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How to make Homemade Spanish Rice/Mexican Rice. whatever you call it, we’ve got the best and Easiest Spanish Rice Recipe you can find. It tastes like it came straight from the restaurant!
It’s our go-to side dish when serving Mexican food! Not only is it simple and takes under 10 minutes to prep, but it’s perfect served with our tacos and enchiladas!
Easy Mexican Rice
I LOVE Spanish Rice (aka MexicanRice)! As previously mentioned, I’m 1/2 Mexican. I love this family heritage so much, and am especially grateful that my family has taught me to make delicious Mexican food.
My mom has been making today’s Spanish Rice recipe for as long as I can remember and first showed me how to make it several years ago (along with empanadas, enchiladas and tacos). Now, we make it on a weekly basis because my kids are obsessed and it’s just so easy.
This recipe is actually the Spanish Rice recipe of a popular Mexican Restaurant in Mesa called Mango’s (down on Main). If you’ve ever been down there and liked their rice, then you’ll love this recipe. It really is simple, delicious and the perfect side to any Mexican dish!
How to Make spanish Rice
One of the main reasons we love this recipe (other than the fact that it’s simple), is because we always have the ingredients on hand. Here are the Spanish rice ingredients you’ll need to make this delicious side dish:
- long grain rice
- oil
- tomato sauce
- minced garlic
- chicken broth
- cumin
- garlic pepper + salt
Begin by browning the rice in the oil (we use about 1/8 but it depends on how much you like). Add the minced garlic and sauté for a minute before adding the tomato sauce, chicken broth (or water and bouillon cube) and spices.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Fluff up before serving.
FAQ + TIPS
How much rice per person? Plan on 1/4 cup uncooked rice per person. Once the rice is cooked it will end up being about 3/4 – 1 cup per person. If a recipe calls for 3 cups uncooked rice plan on it feeding about 12 people.
Which rice is best for Spanish Rice? We love to use long-grain white rice. It gets fluffy and does not get sticky like some of the short-grained rices.
Can Spanish rice be made with brown rice? Brown rice can definitely be used in place of white rice. Just add ⅓ c more water per cup of brown rice and let simmer longer- until the brown rice reaches your desired texture.
Can you use salsa instead of tomato sauce? Sure thing! Salsa can add more flavor and even a bit more spice to this mild rice recipe. It’s all about preference.
Which topping ingredients are best for this rice? You can add what you love most, but we often add chopped peppers, chopped cilantro, onions or even green onions.
Once all your spices and tomato sauce are added, stir and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.
REHEATING, FREEZING + MORE RECIPES
How to reheat Spanish Rice/mexican rice? Be sure to store it properly in an air-tight container. It can last in the fridge for up to 5-6 days. To reheat, just microwave or reheat on the stove for a few minutes.
Can spanish rice be frozen? Yes, it can be frozen to be used at a future time. Simply place about 3 cups of cooked rice into ziplock freezer bags, label and place in the freezer for 4-6 months.
When you’re ready to use you can thaw the rice in the fridge or cook straight from the freezer. Using a microwave safe bowl microwave the rice on high stirring every 2 minutes until rice reaches your desired temperature.
Recipes that use Spanish Rice
Yes, we use it as a side for any Mexican dish, but we also like to use it recipes too, including:
- Burritos
- Rice bowls/Burrito Bowls
- Chimichangas
- Taco Salad
And best of all, is that it’s the best side for any Mexican meal!! Below are video and printable instructions to make the Mexican rice. We hope you can enjoy it with any Mexican dish you try.
For more Mexican rice recipes, check out:
what to serve with Spanish Rice?
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Red Cheese Enchiladas
- Beef Empanadas
- Green Chile Burros
- Baked Chicken Chimichanga
- Steak Fajitas
Spanish Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 cube chicken-flavored bouillon
- 4 cups water (or 4 cups chicken lower sodium chicken broth - and no bouillon)
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- dash garlic pepper
Topping
- chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil in large frying pan over medium heat.
- Add rice and cook, stirring until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
- Combine bouillon and water in a microwave-safe container and microwave for 3 minutes.
- When rice is brown, add bouillon mixture, tomato sauce, salt, garlic, cumin and garlic pepper to the pan.
- Stir and cover the pan. Let simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until all is cooked and there is no liquid left. Fluff before serving and top with cilantro if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This has been my all time favorite Mexican rice recipe I usually half the rice and water but keep everything else the same and then add diced tomatoes!! Sooooooo good!!
I’m happy to hear that it has become a favorite!
Hi there, 2 cups too much rice. Can you supply 1 cup of rice recipe
If you would like to make a smaller batch using only 1 cup of rice, just cut all of the other ingredients in half as well.
I don’t know what restaurant the author has been eating at, but this did not taste like the Spanish rice I get at the Mexican joints near me. My family said it tasted fine, but it missed the mark for me. I’m probably going to add some bell pepper, andouille, shrimp and cayenne pepper and turn it into gumbo to use it up.
My Mexican mama has been making this recipe for as long as I can remember and is the same as the rice at favorite Mexican restaurant in downtown Chandler. We love that it can pair well with just about every Mexican dish, but you can also add extras to give it different flairs of flavor. Your plan sounds like yummy!
How many ounces are in a serving ?
Each serving will be about 8 ounces or 1 cup.
Sorry, I had an accident with my keyboard during my previous comment. As far as I had typed:
My mother made what she called Spanish Rice at Christmas/New Years whenever we had a group of people in during that time.
But I seem to remember there being hamburger in it.
Is that possible?
It has been many years since I was home during that time to have it. And a few years since she passed on.
So the meat could be a figment of my imagination. (There’s no Spanish connection with my family, nor with the guests who ate it – as far as I know.) She probably got the recipe from a magazine in the 70’s.
Guess I’ll just have to make it both with and without meat to find out, eh?
Many people make Spanish rice with ground beef. If you’d like to add it to this recipe, first cook 1 pound of ground beef with any desired seasonings, such as diced onions, garlic, or peppers. After browning the rice in the oil, add the cooked ground beef to the pan. Then, add the remaining ingredients as listed in the recipe, cover, and simmer.
No, that’s dirty rice…not authentic Spanish rice
One of the best aspects of cooking is taking a loved recipe and transforming it into something new by adding different ingredients. However, you are right that authentic Spanish rice does not include ground beef.
Very simple to make. Tasty for a Mexican dish, Will share this recipe with family & friends.
It’s been a favorite for my family for decades and I’m happy to hear you love it as well.
This recipe was terrible! Don’t waist your time and ingredieants!
Sorry to hear it wasn’t a hit for you! Thanks for giving it a try though.
This was amazing!!! I added a small finely diced green bell pepper and half a finely diced onion.
Sounds delicious! Thanks for trying it out and sharing your positive experience.