Salsa rice, as we call it at our house, is our once-a-week-meal. All these years, I’ve just made it in a skillet on the stove. Finally I decided to do a “baked” version of it in the slow cooker. It was very good, the flavors combined nicely and it’s a meal everyone will eat happily. Winner! This is a perfect meal if you leftover rice that you need to use up. We eat this as a main dish but it could also be a side dish at a potluck or with a Mexican dinner.
Slow Cooker Salsa Rice Bake
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
A saucy, cheesy rice with browned sausage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups cooked brown rice (I make instant brown rice)
- 1 cup picante sauce (just use salsa if you don’t have picante sauce)
- 1 lb bulk sausage, browned and drained of extra grease (use breakfast sausage, spicy sausage or Italian sausage…it’s up to you!)
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (4 oz) can diced green chile peppers
- 1/2 cup grated cheese (I use cheddar, but use whatever you like)
- Sour cream
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Make a foil collar (see below) and place in your slow cooker on the opposite side of your controls.
- Add the rice, picante sauce, sausage, tomato sauce and peppers to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours.
- Top with sour cream and cilantro and serve.
Notes
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-4 quart
How to make a foil collar:
• Layer and fold sheets of heavy duty foil until you have a six layered foil rectangle. Press the collar into the back side of the slow cooker insert; the food will help hold the collar in place during cooking.
Use the foil collar to prevent burning
- Method: Slow Cooker
As great as this rice bake sounds my e-mail was for 5 ingredient enchilada chicken but when clicking on slow cooker I got the rice recipe.
Help!!
yikes so sorry. here is the recipe: https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/slow-cooker-5-ingredient-enchilada-chicken/
Can you freeze the leftovers for salsa rice bake?
yep!
I have both kinds. I usually use my bigger one bc it’s programmable. The foil collar should work just fine for both kinds of slow cookers. Good luck! =D
I guess you are saying that putting the foil on the hotter side of cooker keeps things from burning! Thanks Sharon
p.s. My cooker is an older model I don't know how it would cook these recipes!
I have liked the two recipes I have tried from your site. I made the salsa rice bake one morning, but just cooked it in the oven for 30 minutes before I left for school. My roommates loved it too, and it is such a great meal to use up the random ingredients in the cupboards!
Delish!!
Carmen, sometimes when baking a casserole-ish thing in the slow cooker I use the foil collar. I use it because the side opposite of your controls gets hotter than the other sides and this prevents burning.
Thanks for that information. I tried another recipe last week and we thought one side tasted burnt…now we know!
you’re welcome!!
I'm sorry to be dense, but what is the foil collar for? Thanks for all the recipes I love trying new things in my crockpot!
tks so much for the really great visit on your website.
creole cuisine