This basic Spanish Rice is fluffy and full of flavor, a delicious side dish for Latin meals. Keep it plain or add chopped green peppers or tomatoes.

Spanish Rice

In my last post I shared Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas served with Spanish Rice.

Have you noticed that the two are twinsies when you eat Latin food? A side dish of rice is very common when you order a lunch or dinner plate at a Mexican Restaurant.  

One can not be served without the other!

Rice is economical to make, and once you master making your own Spanish rice you’ll be adding it to your burritos too.

I’ll also warn you that you will never be able to eat it at a restaurant again without judging the the way their rice tastes.

You just won’t be able to help it because your rice is going to be SOOO flavorful!

Mexican Rice Made Perfectly Every Time!

Spanish rice is also known as Mexican rice. It should be called Latin rice! This is another dish that I watched my mom make without a recipe. 

After a lot of trial and error as well as taste testing, I can finally make fluffy and perfectly cooked Spanish Rice aka Mexican rice (if I do say so myself).

It did take a few mushy rice dishes to get to this point. That’s ok. Soooo worth every trial.

Once you look at the recipe you’ll be wondering what was the challenge.

The key to this simple recipe is to make sure you add the right amount of broth. 

The rice you use also makes a difference. Use long grain. It absorbs the liquid quite nicely.

Mexican Rice Variations

There are so many variations to this side dish. You may have had it with a few vegetables added.

I’ve cooked it with diced tomatoes and green or red peppers.

Experiment with those ingredients too, but start with this basic recipe and get pro-ish, then start putting in ingredients you love!

SPANISH RICE RECIPE – INGREDIENTS & UTENSILS

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)

Utensils/Other Items

• 10 inch skillet with tight fitting cover
• measuring spoons and cups
• cutting board and sharp knife

SPANISH RICE RECIPE – INSTRUCTIONS

1. On medium-high heat add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a 10 inch skillet. Add rice and diced onion.
2. Stir constantly until rice begins to lightly brown. Stir in garlic and reduce heat to medium.
3. Add tomato sauce.
4. Stir until the rice pieces are coated.
5. Pour in chicken or vegetable broth. With a spoon push the rice around the skillet forming an even layer.
6. Return the heat to medium-high and when the rice begins to boil, cover and reduce the heat to simmer.
7. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed in the rice.
8. Fluff with fork before serving.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH SPANISH RICE

You might enjoy these recipes with a side of Mexican rice:

• Mexican Shredded Beef – This shredded beef recipe in made in an Instant Pot.
• Pork Carnitas – Easy dish that is perfect for a crowd. This recipe is made in a slow cooker.
• Chili Colorado – This simple traditional Mexican stew is made in a red chili sauce.

And more rice dishes you might like to try:

• Easy Cauliflower Fried Rice – Low carb alternative to the traditional fried rice recipe.
• Coconut Rice – Simple four ingredient recipe.
• Veggie Rice – A simple pilaf recipe with zucchini and carrots.

SPANISH RICE RECIPE – FAQS

Just some answers to comments you may be wondering…

Yield: 6 servings

Spanish Rice

Print

Simple Mexican rice recipe that you can customize by adding additional vegetables. This 20 minute side dish accompanies all your Latin dishes.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)

Instructions

On medium-high heat add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a 10 inch skillet. Add rice and diced onion stirring constantly until rice begins to lightly brown. Stir in garlic and reduce heat to medium.

Add tomato sauce and stir until the rice pieces are coated. Stir in chicken or vegetable broth and with a spoon push the rice around the skillet forming an even layer. Return the heat to medium-high and when the rice begins to boil, cover and reduce the heat to simmer. Let cook for 20-25 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed in the rice.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 107 Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 2mg Sodium: 164mg Carbohydrates: 15g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 2g Protein: 3g

Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.

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