Creamy Queso Rice with Juicy Steak, the ultimate 30-minute dinner

If there’s one dish that guarantees clean plates and happy guests at my house, it’s creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips. This cheesy, satisfying recipe hits all the right notes—melty, bold, comforting, and full of Tex-Mex flavor. The first time I made creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips was for a casual Friday night dinner, and it quickly became a family favorite. With tender steak, seasoned rice, and a rich, homemade queso sauce, it’s everything you crave in one skillet.

This creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips recipe is also incredibly flexible. You can use jasmine or basmati rice, mix in your favorite cheeses, or dial up the spice to suit your taste. It’s the perfect choice for weeknight meals, potlucks, or even brunch with a twist. Bonus: it pairs beautifully with creamy honey pepper chicken mac or easy chicken tostadas for a fully loaded comfort food spread.

Once you try this creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips, it’s bound to become a repeat recipe in your kitchen—bold, creamy, and absolutely irresistible.

Table of contents:

How to Make Creamy Queso Rice with Juicy Steak Strips

🛒 Ingredients

Meat

• 1 lb sirloin steak, sliced into strips

Produce

• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, finely diced (optional for heat)
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes

Canned Goods

• 2 cups beef broth

Grains

• 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice

Baking & Spices

• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp salt

Oils & Fats

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter

Spices & Seasonings

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin

Dairy

• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup white cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp sour cream

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sear the Steak
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, sear the steak strips for 2–3 minutes per side until browned but still juicy. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Step 2: Cook the Rice
In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add rice, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Toast for 1–2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in beef broth, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.

Step 3: Make the Queso
Once the rice is cooked, reduce heat to low. Stir in cream cheese, heavy cream, white cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheese. Mix until melted and creamy. Add diced tomatoes and jalapeños (if using), and fold everything together.

Step 4: Add Back the Steak
Return the juicy steak strips to the pan. Gently toss to coat in the queso rice mixture and let everything heat through for 2–3 minutes.

Step 5: Finish and Serve
Top with sour cream and chopped cilantro. Serve hot with optional lime wedges or tortilla chips.

🍽 How to Serve Creamy Queso Rice with Juicy Steak Strips

This creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips is a full-on comfort food experience, but it also plays well in a variety of serving situations. I love plating it in shallow bowls and topping it with sour cream, chopped cilantro, or a few dashes of hot sauce for extra kick. For brunch spreads, it pairs surprisingly well with southern-style honey butter cornbread poppers or a chilled cottage cheese ranch dip on the side. You can even spoon it into small ramekins or cast iron skillets for individual Tex-Mex brunch servings.

If you’re entertaining, this creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips holds up beautifully as part of a dinner board with sliced avocado, charred corn, and lime wedges. It’s also a hit at game nights—just serve it with tortilla chips and let guests scoop it up like a queso dip! Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a bold brunch centerpiece, the cheesy, savory layers in this dish steal the spotlight.

🧊 Make Ahead and Storage Tips

When I make this creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips ahead for a lazy Sunday meal or to prep for the week, I always cook the rice and steak separately the night before. I store them in separate airtight containers, then mix in the queso sauce fresh on the day of serving for best texture and flavor. This way, the rice doesn’t get too soft, and the steak stays juicy.

If you want to prepare the full dish in advance, it stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat slowly on the stove with a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce. Avoid freezing the queso mixture, as dairy-heavy sauces can separate. That said, it’s perfect for making 1–2 days ahead—especially if you’re planning to serve it for a crowd or over brunch. And if you happen to have leftovers? Spoon it into tortillas for an amazing cheesy steak burrito the next day!

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Conclusion

This creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips is comfort food at its absolute best. With tender steak, fluffy seasoned rice, and a rich homemade queso sauce, it hits all the right notes—cheesy, spicy, and deeply satisfying. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight family dinner or impressing guests at your next brunch, this creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips delivers bold Tex-Mex flavor every single time. Easy to make, fun to customize, and impossible to resist, this cheesy rice dish deserves a permanent spot in your dinner rotation. Once you try it, you’ll crave this creamy queso rice with juicy steak strips again and again.

❓ FAQs – Creamy Queso Rice with Juicy Steak Strips