Description
How to make creamy queso chicken and rice bake with tender chicken, melted cheese, and fluffy rice that creates the perfect cozy comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 3 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
- 1 cup whole milk
Cheese and Creaminess
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated
- ½ cup queso blanco, store-bought or homemade
Flavor Builders
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
Seasonings
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prep Everything: Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and dice all vegetables. This makes assembly so much smoother later.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 5 minutes until softened and aromatic. Don’t let the garlic brown or it’ll taste bitter.
- Season Chicken: Add chicken pieces to the skillet with chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until chicken is mostly cooked through and nicely seasoned.
- Combine Base: In your prepared baking dish, mix uncooked rice, chicken broth, milk, drained tomatoes, and the cooked chicken mixture. Stir well to distribute everything evenly throughout the dish.
- Add Cheese: Dot the softened cream cheese cubes over the top, then sprinkle with half the cheddar and Monterey Jack. The cream cheese will melt down and create creaminess throughout.
- Bake Covered: Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil, add remaining cheeses and queso blanco, then bake uncovered 10-15 minutes until rice is tender and cheese is golden.
- Rest and Serve: Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes before serving so it sets up properly and doesn’t fall apart when you scoop it. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Don’t skip covering with foil during initial baking or rice won’t cook properly.
- Soften cream cheese completely before adding to prevent lumpy texture.
- Let the bake rest 5-10 minutes after cooking for best slicing results.
- Drain diced tomatoes well to prevent excess moisture in the dish.
- Freshly grated cheese melts much better than pre-shredded varieties.
- Adjust spice levels to your family’s preference for perfect results.
Allergy Information: Dairy
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 35g