Cheesy Rice with Garlic and Onion

Fluffy rice, seasoned with garlic and onion, blanketed with sharp cheddar cheese, and dotted with fresh green onions. So simple, but I can promise you this: everyone will thank you.

And this is the perfect side dish for practically ANYTHING! I served it with my Beef Chili Tacos, but it would go great with chicken, pork, seafood, and steak. You could even turn it into a main dish by adding cooked chicken, steak or ground beef, pork, and shrimp. 

This is also a nice side dish to have in your arsenal when you need to focus on the main dish. Why? Because you can keep it warm while other components of the meal are finishing. To do that, after you melt the cheese over the rice, cover the pan/baking dish with foil (or a lid) and keep warm in a 200 degree oven for up to 30 minutes.

Cheesy Rice with Garlic and Onion

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1 cup white rice
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chicken broth or water
Salt and ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped green onions for serving

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until soft. Add the rice and garlic and stir to coat. Add the butter, broth, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed.
Transfer the rice to a shallow baking dish or ovenproof skillet and top with the cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 3 to 5 minutes to melt the cheese.
Top with green onions and serve.
Serves 4