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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 cups long grain rice
- 1/8 cup vegetable oil
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 6 stems cilantro (optional)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 4 cups water (or 4 cups chicken lower sodium chicken broth - and no bouillon)
- 1 cube chicken flavored bouillon
- dash cumin
- dash garlic pepper
Instructions
- Heat oil in large frying pan on medium heat.
- Add rice and cook until golden brown.
- Add 1 chicken flavored bouillon cube to 4 cups water and microwave for 3 minutes.
- When rice is brown, add water, tomato sauce, salt, garlic, cumin and garlic pepper to pan.
- Stir and cover pan. Let simmer for 30-40 minutes or until all is cooked and there is no liquid left. Fluff before serving and ENJOY.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I don’t typically like rice but really liked this recipe. Was very easy and favorable. Went great with the Salsa Fresca Chicken. It makes so much, does it freeze well?
Yay, that makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for trying it & letting me know!
OMG, NOT a fan of Spanish rice, but looked up your recipe and served it with enchiladas, SO FLIPPING GOOD! I followed the recipe with just a few tweaks(diced tomatoes and sauteed veg) Going to make this again as a base for my chile lime shrimp skewers. It came out PERFECTLY! Thank you for sharing this great recipe!????
You are so welcome!! Thank you so much for trying it & letting me know. I am so glad you liked it.
i made one cup size 1st time i tried this rice. it was just for me and tbh usually ive been disappointed with mexican rice recipes. this was so good the first time around, but i didnt have chicken stock or cubes and used 2 cups of vegetable stock and i just eyed the olive oil. probably 1/8th cup or less. still used 8oz can of tomato sauce and dash of cumin, cayanne, chile powder (i like with a kick). didnt have garlic so used dash of garlic powder.
im making it again tonight but following the recipe and ill agree even 1/4th cup oil seems much. i found myself wiping it away with paper towel. i might just be finicky since the idea is to brown it. i used 3 cups chicken stock and 1 cup water. with the added oil from chicken stock and olive oil concerned itd have an oily texture. anyways it is still very good, but i personally think i liked it better with the veggie stock. lol funny how just cooking with what you have turns out great. amazing simple rice recipe that definitely is better and rivals restaurant’s ive been to. easy and quick prep. glad i came across it.
it was a little oily. ill have to try it with chicken cubes and i think i liked it better before because 1cup rice to 8oz can seemed to mix better imo vs having the stock the more flavor. i need more tinkering with this since its all pur own preferences but still 5 stars
Thank you!! Yes, you can totally make it your own, since it is based on liking & preference.
Thank you for sharing that! That is what’s great about cooking..you can substitute, take out, add what you like.
Loved this! I didn’t have tomato sauce, so I subbed 8 ounces of a thin, “no chunks,” jarred salsa from Trader Joe’s. Kept the seasoning a little lighter as a result, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. It is delicious, and such an easy to make recipe!
Sounds perfect!! Thank you for sharing. Glad you liked it 🙂
I wish I could say how many Mexican rice recipes I’ve tried that were awful. This one was my last try, and I’m so glad I found it! This was really amazing, tasted just like (if not better than) my favorite Mexican restaurant, and was so easy. Thank you so much for sharing your mom’s recipe….it will live on with my family too for sure!
Awe, I am so happy to hear that!! I love that liked it 🙂 Thank you for giving it a try & letting me know!
right tracey! i was thinking the exact same thing. either they have too much stuff in them or just come.out so so.. for how simple this was, amazed how good it is.
Love this recipe, very flavorful and easy to make. Wanted to ask if you think it would be ok to cook the night before and put into tins to warm up in oven at very low temp the next day? Have too much to cook the day of the party and thought if I could get one dish done before hand that would be helpful. Appreciate any feedback you can provide.
I have not made it that far in advance. It might get a little dry, but I am just guessing. Really, I wouldn’t know until I tried. It could be ok 🙂 I mean we eat it as leftovers, so it should be ok.
would it be ok to use the microwave rice as my scratch rice always goes wrong
I have not tried that, so personally, I do not know how that would change it up, but you definitely could try 🙂
I love being on your list, but I have submitted my name and email to you but I don’t think I am on it. Sent it twice and nothing. Clara
Mexican rice is prepared differently here in South Texas but all rice is good! I would like to state, as a Mexican-American, that we come in all flavors and colors!
I agree & thank you so much for sharing that!!
The best Spanish rice recipe. Ever. Thank you for sharing this recipe- it rocks!!!
Yay!!! I am so glad you think so! Thank you for trying it & for letting me know!