As a young wife and mother I always made rice side dishes from a box. You know the ones I am talking about, with quick-cooking rice and a flavor packet, aka "salt bomb." Now I cook from scratch, but I still miss those boxed rice side dishes. My favorites were Creamy Four Cheese and Creamy Parmesan. This recipe is an ode to the Creamy Parmesan boxed mix, minus the salt bomb. This Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe Copycat is made with long grain rice simmered slowly with garlic, butter, milk and chicken broth, then finished with finely grated Parmesan cheese. It is thick and rich with a lovely hint of garlic and a big pop of Parmesan.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This easy rice recipe will have you reminiscing about the rice you made from a little box. It will have as much flavor and creamy texture, if not more, but will be better for you nutritionally.
- This creamy rice recipe turns plain white rice into the perfect side dish with simple ingredients and minimal effort.
Ingredients
- Rice - This dish is best when made with a long grain white rice versus a brown rice, arborio rice, instant rice, sushi rice, or minute rice. The long grain rice holds up well and maintains the structure of the rice better during the cooking process. I use Jasmine rice, which is a long grain rice with an amazing fragrance.
- Chicken Broth - Use low sodium chicken broth if you have it. Chicken stock will work as well, but it has a more chicken-forward taste. Use vegetable stock if you don't have chicken stock.
- Milk - I use 2% lactose-free milk because that is what we buy. You don't need half and half or heavy cream for this. Whole milk is fine too, just a bit creamier. You could use sour cream in place of the last ¼ cup of milk if you want it a little tang and a bit creamier rice dinner side dish.
- Parmesan cheese - I used a wedge of store brand Parmesan cheese grated fine with a microplane. You could use the pre-grated cheese in the plastic containers, but I shy away from the shelf-stable stuff in the round green can.
- Garlic and onion - best if using fresh instead of garlic and onion salts. It would be easy for this recipe to be too salty with the cheese, chicken broth, and salted butter. Skip the garlic and onion salt.
- Butter - use olive oil if you don't have butter.
- Garnishes - chopped parsley, a little sprinkling of grated Parmesan, and a couple of grindings of coarse black pepper are my favorites. A bit of lemon zest would be nice, as would a few shavings of Parmesan. Use a large serving bowl and let everyone help themselves.
Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the recipe card.
Simple Step-by-Step Instructions
Melt butter over low heat.
Add garlic and onion. Cook until soft.
Add rice and salt. Cook one minute.
Add broth & ½ cup milk. Keep the rest.
Simmer covered on low 20 minutes.
Remove lid and stir occasionally.
Cooking is done. Remove the pot from heat.
Add the reserved ¼ cup milk.
Add the Parmesan cheese off heat.
Stir to mix & garnish with parsley.
Variations of Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe Copycat
- Make this an Instant Pot recipe by putting all the ingredients except for ¼ cup milk and the grated Parmesan into the pot. Add the reserved milk and Parmesan cheese after cooking using the rice setting on your machine.
- Turn this in to a cheesy chicken dinner by putting all the ingredients in a casserole dish. Lay thin chicken cutlets on top and bake until the chicken is fully cooked and the rice is tender. Creamy chicken casseroles are always a favorite at my house.
Rice FAQ'S
What is the secret to fluffy rice.
Do Americans wash rice?
Looking for More Delicious Rice Recipes?
Look no further than these two recipes.
Equipment
- Use a large skillet, medium saucepan, or Dutch oven. You definitely want something with a heavy bottom to distribute the heat better.
Expert Tips
- There is a never-ending debate over whether rice should be rinsed or even soaked before cooking. Mashed has an excellent article on this subject where they address each type of rice and the pros and cons of rinsing. I highly recommend it.
- I always rinse my rice well under cold water in a strainer. I lived in Taiwan many years ago. Our apartment abutted a huge rice paddy. I saw how rice was grown and processed. Between the water buffaloes pulling the plows, to the rice being laid out in the road for cars to drive over to remove the hulls, I formed an opinion as to whether or not to wash rice. I am sure that fifty years later the process has improved, but old habits are hard to break. I wash my rice.
Perfect Pairings
Make this Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe Copycat anytime you would be using plain rice as a side dish. It pairs well with chicken, beef and seafood. Serve it will bread and a salad as a light supper.
Recipe
Creamy Parmesan Rice Recipe Copycat
Equipment
- Medium saucepan or Dutch oven (needs a lid)
- microplane or fine grater
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- ½ cup long grain rice uncooked rice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ small onion
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup chicken stock
- ¾ cup milk divided
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium heat or medium-high heat, watching closely so as not to burn the butter.
- Add the garlic and onion. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onions begin to soften and turn translucent.
- Add rice and salt. Cook one minute stirring constantly to coat the grains of rice with the melted butter.
- Add broth and ½ cup milk. Reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot.
- Simmer covered on low 20 minutes.
- Remove lid and stir occasionally.
- When liquid is gone and the rice is tender, it is done.
- Remove from heat & add the reserved ¼ cup milk. Stir to mix.
- Add the Parmesan cheese off heat.
- Stir to mix, fluff the rice with a fork, and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.
We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.
Dee says
Love love love a good rice recipe and this one did not disappoint. I did use veggie broth instead of chicken broth but it tasted great.
Mary says
Thank you Dee!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
A perfect side dish! It's delicious and easy to make.
Kristina says
Delicious and very simple! How do you think it would turn out in the Instant Pot? I will be kitchenless for a few months and need a collection of great recipes!
Mary says
I think it would be fine in the Instant pot. Let me give it a try and I'll update.
Patti says
Haven't made the recipe yet but I'm about to! Looks delicious! How much garlic do you use? It's not in the list of ingredients.
Mary says
Thanks for letting me know. My fingers get ahead of my brain from time to time. It is 2 cloves or about a tablespoon chopped. Luckily I photographed it in a measuring spoon!
Genevieve says
We LOVE rice in our household so I definitely need to try this creamy parmesan version. This rice looks delicious and easy to make!
Mary says
Let me know what you think!
Nancy says
Rice and parmasen is a first for me but it was really cozy. I enjoyed it
Mary says
Thanks for trying it here first Nancy!
Nora says
This rice is delicious! So much flavor and so quickly prepared! Perfect for the whole family! Thank you!
Mary says
Thank you Nora.
Amy says
My family loves this recipe! It's great with almost any dinner and I always have the ingredients on hand.
Mary says
I am glad you liked it!
Natalie says
Besides a great recipe, I learned something new about rice! From now on, I will always wash my rice, thanks!
Giangi Townsend says
The perfect rice. Full of flavor and so easy to prepare, thank you.
Keri says
This was the perfect side dish. I've never tried adding Parmesan to anything but Arborio rice. Loved it!
Mary says
Thank you Keri.
Melissa says
Thank you for explaining how to make this comfort dish. I think my family would really like it, and I would not have thought to include onion.