Easy 15-Minute Cheesy Chicken & Rice Dinner
A quick and comforting one-skillet meal made with rotisserie chicken, instant rice, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table in under 15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup instant white rice (uncooked)
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: ½ cup frozen peas or chopped broccoli
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, then add onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a gentle boil.
- Stir in the instant rice (and optional frozen peas or broccoli if using). Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Remove the lid. Stir in the shredded chicken and milk or cream. The mixture will look soupy at first.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top and stir gently until fully melted and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for smoother melting. Do not lift the lid while the rice is steaming. For a lower-carb version, replace instant rice with cauliflower rice and reduce broth to ½ cup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: cheesy chicken and rice, 15 minute dinner, easy weeknight meal, one skillet dinner, rotisserie chicken recipe