Easy Cheesy Spinach Rice

This recipe is sponsored by Success® Rice, all opinions are my own.

This baby- and toddler-friendly Cheesy Spinach Rice might just remind you of your favorite spinach artichoke dip, in the very best way (aka great cheesy flavor, minus the heaviness!). My favorite recipes for littles are the ones that you can enjoy, too! And this Spinach Cheesy Rice DEFINITELY fits the bill.

I know cooking dinner can sometimes feel like the VERY last thing you want to do at the end of the day. The idea of chopping, prepping, cooking, baking– it can all be too much when you’ve spent your day working, wrangling little ones, or just doing all the things it takes to keep your world spinning.

I’m always looking for ways I can make this task manageable for myself (and for all of you, too!) and Success Rice has been a big win for my sanity, my dinner table, and my kids’ bellies. I want to share with you this Cheesy Spinach Rice recipe I created using Success® Rice Boil-in-Bag White Rice that has been a staple for us!

Why I love Cheesy Spinach Rice

This recipe is easy, delicious, and can be thrown together in a pinch with only 3 main ingredients (plus the ones you always have on hand like oil and salt). What I love about using Success® Boil-in-Bag Rice is that it majorly simplifies the cooking process and cuts my time in the kitchen in half (or less!). Rice that is fully cooked and perfectly fluffy in 10 minutes? Yes please.

Also, it’s just one ingredient- RICE- no hidden sodium that can be found in other quick rice mixes. And who doesn’t want an easy meal to come together basically on its own after a long day of parenting!?

This meal is 100% baby and toddler friendly! It’s easy and safe for them to eat, and it is a good way to introduce a veggie alongside a food they will most likely already like (rice and cheese are some kid favorites!).

Swiss cheese is baby-friendly due to its lower sodium content compared to most other cheeses. Even if you are not the biggest Swiss fan, I would still give it a try in this recipe! I’m not one who would normally choose Swiss, but it adds the perfect smooth texture and creaminess here.

Ingredients Needed

All you need is:

• 1 bag Success® Boil-in-Bag White Rice
• 2 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach (do not defrost)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• Garlic powder to taste (a few shakes)
• Sea salt to taste

How to make this recipe

1. Heat water in a small saucepan over high heat until boiling.
2. While water heats up, cut 2 oz off a block of Swiss cheese, and shred it using a grater. Set aside.
3. Cook rice according to package directions in a small saucepan, drain and set aside.
4. Return sauce pan to stove, heat over medium low.
5. Add olive oil when the pan is hot. Then add spinach and garlic powder, sauté until warmed through, some liquid may release. Add a sprinkle of salt. (May omit salt if making for baby under 12 months.)
6. Remove the pan from heat and add in cooked rice and shredded cheese.
7. Stir until combined.
8. Add salt to taste and serve.

Recipe FAQs

Is it okay if I don’t use spinach?

Yes, if you have eaters who will simply not touch a mixed dish with spinach, it’s okay to skip it! I like to add veggies into dishes that I know my kids will like, and cheesy rice is a very crowd-pleasing base, but if your kids aren’t there yet, that’s okay! They will still get some good nutrition between Success Rice white rice and cheese!

Could I add another veggie in this dish?

Yes! I imagine that broccoli or peas would work just as well! You would follow the same process, cook them in the olive oil in the sauce pan until cooked and soft, and then continue the recipe as written.

Expert Tips

If you are serving eaters who may not readily accept a super spinach-y dish (looking at you, babies and toddlers!), then I recommend starting small with the spinach portion. This could be as little as mincing up a couple leaves of fresh spinach and using them as a sprinkle on top of this dish instead of baking it into the dish. If you opt for baking it in, fresh and frozen spinach both work. You can use 2-3x as much fresh spinach as frozen, since the frozen is already cooked down.

When buying frozen spinach, I ALWAYS buy the kind in the bag, not the box (even though that’s what’s pictured here) because it’s so much easier to scoop out how much you need!

Cheesy Spinach Rice Recipe

What Should I Serve With Cheesy Spinach Rice?

When I made it, I added simple roasted shrimp and grape tomatoes for a quick protein and some more color/veggies! You can see it all come together in my Instagram Reel. Here’s how I did it:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Remove tails from large shrimp, and slice tomatoes in half lengthwise. Add shrimp and tomatoes to a baking sheet, then drizzle with olive oil and toss. Season with salt and pepper (leave baby’s portion unsalted). Add garlic powder if desired.
3. Roast until the shrimp are opaque, about 10 minutes.
4. Slice shrimp lengthwise to serve to baby/toddler, or dice into small pieces.

Cheesy Spinach Rice checks all my boxes!

This dish will become a weekly staple and family favorite! Adults love it, kids love it, and it’s even safe and nutritious for babies and toddlers (just hold off on salting for babies)! If your kids love mac and cheese, think of this Cheesy Spinach Rice as its cousin. It’s simple, warm, comforting, delicious, and, of course, nutritious. We can get a serving of veggies in there, we’re getting some great carbohydrates for long-lasting energy, and a good dose of protein and fat as well. Covering all the macronutrients and pleasing a baby/toddler in the same dish is a win to me!