Homemade Cheesy Rice
My son has been a lover of all things rice for as far back as I can remember. Well, he is only 2 so I don’t have to remember back too far! At any rate, some of his favorite versions are the ones that you either buy in a pouch or from the freezer section with cheese, rice and broccoli. Did I mention that he is one of those rare children that enjoys broccoli? I grow them weird, he prefers the crusts too.
Kid Tested!
At any rate, I have been looking for ideas to make ahead for quick and easy lunches. This is one of the ideas that seemed doable. I made up this recipe and then froze single serving portion in 8 oz cups. When he is hungry and I am out of ideas or am in a hurry, I simply defrost and warm them in the microwave.
If you are looking for extra protein you can easily add diced cooked chicken to the mix. And if your child isn’t a fan of broccoli? Simply substitute in a vegetable they like or mixed vegetables. Or if they are one of “those” kids that don’t like vegetables (don’t worry you are NOT alone) you could add a puree like squash, pumpkin, or cauliflower to these!
Author/Source:
Tricia @ Onceamonthmom.com
Ingredients:
- 3 cups Broccoli florets (2 cups steamed)
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 2 cups Milk
- 3 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 4 cups Rice, cooked (2 cups uncooked)
Directions:
Steam the broccoli in the microwave, steamer or double boiler. Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside broccoli and rice. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour, being sure to combine it with the butter very well. Let cook, stirring the mixture constantly, for about 2 minutes. Do not let it darken. Gradually add the milk, about 1/4 cup at a time, whisking or stirring vigorously. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until thickened and just starting to boil, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until melted. Add in cooked broccoli and rice. Serve.
Freezing Directions:
Prepare as above but instead of serving, scoop into 8 oz freezer containers and freeze. To serve: Warm in microwave until heated through, approximately 1-2 minutes.
Servings: 6
This Post will be linked at:
- Real Food Wednesdays at Kelly the Kitchen Kop
- No Whine Wednesdays at Food on the Table
YUM! I make chicken brocolli rice casserole in the crockpot and I should think about freezing it in small portions for lunch!
This looks so delicious! This surely is kid AND adult approved. Thanks for linking up this week.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DiaperDiaries and triciacallahan, triciacallahan. triciacallahan said: Try this great #b2school recipe packed in your @goodbyn lunchbox #goodbynb2school – http://bit.ly/cWzlkR [...]
You have a child who likes the CRUST?? Wow, I’m jealous! This looks good, thanks!
Will frozen rice pop out of muffin tins like mashed potatoes will? Or do I need to get some disposable cups?
I’m not exactly sure. I would say this recipe should pop out pretty easily but haven’t tried it for sure.
Thanks so much for sharing this! It looks so good, and I can’t wait to try it :-)
[...] Homemade Cheesy Rice [...]
[...] Cheesy Rice [...]
[...] Lunch – Cheesy Broccoli Rice (from the freezer), [...]
Made this tonight for dinner and it was great! I did add about a tablespoon of seasoned salt and had to add in some more milk at the end because my sauce was too thick. Family of 3 ate about 1/4 of it and I was able to freeze 3/4 in 3 separate baggies for meals in the future.
[...] homemade cheesy rice [...]
tricia you should never use a microwave for your food or the baby’s. Microwave ovens actually change the molecular structure of the food. For more details you can visit mercola.com, a doctor’s site that covers this. Your baby is really a cutie. Mine are all grown up. Treasure the moments!
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/05/18/microwave-hazards.aspx