Creamy Parmesan Rice has so much flavor from freshly grated Parmesan cheese and garlic plus a touch of lemon juice. It’s an easy rice side dish that goes with practically anything.
Easy Side Dish Recipe
This simple rice dish can be ready in just 30 minutes. It is a great option for a busy weeknight meal. Made from basic ingredients you are likely to already have in your kitchen.
The rice gets cooked in a mixture of chicken broth and milk instead of water. The chicken broth flavors the rice and the milk helps make it creamy.
Plain rice can be kind of boring and it is not one of the more popular side dishes at my house. But Creamy Parmesan Rice is a whole different story.
The creaminess factor together with tons of flavor from Parmesan cheese and garlic elevates this rice dish to a crave-worthy side.
★★★★★
What readers are saying
I had my doubts, but OMGOOOSH! It turned out PERFECTLY and I will make this again. I more than tripled the recipe (as a side) for 22 teens at a church function, and they loved it.
It takes a little more time to make than one of those flavored rice packets from the store. But the flavor is much, much better. Plus store-bought rice mixes are full of things that are not great to put in your body. When you make homemade recipes, you control what is in your food and you can be sure it is chemical-free.
Fresh Parmesan Flavor
I buy a piece of Parmesan cheese and grate it with a Microplane Grater. I love how finely it grates things, plus it is super sharp making it easy to quickly grate a lot of cheese.
Creamy Parmesan Rice makes the perfect side for any Spring meal and it goes great with Chicken Drumsticks or Southern Baked Chicken.
Recipe Tip
If you need this recipe to be vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
More Favorite Sides
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes
- Buttered Noodles
- Buttered Parsley Potatoes
- Pecan Rice Pilaf
- Orange Rice
- Buttery Peas and Mushrooms
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Watch the short video below to see how to make Parmesan Rice.
Parmesan Rice
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 medium sweet onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium pot. Add onion and cook until softened.
- Add garlic and rice. Stir with a wooden spoon and cook 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth, milk, and salt. Bring to a simmer. Cover pot and reduce heat to low. Cook 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice.
Notes
Nutrition
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Originally posted May 4, 2016.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
When do you add the salt? I’m I missing something? Lol
Hello, Can this parmesan rice recipe be made a day ahead….thank you! Terri
Made it last night and the whole family loved it. It was like a party in my mouth!
Looks delicious! Think I will try this with quinoa since I don’t do rice!
Let us know hoe it works with quinoa Reggie!
Christin, this loiks like an awesome rice side dish. Do you think it would work with a non-dairy (i.e. almond, cashew or soy) milk? Cpuld it be made in a rice cooker? Thanks!!
Hi Catherine. I haven’t tried making it with a non-dairy milk so I’m really not sure how it would turn out. Haven’t tried it in a rice cooker either.
Could be done with coconut milk.
This was sooo yummy! Thanks!
Made this with brown rice and it’s a huge hit! The entire family, including very picky toddlers, love this dish! We also added baked chicken for a rice bowl. Will make again! I did remove the lid after 20 minutes and let some of the liquid evaporate-I think the brown rice didn’t absorb as much as white and it was a medium grain.
Can this be made in a rice cooker?
I did! Followed the recipe exactly.
This was pretty easy to make and everyone enjoyed it, we will definitely make it again.
I made this tonight and both my husband and I loved it. Would make this over and over.
Went looking for a new rice dish and found this gem. So delish. Thank you so much for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it Sam!
This was delicious, home run here!
Made this for dinner last night, to go with baked cod and steamed broccoli, and it was delicious! It tastes like a packaged rice side, but better, and with whole food ingredients which I really like. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it Mary!
You can never go wrong with rice and you can never go wrong with cheese. By my calculations, I believe that makes this recipe totally, totally right. I love this!!! Can’t wait to try it out!
Looks deliciously amazing! 🙂
I think I could eat rice every day. I’m always looking for new ways to make it. And this sounds great. Holy cow, all that cheese! I love it!
My whole family fell in love with this rice! Absolutely wonderful!
Rice is something I grew up on and I can never get enough. I could eat the entire bowl of this — I love the addition of parmesan, lemon, and garlic!
This rice looks fluffy and fabulous, Christin! Love that you used chicken broth and milk instead of water! And as far as parmesan, the more the better! Love this! Cheers, friend!
i have no use for rice…unless cheese is involved! great side for so many things!
Parmesan rice is a favorite of mine! I love making it with shrimp or chicken, makes such a delicious dinner. Your version looks fantastic, Christin!