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Creamy Queso Rice with Juicy Steak Strips

A delicious one-pan dish featuring creamy cheese rice topped with juicy steak strips, ideal for family dinners and impressing friends.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the creamy queso rice
  • 300 g long grain rice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 500 ml chicken broth
  • 120 g cheddar cheese, grated
  • 60 g cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
For the steak topping
  • 300 g sirloin steak strips
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 juice of lime

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear, then drain.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
  3. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion is translucent.
  4. Stir in the rice to coat each grain with oil and cook for 1–2 minutes.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover.
  6. Simmer the rice for 15–18 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Cooking the steak
  1. Meanwhile, season the steak strips with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over high heat.
  3. Add the steak strips in a single layer and cook for 2–3 minutes per side until browned and juicy.
Final Assembly
  1. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese, cream cheese, chili powder, and cumin until creamy.
  2. Fluff the queso rice with a fork and transfer to serving plates.
  3. Top the rice with the steak strips, garnish with cilantro, and drizzle with lime juice.

Notes

You can easily make this dish vegan by swapping out the steak for mushrooms or jackfruit, and using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Experiment with different cheeses for added flavor.