One Pot Queso Chicken and Rice

Dinner just got easier and happier with this simple weeknight recipe. The creamy, melty queso combined with chicken and rice is one-pot heaven. With a few simple steps and only one pot needed, you won’t have to do much cleanup to get this amazing dinner we couldn’t stop eating!

Queso lovers should try our One Skillet Queso Fundido with chorizo ​​or our Queso Fundido Chorizo ​​Burger.

We love recipes that are easy to customize and this is one recipe you can definitely make your own, substituting cheeses or using pre-cooked chicken. Adjust the spice level with your favorite salsa or add extras like black beans or corn. You could even try a few different options and see what you like best!

Notes on ingredients

• Chicken breasts: 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 diced onion, which is about 1 onion. A white onion will also work well for this recipe.
• Minced garlic: 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 liquids in this recipe properly.
• Chicken broth: You can use broth, canned broth, or chicken broth. Use low-sodium broth to better control salt levels.
• Sauce: Choose your favorite jarred sauce. Use mild, medium or hot sauce based on your preferred spice levels.
• Heavy cream: If you prefer, you can add sour cream at the end instead of cream.
• Grated Cheddar Cheese: You can grate your own cheese or use it pre-grated, but the cheese will melt better if you cut it yourself. If you want to change things up, you can also replace the cheddar cheese with pepper jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.

Tips for perfect rice

Cooking rice to perfection means controlling the heat and liquid. If the rice is still firm but there is no liquid left in the pan, it is likely that the heat was too high during cooking. Simply reduce the heat to low, add the chicken broth or water about 1/4 cup at a time, and let the rice continue to cook until soft and tender.

Spice it up or tone it down

You can easily modify this recipe to make it milder or turn the heat up to high to make it spicy. For more heat, try using a spicy sauce, adding diced jalapeños or sprinkling with crushed red pepper flakes. If you are cooking for a light meal, choose a mild sauce and reduce the chili powder to 1/2 teaspoon.

Serving Tips

For the condiments, serve with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, diced avocado or chopped fresh cilantro.

This is a complete meal on its own, but you can add simple sides like tortilla chips, restaurant-style black beans, or corn salad.