Cheesy Rice

Cheesy rice is a comforting, creamy side dish that's easy to pair with your favorite main course. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can whip up a batch of cheesy rice on the stovetop today.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Author Heather

Ingredients

1 cup long grain white rice not instant or brown (see note below)*
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ small onion small diced
8 ounces chicken broth
8 ounces whole milk
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated

Instructions

Add your rice to a fine mesh sieve and rinse to remove surface starches. This helps the rice cook up fluffy with individual grains. Otherwise, rice can turn out sticky or gummy.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook until it begins to lightly brown around the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add rice, chicken broth, milk, paprika, salt, and pepper to pan, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low (almost off).
Check your rice's package directions for ideal cooking times. Most white rice cooks in about 18-20 minutes, but this can vary brand to brand.
Cook until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Resist the urge to lift the lid repeatedly during the cooking process (this can elongate cooking time and dry out the rice by releasing steam).
Remove from heat. Add shredded cheese. Gently stir and fluff rice with a fork. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Cooking brown rice: *If you'd like to substitute with brown rice, it will take significantly longer to cook - up to 45 minutes instead of the listed 18-20 minutes. Consult your rice's package directions for best results. You may also need to add an additional splash of water partway through cooking if it begins to look dry.
Liquid/rice ratio: White rice calls for a 2:1 ratio of liquid to rice. This recipe calls for 2 cups of liquid for 1 cup of white rice. Remember to keep your heat LOW and resist the urge to lift the lid repeatedly. If the pan is looking dry, turn the heat down even more and add ¼ cup of water.
Storage: Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition