Say hello to your new best friend Mexican Rice Balls. They fit perfectly in little hands and feature a chunk of gooey cheese the center which is like a surprise in every bite.

Pin

OK, so you didn’t watch yesterday’s video on how to cook perfect brown rice and now you’ve got a batch of sticky rice and don’t know what to do with it.

At first glance it seems like just an ordinary sphere of brown rice. But take a closer look and you’ll see tiny flecks of aromatic spices clinging to the wholesome grains. Intrigued, you pick up the rice ball and pull it apart to inhale the wonderful smell. As the steam clears you see the hidden treasure nestled inside- melted cheddar cheese.

What is it about melted cheese that transforms almost any food into something irresistible? That ooey, gooey, tangy, salty bite of golden bliss that you’ll find inside every one of these Mexican Rice Balls testifies as to why they are so addictive–and kid-friendly.

Every (and I mean every) time I make these I can be guaranteed there will be no leftovers. In fact the last time I made them Chloe burst into tears because she said Kenya got more rice balls than she did. Note to self for next time_ double the recipe.

Make these ahead of time, put them in the fridge, and just pop a few in the microwave or a steamer whenever you hear grumbling tummies in your house.

Pin

Mexican Rice Balls

No ratings yet
Author: Catherine McCord
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 cup short grain rice
  • 2 1/4 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup cheddar cheese cubes (I use 4 cheese sticks cut into 6 pieces each)

Instructions 

  • In a pot, combine all of the ingredients* except the cheese, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 45 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed the water and is cooked through. Leave pot covered and allow it to sit on the stove, off of the heat, for about 10 minutes.
  • When rice is cool enough to handle, take about 2 tablespoons of it with moist hands (to avoid sticking), place a cheese cube in the center, and roll into a ball. Continue with remaining rice and cheese.***
  • Place rice balls in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to melt the cheese. Alternatively, place the rice balls in a steamer pot over boiling water for 1-2 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 300mg | Fiber: 2g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @Weelicious or tag #weelicious!

About the Author

Catherine is a mama of three. A Kentucky girl living in California. Here’s what I know: all kids can be great eaters and mealtime must be easy. I create simple, healthy recipes the whole family will love.

Comments

  1. I haven’t tried this recipe yet but am going to add it to our annual Halloween menu as spider eggs, can’t wait!

  2. I LOVE mexican food and always need rice on the side. This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try this, thank you!

  3. […] Mexican Rice Balls Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Cheesy Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes Feed Me Phoebe: […]

  4. […] Weelicious: Mexican Rice Balls Feed Me Phoebe: Sausage, Pepper and Onion Frittata Cooking With Elise: Parmesan Noodle Bake Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Grilled Cheese with Spicy Pickles, Pepper Jack and Garlic Aioli Napa Farmhouse 1885: Cheese and Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas Red or Green: Cheddar Cheese and Red Chile Potato Soup Virtually Homemade: Grilled Asparagus with Tomato Salad and Goat Cheese Domesticate Me: Parmesan Quinoa Risotto with Roasted Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes The Sensitive Epicure: Easy Cheesy Puffs (Gluten-Free) Dishin & Dishes: Baked Herbed Ricotta Spread Taste With The Eyes: Shrimp, Haricots Verts and Garbanzo Beans with Feta FN Dish: Cheesy Brunch Sides […]

  5. […] Mexican Rice Balls Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Cheesy Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes Feed Me Phoebe: […]

  6. Global Shrimp: Haricots Verts, Chickpeas, Feta • Taste With The Eyes • where the image is meant to titillate and inspire the cook says:

    […] Weelicious: Mexican Rice Balls Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Cheesy Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes Feed Me Phoebe: Sausage, Pepper and Onion Frittata Cooking With Elise: Parmesan Noodle Bake Big Girls, Small Kitchen: Grilled Cheese with Spicy Pickles, Pepper Jack and Garlic Aioli Napa Farmhouse 1885: Cheese and Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas Red or Green: Cheddar Cheese and Red Chile Potato Soup Virtually Homemade: Grilled Asparagus with Tomato Salad and Goat Cheese Domesticate Me: Parmesan Quinoa Risotto with Roasted Asparagus and Sun-Dried Tomatoes The Sensitive Epicure: Easy Cheesy Puffs (Gluten-Free) Dishin & Dishes: Baked Herbed Ricotta Spread Taste With The Eyes: Shrimp, Haricots Verts and Garbanzo Beans with Feta FN Dish: Cheesy Brunch Sides […]

  7. […] Mexican Rice Balls Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Cheesy Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes Feed Me Phoebe: […]

  8. My two-year-old LOVED these! And the fact that you can premake them and stick them in the fridge is fabulous! (Just a note that when I heated up the chilled ones, I did them for 15 seconds first, then another 8. The cheese wasn’t completely melted after the first 15.)

  9. It has to do with the physical size of the grains. Sushi rice is medium or short grain. Basmati and Jasmine rice are long grain.

  10. What is the difference between short grain and long grain rice? I looked today at my local grocery store, both in the rice section and the ethnic section and could not find any short grain rice. Ended up getting sushi rice, says it’s medium grade rice. Hope it works!!

  11. Will try cooking the rice in chicken stock, maybe add a bit of pureed carrots or tomatoes to the rice to add color. Thank you.

  12. My brown rice wasn’t sticky enough to form the balls either, Maybe I should have used the sushi rice instead? Or maybe if I would have used a rice cooker???

  13. My short grain brown rice wasn’t sticky so I couldn’t form the balls., not sure why. Just thought I’d mention it.

  14. So I made these, they came out looking great, but were a little bland. While the rice and water was in the pot, I added the spices and they all sunk to the bottom, making a crust. I mixed the rice together with my hands. Did you have to take this step? What did I do wrong?

  15. My son wanted bean burritos for lunch, got this email this morning and now the brown rice is on the stove, smells great. can’t wait to form the balls and give my son a nice surprise in his lunch box today. Thank you again for another fun recipe!

  16. I totally hear you. There isn’t really a substitute for the rice as no other grains get that good sticky consistency!

  17. Yes, sushi rice is short grain rice! You can find short grain brown rice in the rice section, too!

  18. Yes you can! Place them on a baking tray in the freezer for about 30 – 60 minutes, until frozen. Then transfer to a zip top bag or other freezer container. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge or in a steamer pot!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating