This easy Mexican rice is full of authentic restaurant quality taste and is so simple to make! It’s the perfect side dish to any of your favorite Mexican meals.
This is our go-to side when serving Mexican recipes! We love to include it in my burrito bowls, chicken fajita bowls or when serving carne asada.
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Authentic Mexican Rice
I’m a huge lover of Mexican food! There are so many delicious Mexican side dish recipes from refried beans to Mexican street corn, but this easy Mexican rice recipe (also known as Spanish rice or arroz rojo) is a favorite with authentic taste!
Whenever I eat at a Mexican restaurant, I order a plate of it to go with my ranch chicken tacos or beef enchiladas. Now though, I make it at home in just over 30 minutes. We also love cilantro lime rice on taco Tuesday.
Ingredients Needed
With simple ingredients, it’s easy serve this side dish with anything from chicken taquitos to ground beef tacos.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken broth: You can use water, but your rice will be less flavorful. I like to dissolve 2 chicken bouillon cubes in the water.
- Oil: I use canola or olive oil, but any oil with a high smoke point will work.
- Long grain white rice: Long-grain rice is preferred, feel free to use jasmine rice, too. Do not use short grain rice as it contains to much starch. See FAQs if you prefer to use brown rice.
- Garlic and onion: Both impart big flavor.
- Tomato sauce: You can also use a 14.5-ounce can of petite diced or crushed tomatoes in place of tomato sauce. If adding a whole can of diced tomatoes, remove 1/2 cup of broth.
- Cumin: Imparts that signature Mexican flavor.
- Salt: To enhance the overall flavor of all the other ingredients.
Substitutions and Variations
White rice on it’s own is neutral in flavor and bland, so adding spices to it gives it flavor.
- Restaurant-style rice: Follow this recipe and add chili powder in addition to the other ingredients if desired. If you like more spice, add diced jalapeno.
- Rice pilaf: My rice pilaf recipe simply uses garlic, onion and broth. You can also add in additional veggies like diced carrots or peas.
- Spanish rice: Saffron is key spice used in this rice.
- Mix-ins: I love this rice as-is, but many like to add additional veggies. Some popular additions include corn, carrots, green beans, bell pepper or peas.
How to Make Mexican Rice
This recipe is made in just one pot in just over 30 minutes. It’s full of flavor and easy to customize.
- Toast the rice in oil. Add oil to large skillet over medium heat. Mix in rice and cook until golden, about 10 minutes. Push to one side of skillet, then add onions and cook 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute until fragrant. Combine onions and rice.
- Bring to a boil. Add broth, tomato sauce, salt and cumin. Stir and bring to a boil.
- Let simmer. Once boiling, cover with lid and simmer for 25-35 minutes, until rice is cooked through and has absorbed liquid.
- Serve and enjoy. Remove rice from heat and mix in fresh cilantro. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Rinsing rice: Usually recipes will have you rinse your rice. Since we are toasting the rice, there is no need to rinse it as it’s hard to toast wet rice.
- Do not lift the lid: Rice needs steam to cook and as it steams the grains absorb the liquid which makes the best fluffy rice.
- Crunchy rice. If your rice is crunchy, cook it a bit longer. Mine is ready at 25 minutes, but it could take up to 35 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork: Rest for 2-3 minutes then fluff with a fork. Don’t stir it. Fluffing the rice helps separate the grains while stirring will lead to clumpy, mushy, sticky rice.
- Add cilantro before serving: Don’t cook the cilantro with the rice it will get brown and wilted. Adding it at the end adds a vibrant, fresh spot of color.
Favorite Recipes to Pair with Mexican Rice
There are so many ways to serve this rice! You can enjoy it as a side with your favorite Mexican dishes, or use it as a component when making a meal. Below are a few ideas.
- Serve as a side dish alongside green chile chicken enchiladas, taco lasagna or carnitas.
- Serve as side for tacos like chicken tinga tacos and chicken fajitas.
- Use when making burritos or taco bowls.
- Top a Mexican salad or fajita salad with it.
- Serve it mixed in with ground taco meat (or shredded chicken) and beans.
- Use it in this sheet pan quesadilla recipe.
FAQs
Mexican rice is also referred to as “arroz rojo,” which means “red rice.” The main reason that it gets a red/orange color is from the diced tomatoes. The tomatoes, along with the tomato juice, are added to the skillet and simmer with the rice for about 20 to 25 minutes. The color is really infused during this cooking time. The chicken bouillon cubes and cumin also add to the vibrant orange tone.
Spanish rice and Mexican rice are often interchanged and are basically the same dish. Both have similar base ingredients, like rice, tomatoes (or tomato sauce), chicken bouillon or broth. The only small difference may be that Spanish rice is made with saffron instead of cumin and may have a more yellow tint.
While an authentic Mexican rice recipe uses long grain white rice, brown rice could be used but you will need to add 1/3 cup additional water and add about 10-20 minutes more cook time.
Store rice in an airtight container in the fridge up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to rehydrate.
Freeze in a freezer-friendly bag in the freezer up to 6 months. Thaw before using or use straight from freezer by microwaving on high stirring every few minutes until it is thawed and ready to eat.
More ways to use Mexican rice include taco salad, chicken tortilla soup or chicken stuffed peppers!
More Easy Rice Recipes
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Mexican Rice Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2-3 Tablespoons oil , I use canola or olive oil
- 1 ½ cups long grain white rice
- ½ cup onion , finely diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic , minced
- 3 cups chicken broth , or water (see notes)
- ¾ cup tomato sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin (or taco seasoning) , plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , plus more to taste
Optional: Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly to avoid burning, 5 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
- Push rice to one side of the skillet. Add diced onions and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook an additional 1 minute. Stir rice into onion mixture.
- Stir in broth, tomato sauce, cumin, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover.
- Simmer 25 to 35 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed the liquid and the rice is cooked through.
- Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in fresh cilantro, if desired. Season with salt and pepper. Enjoy with your favorite Mexican dish!
Notes
- Tomatoes: Try using a (14.5-ounce) can of petite diced or crushed tomatoes in place of tomato sauce. If adding a whole can, remove 1/2 cup of broth/water.
- Veggies: Try vegetables such as carrots, green beans, bell pepper and/or peas.
- Spice: If you like more spice, add in some chili powder, minced jalapenos or more ground cumin.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Cinco De Mayo, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Mexican, Nut-Free, One Pot, Rice, Side Dishes, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This came out great! Didn’t have tomato sauce so I swapped it out for the can of diced tomatoes like you recommended and it still tasted perfect. Love it as a side to tacos or in a burrito
So happy to hear the substituting the diced tomatoes worked out perfectly for you Aileen!
My go-to Mexican rice recipe! It’s so fluffy and perfect texture. I always make this to add into bean and cheese burritos for an easy meal prep— this rice bulks them up and adds great flavor!
So glad you enjoy the Mexican rice, great idea to add to the burritos!