This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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
Video
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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Amazing. Tried others, come back to this one every time. Just a winner!!
That makes us so happy to hear! Thanks for coming back to this one again and again!
That makes us so happy to hear! Coming back to it every time is the best compliment.
This cooked up perfectly and the spices bloomed beautifully! I think this is the best I’ve had and I love in Texas where Spanish/mexican rice is plentiful. Is great on its own and pairs well with everything!
This is my favorite recipe for my rice. I use it as a good foundation and add in more or less of the different seasonings listed. I love to add onion, peas, and carrots. Thanks for making this so easy to follow. (:
I love this recipe and the red enchilada sauce!!
Thank you for this recipe! I saute the garlic and add 1/2 cup of finely diced onion with the rice until lightly browned. Let it sit for 15 min after cooking (no peeking). Stir in fresh cilantro once done. Next day in freeze portions for enjoyment at another time. 😃
This is the best Spanish rice ever! My go to and a family favorite!
I’m so happy to hear that it was a winner for your family!
Can diced tomatoes be used instead of tomato sauce?
Diced tomatoes will not add as much flavor to the rice as tomato sauce does. You can add some diced tomatoes along with the sauce if you like. If you are asking because you do not have sauce on hand, I recommend draining and blending the diced tomatoes into a sauce before adding them.
I followed the directions to the T, and my guests that tried a spoonful, all agreed that the flavor was horrible. I threw the entire pot away. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Tucson, Arizona where great Mexican food is found everywhere. I have never tasted Mexican/Spanish rice that tasted this bad. I think it was the cumin spice that made it taste so horrible.
Test
Hi I want to add peas onions and maybe carrots or corn. When would I add that? Peas last but the rest? Thank you!
Great additions! You can add the onions and carrots at the beginning so they soften while it cooks. Corn can go in at the start too. Peas are best stirred in during the last 20 to 30 minutes so they don’t get mushy.
I followed it carefully & it truly is easy Spanish rice. Came out better than I expected and it was flavorful. Definitely a recipe you can build on if you like other things in your rice like corn or tomatoes although I wouldn’t suggest cooking those things in it I would add them when I fluff the rice.
Can I cook this, refrigerate it, and warm it up in a slow cooker?
Absultely! If it seems extra dry, to stir in a splash on water or chicken broth.