Slow Cooker Queso Chicken and Rice
This Slow Cooker Queso Chicken and Rice is the easiest dinner recipe for feeding a crowd any night of the week. WIth seasoned rice, tender chicken, and creamy queso, it's easy to prep in 10 minutes before the crock pot does the rest of the cooking for you.
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 430kcal
Ingredients
- 2 5.4oz packs Knorr Taco or Mexican Rice
- 14.5 oz regular or low-sodium chicken broth
- 16 oz Pace Picante Sauce or other smooth salsa
- 1 cup water
- 2-3 tsp taco seasoning
- 2 1/2-3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1/2-3/4 cup queso blanco dip warmed
- cilantro for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Whisk together both rice packets, broth, salsa, water, and chicken in the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low 3-4 hours or high 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until chicken reaches 165°F and rice is tender.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese. Stir the mixture inside the crockpot to gently to combine with the rice. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
- Cover another 5-10 minutes just to melt the cheese.
- Drizzle warmed queso blanco dip over the top before serving. Garnish with cilantro if desired.
Notes
Storage:
Store any leftover slow cooker queso chicken and rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through.
You can easily freeze the leftovers too, just place in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.
It's a great weeknight dinner to prepare ahead of time. The hands-on prep time is about 10 minutes and then let the crock pot do the work for you.
Tips
- Cut the chicken pieces all the same size so they cook evenly. This is key to tender chicken that is moist and delicious.
- Make it with cooked chicken. Simply add shredded chicken when you add the shredded cheese.
- Make it vegetarian. Omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead. Add more veggies like bell peppers, fire roasted corn, and even cauliflower or broccoli if you desire.
- Add the cheese last. You want to avoid sprinkling over the cheese too early or else it will clump and not melt evenly.
- Use your favorite queso. This is the cherry on top, drizzle it over warm for the most decadent bite.
Nutrition
Serving: 8g | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g
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