Cheesy Mexican Rice Recipe
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This Cheesy Mexican Rice Recipe is not only simple – but it goes with anything! Whether you want to put some chicken in before you bake it or serve it with your pork chops – this rice will be a family favorite and every bite will be gone before you know it!
Cheesy Mexican Rice Ingredients
The other thing I loved about making this is how easy it is! There are just FIVE ingredients and they’re likely all in your kitchen right now! So grab and go for the best rice side dish with flavors you’ll love and you’ll be eating this all year.
- 4 cups rice cooked
- 1 1/3 cups sour cream
- 1 can diced jalapenos
- 2 cups colby jack cheese
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- GARNISH: crispy fried onions, green onions or cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice
How do you make Cheesy Mexican Rice?
This is definitely an easy recipe to make – especially when your rice is already cooked. It’s only 20 minutes to the table!
- If you need to cook your rice – using white rice place white rice, water, 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp Better than Bouillon in water (check package for measurements) and bring to a boil. Simmer with lid on for 20 minutes. Remove from heat for 5 min and fluff.
- You can also cook rice in chicken broth
- Preheat oven to 350
- Spray baking dish with non-stick spray
- Stir together cooked rice, sour cream, jalapenos (no need to drain) and cheese into a baking dish
- If you’d like, top with french fried onions or tortilla strips
- Bake for 20 minutes
I thought the casserole could use a little crunch – so I sprinkled on some fried onions and fried red peppers – they’re from the salad toppings area – I always have them in the pantry!
Can I substitute the jalapenos?
Yes! That’s the best part of this dish- you can sub almost every ingredient or add in fun stuff like corn or tomatoes!
- Ingredient Swaps
- Don’t have white rice? Use brown!
- Don’t have Cojack? Use Cheddar cheese!
- Don’t have jalapenos? Use green chiles!
- Ingredient add-ins
- Whole kernel corn
- Rotel tomatoes
- Cooked chicken breasts
- Black beans
- Spices: garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, paprika, chili powder
So yum! I can’t wait to try all my add-ins and mix-ins!
What to serve with Cheesy Mexican Rice?
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken – whether you serve it with the whole chicken or add some of that pulled chicken to the rice – it will be great!
- Copycat Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Air Fryer Cilantro Lime Breaded Shrimp
More Delicious Cheesy Side Dishes
Cheesy Mexican Rice Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups rice cooked
- 1 1/3 cups sour cream
- 1 can diced jalapenos
- 2 cups colby jack cheese grated
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- If you need to cook your rice – using white rice place white rice, water, 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp Better than Bouillon in water (check package for measurements) and bring to a boil. Simmer with lid on for 20 minutes. Remove from heat for 5 min and fluff.4 cups rice
- Preheat oven to 350
- Spray baking dish with non-stick spray
- Mix together cooked rice, sour cream, jalapenos (no need to drain) and cheese into a baking dish1 1/3 cups sour cream, 1 can diced jalapenos, 2 cups colby jack cheese, 1 1/2 tsp salt
- If you'd like, top with french fried onions or tortilla strips
- Bake for 20 minutes
I love that this is almost like a mexican casserole and simple ingredients!
My partner ate nearly the whole of the first batch! Absolutely delicious and you will be fighting over the last bite.
This is full of cheesy goodness!
This rice has become an instant favorite, so cheesy and delicious and it really does pair well with just about everything!
I made this rice for our taco night this week and omg was it delicious! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Made this last week to go with our Taco Tuesday meal, true confession, I wanted to eat the entire pan of rice, I didn’t even touch anything else!