Dinner just got easier—and cheesier—with this easy weeknight recipe. Creamy, melty queso combined with chicken and rice is heaven in a pot. With just a few simple steps and only one pot needed, you won’t have to deal with much cleanup to get this amazing dinner that we couldn’t stop eating!
Queso lovers should try our One Skillet Queso Fundido with Chorizo or our Queso Fundido 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 flavorful and easy to clean up.
- 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 that you can definitely make your own, either by switching out cheeses or using pre-cooked chicken. Adjust the spice level with your favorite salsa or add in extras like black beans or corn. You could even test out a few different options and see what you like best!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts: You can substitute with 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’ll need 1 cup of diced onion which is about 1 onion. A white onion will also work 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 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: Pick your favorite jarred salsa. Use a mild, medium, or hot salsa based on your preferred spice levels.
- Heavy Cream: If you prefer, you can stir sour cream in at the end in place of the heavy cream.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: You can shred your own cheese or use pre-shredded, but the cheese will melt better if you shred your own. if you want to switch things up, you can also swap out the cheddar cheese for pepper jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican cheese blend.
Tips for Perfect Rice
Cooking rice to perfection is all about controlling the heat and liquid. If your rice is still firm but there’s no liquid left in the pot, it’s likely the heat was too high during cooking. Simply lower the heat, add chicken broth or water about 1/4 cup at a time, and let the rice continue to cook until it’s soft and tender.
Spice it Up or Down
You can easily change up this recipe to make it more mild or crank up the heat to full on spicy. For more heat, try using a hot salsa, adding diced jalapeños, or sprinkling in crushed red pepper flakes. If you’re cooking for a mild meal, go for a mild salsa and reduce the chili powder to 1/2 teaspoon.
Serving Suggestions
For toppings, serve with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, diced avocado, or some freshly chopped cilantro.
This is a full meal on its own, but simple sides can be added like tortilla chips, restaurant-style black beans, or street-corn salad.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat portions in the microwave on high in 30-second increments.
More delicious one-pot meals . . .
Just made this (although I ended up adding extra spice + jalapeños) and it is so absolutely delicious! Really easy to follow and comes together quick. My husband’s new favorite!
– Katie
Have you tried this recipe with Green Chile Verde salsa instead of regular red salsa? I was wondering how it would taste. Sometimes my family prefers green instead of red. The rotisserie chicken is a great idea, saves some dinner prep time. I’m going to try this recipe, like all of your other recipes they are wonderful. You are amazing!!
I haven’t tried it myself, but I think it would be great!
Fantastic – my children loved it! Will make again (and again)
Every recipe I have made of yours is fantastic! This one is no different. People think I’m an amazing cook but I just tell them it’s The Stay At Home Chef recipes. I can’t say enough great things about your recipes, they are exactly the kind of food I like to eat. I was very picky as a child so it’s nice to find recipes I like that aren’t crazy fancy with hard to find ingredients. You are such a talented cook and I just love you so much!
Oh my goodness. Thank you! That’s about the best feedback I could hope for!
Is there a substitute for the rice??
Not really. You could definitely make something similar with potatoes or pasta, but it would require significant changes to the recipe.
Hmmm, what about orzo?
Orzo could totally work in place of the rice! Just keep an eye on the liquid since orzo cooks a bit differently, you might need slightly less broth and a shorter cook time. Start checking it around the 10 minute mark. Let us know how it turns out!
Can you use instant rice as it cooks faster than regular rice? Thank you.
No, you won’t be able to use instant rice in this recipe.
So quick and easy to make. Got a request to make it again soon! Used just under 2lb thighs since that what I had and we like to add extra protein when possible. Thank you for another great recipe to feed my family.
This was absolutely delish! We have 4 teenagers and my husband and I barely got any! Next time I’ll make a double batch!