Cheesy garlic spinach rice is cozy, flavorful, dairy free and gluten free comfort food. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal!
When you aren’t able to eat dairy or wheat, sometimes it feels like you miss out on comfort food.
This is the perfect comforting, allergy friendly recipe, and it’s so easy to make. Everything gets mixed up in one pot, and it comes together relatively quickly. You can serve this cheesy garlic rice as a side dish, along with some chicken or fish, or go ahead make a meal out of it and just eat it by the bowlful.
Rice is a gluten free staple, and it is very versatile. If you’re looking for more tasty rice recipes, you may want to try vegan cheesy broccoli rice, creamy lentil wild rice soup, or this easy dairy free risotto.
This recipes is really so good, and has become a favorite side dish at our house. The nutty pop of the brown rice and the cheesy, creamy sauce make it very hard to resist.
It’s flexible, too. Use kale if you would rather, or even peas.
It couldn’t be any easier! One pot, easy clean up, and a delicious and comforting meal your whole family will love!
This post is part of my series: 31 Days of Gluten, Dairy, and Egg Free Soups, Salads, Sides & Sweets.
Ingredient Notes
- Rice – Lundberg brand rice is made in a rice only facility as far as I know (this is what I was told when I called them a while back). Always call and check with the company to make sure any brand or product is safe for your needs.
- Dairy Free Cheese – I used Daiya mozzarella shreds, but you can use any type of dairy free cheese that works for you.
- Dairy Free Milk – Choose a dairy free milk that is neutral tasting for best results. Try oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, or coconut milk.
Substitutions
- If you are not dairy free or gluten free, go ahead and use regular cheese and regular flour.
- If you prefer to use kale or a different green, feel free to do so.
- If you have a different type of rice you like, you can use that instead.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this dish with:
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Recipe
Cheesy Garlic Spinach Rice (Gluten Free, Dairy Free).
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic short grain brown rice
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 cup Daiya mozzarella shreds or dairy cheese if you are not dairy free
- 1 cup thawed and drained frozen chopped spinach
- ⅔ cup dairy free milk
- 1 Tablespoon gluten free flour blend
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Put the brown rice, olive oil, garlic, and chopped onion in a large pot along with 1 ¾ cups of water. Bring to a bowl, then reduce heat and cover. Cook until rice is tender, about 35-40 minutes.
- When rice is done cooking, add the spinach and Daiya cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
- Add the dairy free milk and gluten free flour blend. Stir well until the sauce has thickened up.
- Add the sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
kazy
Hi There,
I was planning on making this next week along with another vegetable dish I have a question about the cheese. In what form should this be? Grated, shredded, sliced off a chunk? I assume because you wanted it blended and melted into the rice, it should be either grated or shredded for an easier melt while mixing but I wanted to check with you first.
Natalie Priester
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Thank you!
Twila
I can’t remember how I landed on your site, but now I am starving! First, the tomato and carrot soup, since that’s all that’s left of my garden, then garlicy cheesy spinach rice. Oh. If my car hadn’t been totalled last week, I would jump in it right now, and get a few ingredients. Thanks so much for sharing these amazing recipes. You’re right, they are all comfort foods.
Kelly
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad you found me! :) And I’m so sorry about your car!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven
Cheesy rice is my number 1 FAV way to eat rice! This looks so good with the addition of spinach and garlic too! Pinned. :)
Kelly
Thanks for pinning, Sarah!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
YES! Those two are an amazing pairing- I love cheese and garlic bread and even have a cheese and garlic waffle as my stand by!
Kelly
Cheese and garlic waffle, wow! Sounds good!
kathysteger
I would definitely give this a try. It sounds just perfect.
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
You had me at garlic and cheesy :)
Annie @Maebells
This looks like delicious, creamy comfort food!!
Kelly
Thanks, Annie!
whiskandshout
Yum! This sounds awesome! The title had me hooked :)
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
A cheesy garlic rice sounds like the perfect dish to me! Looks delicious, Kelly!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen
Yep, you had me at cheesy and garlic. What a great, healthy side dish!