California Casserole
Submitted by jbleier
Creamy rice casserole with tangy green chilies, melted cheddar, and a hint of bay leaf. Perfect for weeknight dinners when you need comfort food fast.
YIELD
8 servingsPREP
10 minCOOK
30 minREADY
40 minThis California Casserole brings together fluffy white rice, sharp cheddar, and the bright kick of green chilies for a side dish that steals the spotlight.
The combination of sour cream and cottage cheese creates an indulgent base that’s lighter than you’d expect, while the bay leaf adds an aromatic depth most rice casseroles miss entirely.
Kitchen Tips
- Use day-old rice: Freshly cooked rice can turn mushy in the oven. Leftover rice from yesterday gives you better texture and saves time.
- Don’t skip the golden onions: Sautéing the onions until they caramelize adds a sweet-savory foundation that balances the tangy chilies.
- Layer strategically: Building the casserole in two distinct layers ensures every bite has rice, cheese, and that pop of green chili flavor.
Variations
- Swap cottage cheese for ricotta for a silkier texture
- Add cooked chicken or black beans for a heartier main dish
- Top with crushed tortilla chips before baking for extra crunch
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃).
Lightly grease a 12×8×2 inch baking dish (2-quart).
In hot butter in large skillet, sauté onion until golden about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat; stir in hot rice, sour cream, cottage cheese, bay leaf, salt (optional), and pepper; toss lightly to mix well.
Layer half the rice mixture in bottom of baking dish, then half of chilies; sprinkle with half of cheddar cheese; repeat.
Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes, or until bubbly and hot.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Comments
Is it really 4 cups of Worcestershire sauce? Where's the rice in the ingredient list? Aren't these things proofread?
Thanks for your comment, 4 cups of sauce is definitely wrong, it should be 4 cups cooked rice, just updated the recipe, enjoy!
Is that 4 cups raw rice cooked or 4 cups cooked rice?
4 cup rice is cooked.