablespoon of oil until they are completely softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Warm 3 cups of frozen rice in the microwave, per package instructions. Then add to the celery and onion mixture.
- Prepare the cheese sauce by mixing together the milk, cheese, yogurt, garlic powder and mayo. Pour over the rice and stir to coat.
- Serve!
Susanne Ford says
Wow!! This cheesy rice is so delicious! I have prepared it twice and never any leftovers!
Thank you so much for sharing your recipes with us!!