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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 made this last night as a side to chicken enchilads as you suggested. and, am impressed with how easy and delicious it is! Next on my list of rice dishes to make is your Cilantro lime Rice!
Yay!! So happy you liked it! It is our favorite! The cilantro lime rice is delicious! Hope you like it!
Your video does noT work, ERROR. Homemade spanish rice
Hmm..it works on my end. I’m not sure why it’s playing for you.
Made this the other night with brown rice in the rice cooker. Doubled the recipe and it came out tasting exactly like restaurant-style mexican rice, except with brown rice. Wish I had cilantro, but that’s okay! Thanks!
Good to know! Thank you for sharing that. Glad you liked it!
Great and easy recipe! The family loves it. I added diced yellow onions and actually cooked the rice ahead of time in the rice cooker… Subbed a cup of stock instead of the 4 cups of water with bullion.
Perfect!! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
I am so glad to see a recipe for Spanish rice other than on a can of sauce or something. This sounds so much like what my mom used to make-not Mexican but loved Mexican food. Since she passed away 8 yrs ago I’ve been trying to make her recipe with not much success in getting it “just right”.
My question is can you use any kind of rice? I seem to think she always used minute rice but I’ve tried it and it didn’t seem right. I’ve been using uncle Ben’s instant rice for awhile now
Oops too many words or hit send too early……..
I was asking about other rice options you can use? I’ve been using uncle bens for a bit now and wonder if it’s ok? It doesnt take the amount of time listed on the recipe to prepare.
If I were to use cooked rice would it get mushy like i tried from memory how my mom used to. That time I used minute rice like she did. When we make rice at home for dishes like fried rice we precook the uncle bens and refrigerate before use, my dad heard to do it that way to avoid mushy rice I think.
Anyway what I remember of my mom cooking Spanish rice was a can of tomato sauce, onion and garlic ppowder and simmer for quite a while…..
Not much I know but even though this was one of my fab dishes she made, I missed a lot of details I guess.
Any help please let me know,
Thx katy
I hope it tastes like your moms!! You know, I have not tried with other rice, so I can’t personally say, if it works or not. But, the white long grain rice works great!
Mine did not turn out to good. Rice was not soft, kind of crunchy. Any ideas why? Do you bring it to a boil before you reduce to a simmer?
You do bring it to a boil first. They probably just needed more time cooking.
Loved this spanish rice recipe 🙂 so full of flavor and fluffy. Will Be making this again!
I am so glad you did!! Thank you for trying it!
I grew up on this and I can’t wait to make this for my family!
I can’t wait for you to try it! Let me know what you think 😉
For years I’ve been making this on my stovetop. I got an instant pot for Christmas and made the rice in that today. Game CHanger. Sauteed like normal in the instant pot then cooked it on the rice setting for 6 minutes. Yummy!
Good to know!! I will have to try. Thank you for sharing that!
Yum !It turned out perfect! I didn’t have garlic pepper so I added a mixture of garlic salt and pepper instead. I added dried cilantro because I didn’t have fresh. Next time I’ll try my instapot!
Perfect!! So glad you liked it!! Thank you!
This was really delicious. The only thing i did different was added chopped onions and a small can of green chilies.. Thanks for a great recipe.
That sounds great!! I am glad you liked it! Thank you 🙂