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This CHEESY ZUCCHINI RICE is a universal favorite in our house! It’s a great side dish to use up some of your garden zucchini, but the best part is, with all that cheese your kids will love it!
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I’m not sure if this is, like, standard family business or what, but it is nearly impossible to find a vegetable that all four of us like.
If I get it past my kids, the husband doesn’t like it.
If I get it past the husband, my kids don’t like.
And, if I get it past all three of them, I probably don’t like. 😉
Is everyone else’s life like that too?
Two veggies that we all agree on: broccoli and zucchini!
This cheesy zucchini rice was one of the ways I taught my youngest to love zucchini. I just shredded the zucchini up and snuck into cheesy rice and she didn’t find it at all offensive. Win!
(My chocolate zucchini bread and chocolate zucchini cake are also obvious favorites.)
The zucchini just blends in perfectly, and while you can see the green specks, it doesn’t add a whole ton of flavor or texture, which makes it great for picky kids!
Preparing this side dish
The first thing to do is to get your rice cooked. Toast the rice in a bit of oil and then boil in some chicken broth.
The broth adds a great flavor!
Once the rice is done cooking in the broth you’ll add your butter, garlic, cheese, and fresh zucchini.
Cover this and let it sit for a few minutes then it is ready to serve.
The cheese melts, the zucchini softens, the rice is perfect.
This dish is the perfect side for picky kids and hungry parents!
How to handle your leftovers
Cover tightly and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
The zucchini will soften up even more as you recook it, but it also may make the dish a bit more watery than it initially was.
Helpful Tip!
Picky Kids?
Those green flecks can scare off even the toughest kid. Peel the zucchini to help it blend into the rice even more!
How to make with instant rice
Prefer to work with Minute rice? No problem!
Start by cooking the rice according to the package directions.
When adding the rice to the boiling water, add the zucchini as well.
After the rice is fully cooked fluff it with a fork and stir in the cheese, garlic, and butter. Cover this for a minute or two to melt the cheese and then give it a stir.
Cheesy zucchini rice in about 10 minutes!
More recipes with garden fresh ingredients
The Best Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
Cheesy Zucchini Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium zucchini shredded
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Splash of milk as needed
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
- Add the rice and stir to coat. Toast the rice, stirring often, just until it starts to turn golden.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, turn heat to low, and cover.
- Cook, covered, for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and quickly add the butter, grated zucchini, cheddar, and garlic powder.
- Cover and let set for 10 minutes. It's important to cover the rice again quickly to retain some of the steam from cooking.
- Uncover the rice, stir well to combine, and add salt and pepper to taste. If you'd like the rice to have a thinner texture, add a splash of milk.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in June 2012. It was updated with new photos in May 2020.
Ashley says
Could you make this with brown rice? Would the directions be the same? Thanks!
Megan says
I was wondering how this would work using frozen zucchinis. I have tons in my freezer that I need to use before summer comes.
Karly says
Honestly, I’ve never worked with frozen zucchini before, so I really don’t know. If you try it, please report back and let us know! 🙂
Jennifer Howland says
This was excellent…thank you!! 🙂
Melissa says
I just made this for dinner with zucchini frozen from my garden. This was so good everyone in my family gobbled it up. I will defiantly keep this in my side dish rotation. Thank you.
Adam says
Recipe looks awesome. Regarding Phyllis thinking this was vegetarian, it may have been because someone tagged it as vegetarian in Stumbleupon.
Christie says
I can”t set my phone down without one of my littles grabbing it to play Draw Something. My daughter drew a taco for Tokyo so I feel your pain. We also homeschool 😉
dede says
Made this for lunch to day, and let me just say, I could have eaten the whole pot by myself 🙂
this was smooth and creamy and had just the right balance of cheese and veggie flavor.
I used minute rice, 3 kids waiting for lunch :0), so it did not take me as long , but I think it was still yummy!!
thanks for sharing 🙂
Daniela @ food recipes HQ says
Cool recipe, I’ll have to try!
Phyllis says
How is this recipe vegetarian. It has chicken broth?
Karly says
@Phyllis,
I didn’t say it was vegetarian, did I? Though you could swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth if you wanted to go that route! 🙂
jenny says
tried this tonight but added asparagus, celery, mushroom and shredded chicken. Even my husband ate it who is a terror at eating vegetables due to a bad experience with some boiled cabbage as a kid! Thanks mucho!
Amy says
I love this combination.of rice and vegetable..might be my new best side dish. This is COMFORT FOOD!!!…It is even fabulous heated up the next day. I will definitly serve this to guests!!.
Adri says
If I were to use a large zucchini, how much should I use? 1 c? Thank you (:
TobyD says
Found this recipe on Pinterest and immediately had to add it to tonight’s dinner!!! Even had to run out to the farmer stand to pick up zucchini – and it was WELL worth it. Thank you for sharing!!
kris says
Your daughter sounds adorable! When mine was about 3 yrs old, she stubbed her toe and said “Damn Rabbit!” UGH! That made no sense to me at the time but after questioning her she said “Thats what Elmor Fudd says to Bugs Bunny when he’s mad!” (Dag Nabbit) HAHA I will NEVER forget that conversation!
I will be trying the rice very soon! Sounds delish!
Karly says
@kris,
Haha! That is ADORABLE!
kris says
Am going to try the rice tonight! Sounds DELISH!
Your daughter sounds adorable! When my daughter was about 3 yrs old, she stubbed her toe and said “Damn Rabbit!” Which at the time made no sense to me whatsoever but when I questioned her….she said “That’s what Elmor Fudd says to Bugs Bunny!” (Dag Nabbit) HAHAHAHHA I will NEVER forget that!!!!