Description
This creamy Mexican Sour Cream Rice is a delicious and comforting side dish featuring tender long-grain rice cooked in flavorful broth, then combined with sour cream, green chiles, corn, and cheese. Baked to perfection with a golden cheesy crust and garnished with fresh cilantro, this recipe adds a zesty and creamy twist to traditional rice, perfect for Mexican-inspired meals or as a hearty accompaniment.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Broth
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
Mix-ins
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
- 1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (divided)
- ½ tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it is fully heated and ready for baking the rice casserole.
- Cook Rice: In a large pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add the rice, cover the pot with a lid, and reduce the heat to low to simmer. Cook for 16–18 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the broth is fully absorbed.
- Mix Ingredients: Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the sour cream, diced green chiles, half a cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese, corn kernels, half of the chopped cilantro, and garlic salt. Mix thoroughly to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Assemble: Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish and transfer the rice mixture into it. Sprinkle the remaining Monterey Jack cheese evenly on top of the rice mixture.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and lightly browned on the surface, creating a delicious crust.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with the remaining chopped cilantro, and serve the rice warm as a flavorful side dish.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Fresh corn kernels add a sweeter flavor, but canned or frozen corn works well too.
- Monterey Jack cheese melts beautifully, but you can substitute with mozzarella or a Mexican cheese blend if desired.
- Adjust the garlic salt amount to suit your taste or use regular salt if preferred.
- Serve alongside Mexican entrees like enchiladas or grilled meats for a complete meal.
