Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)

cheesy rice in bowl with hands and pink nails.

Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)

This Cheesy Rice recipe has four options to add in veggies and has been a staple of my family's diet for a few years now. It's SO easy, versatile, and stores wonderfully in the fridge. And it's downright delish!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 191kcal

Author Amy Palanjian

Equipment

Ingredients

1½ cups short grain brown rice (or sprouted rice or other white rice)
2 cups finely chopped cauliflower rice (OR broccoli florets, minced; shredded carrots; OR frozen corn)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
¼ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place 5 cups water in a large pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Add the rice and cook for 20 minutes, or until mostly tender. (Partially cover the pot to allow some steam to escape. It's okay if there's some water still in the pot at the end of this step.)
Add the vegetable of your choosing, cover, and cook for an additional 6 minutes or until everything is tender.
(If the rice and veggies are not tender at the end of the cooking time, but the liquid is absorbed, add another ½-1 cup water and continue cooking.)
Turn off the heat. Add the butter, salt, garlic powder, and cheese. Let sit for a few minutes so the flavors meld and serve warm.

Video

Notes

Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and serve warm.
To make a version of this idea without dairy, you can replace the butter with olive oil or coconut oil and use mashed avocado instead of the cheese to help the rice hold together. Or use nondairy cheese and vegan butter.
To make this with another type of rice, cook the rice according to the package directions, adding 1 cup water. Proceed with Step 2 at the end of that cooking time.
Serve as a vegetarian main dish or with your favorite protein main.
Top your own serving with cracked black pepper, fried egg, hot sauce, chopped nuts, or any other garnish that sounds good to you.

Nutrition