Easy Cheesy Zucchini Rice

This easy cheesy zucchini rice is a great way to include whole grains and vegetables in your meals. I love making this dish because it uses ingredients I always have on hand and it really is easy to make.

Last summer when my parents were visiting, I told my dad about this cheesy zucchini rice we had recently. His response: “Your mom never fixes rice. I would really like some rice once in a while.”

That’s when I knew I had to make this rice dish in a slow cooker to take to a cookout they were hosting on Mother’s Day. This dish was a hit with everyone at the cookout and my dad got his rice.

This dish is so versatile! You can fix it using different methods depending on the season.

• Cook stove stop and serve as a side dish. (recipe below)
• Pre-cook the rice, stir in remaining ingredients and use as a base for a baked casserole.
• Double the recipe, pre-cook the rice and finish cooking in crock pot to take to a gathering. (see notes below for adapting recipe for Crock Pot)

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Rice

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups water
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 small zucchinis)
• 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese (about 3 oz chunk freshly shredded)

Instructions

• Cook rice in water in a pan on the stove.
• Add garlic powder while rice is cooking.
• While waiting for the rice to cook, shred cheese and set aside.
• Shred zucchini. I usually peel the zucchini first, but you don’t have to. I used a hand shredder but you could also use the shredding blade of a food processor.
• Once rice is fully cooked, stir in shredded zucchini and continue to cook about 5 more minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese.

Easy Cheesy Zucchini Rice

Dawn

This easy cheesy zucchini rice is a great way to include whole grains and vegetables in your meals.

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Ingredients

  

• 2.5 cups water
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 2 cups shredded zucchini about 2 small zucchinis
• 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese about 3 oz chunk freshly shredded

Instructions

 

• Cook rice in water in a pan on the stove.
• Add garlic powder while rice is cooking.
• While waiting for the rice to cook, shred cheese and set aside.
• Shred zucchini. I usually peel the zucchini first, but you don't have to. I used a hand shredder but you could also use the shredding blade of a food processor.
• Once rice is fully cooked, stir in shredded zucchini and continue to cook about 5 more minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese.

Adapt Cheesy Zucchini Rice for Slow Cooker

• Double the entire recipe
• Cook the rice on the stove and add in garlic powder same as above.
• When rice is done, pour into slow cooker.
• Add shredded zucchini and shredded cheddar cheese to the slow cooker and stir.
• Stir in 1 cup of water and cook on low for 2-4 hours.

What is your favorite way to cook rice in your house?