Dinner just got easier—and fun—with this easy weeknight recipe. Creamy, melty queso paired with chicken and rice is heaven in a bowl. With just a few simple steps and only one utensil required, you won't have to deal with much cleanup to get this amazing dinner that we couldn't stop eating!
Queso lovers should try us One Skillet Queso Fundido with Chorizo or us Melted Cheese Chorizo Burger.
Why our recipe?
- All the cheesy goodness of queso combined with chicken and rice, with all the flavor.
- One pot convenience keeps everything tasty and clean up is easy.
- A no-fuss weeknight meal that can use pre-cooked or shredded rotisserie chicken for even more convenience.
We love recipes that are easy to customize, and this is one recipe you can definitely make your own, either by changing the cheese or using pre-cooked chicken. Adjust the spice level to your favorite salsa or add extras like black beans or corn. You can even test out a few different options and see what you like!
Material notes
- Chicken breast: You can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs for a juicier option or use pre-cooked shredded chicken if you're short on time (about 3 cups).
- Yellow Onion: You will need 1 cup of chopped onion which is about 1 onion. A white onion will also work for this recipe.
- Garlic Mince: Fresh garlic adds the best flavor, but 1 teaspoon of garlic powder can be used as a substitute.
- Long grain white rice: Stick to long-grain varieties for fluffy results. Avoid instant or parboiled rice, as they may not absorb the liquid properly in this recipe.
- Chicken Broth: You can use bouillon, canned broth or chicken stock. Use low-sodium broth to better control salt levels.
- Salsa: Choose your favorite jarred salsa. Use a mild, medium or hot salsa based on your preferred spice level.
- Heavy Cream: If you prefer, you can stir in the sour cream at the end in place of the heavy cream.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: You can shred your own cheese or use pre-shredded ones, but the cheese will melt better if you shred your own cheese. If you want to switch things up, you can also swap out the cheddar cheese for chili jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
Tips for Perfect Rice
Cooking rice to perfection is all about controlling heat and liquid. If your rice is still hard but there is no liquid left in the pot, the heat may have been too high during cooking. Simply lower the heat, add chicken broth or water about 1/4 cup at a time, and let the rice cook until it's soft and tender.
Spice up or down
You can easily modify this recipe to make it milder or make the heat all the way spicy. For more heat, Try using a hot salsa, add diced jalapeños, or sprinkle in crushed red pepper flakes. If you are cooking for light meals, Take a mild salsa and reduce the chili powder to 1/2 tsp.
Serving advice
For the topping, Serve with sour cream, guacamole, diced avocado or some freshly chopped cilantro.
It's a complete meal by itself, but simple sides like tortilla chips can be added. Restaurant-style black beansor Street Corn Salad.
Storage and reheating instructions
Keep in fridge Leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Reheat Microwave portions on high in 30-second increments.
