How long it takes: 45 minutes Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, saucepan, stove Servings: makes 6 cups Don’t settle for plain white rice! Mexican rice is perfect alongside tequila lime grilled chicken, fajita stuffed chicken, southwest-style mini meatloaves, barbecued ribs, or crispy air fryer salmon. Mexican rice goes great with any of your southwest favorites: tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, refried beans, and more. Since Mexican rice is such a simple dish, there are as many recipes for it as there are cooks. Everyone seems to have their own special recipe for authentic Mexican rice that their grandma made. I don’t dare claim that this recipe is authentic but I will say that it’s very, very good. My family is crazy about it!
Ingredient Notes
As always, scroll down for the printable version of the recipe!
How To Make Mexican Rice
Prep the ingredients. You’ll need a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid. Get the onions, bell pepper, and garlic chopped, and everything else measured out and ready to go. Sauté. Start by sautéing chopped onions and peppers briefly in a few tablespoons of olive oil, then add rice, stirring and cooking until the vegetables soften and the rice is lightly golden. Add garlic, cumin, and chili powder, stirring until the spices are toasted and fragrant, about a minute. Simmer. Add chicken stock (vegetable for vegetarian rice!), tomato paste, salt, and oregano, bring everything to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is done. Serve. Fluff the rice, add seasoning if necessary, and serve. So easy and delicious!
Troubleshooting
Why is my Mexican rice sticky? You’ll find that sautéing the rice with the onions and peppers infuses the rice with lots of flavor and prevents it from getting sticky. Another helpful trick is to rinse the rice under running water until the water runs clear. Some cooks soak the rice in water for 15 minutes, and then rinse it, removing most of the starch from the rice. If the rice still seems too sticky to you, try basmati rice instead of long grain white rice.
Recipe Variations
It’s easy to make this restaurant style rice your own creation. Here’s a few suggestions:
Change up the seasoning. Feel free to add more or less seasoning or garlic. If you’re looking for a shortcut, substitute 2 teaspoons of my fajita seasoning or taco seasoning for the salt, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano. Substitute brown rice. If you prefer the nutritional benefits of brown rice, you can use that instead of white rice. Just be sure to follow the directions on the package for cooking times since brown rice usually takes twice as long to cook, and may require a little extra chicken stock Make it a vegetarian main dish. Stir in a can of rinsed and drained pinto or red beans. Rice and beans is a fabulous meatless/vegetarian meal, especially topped with a sprinkling of Mexican style cheese. Add protein. Make Mexican rice with ground beef. Simply brown a pound of ground beef, turkey or chorizo with the onions and peppers, and continue with the recipe. I also like to top Mexican rice with my crockpot salsa chicken for a hearty dinner. Add veggies. Boost the veggie content with canned or frozen corn or frozen peas, or increase the amount of onions and bell peppers. Topping suggestions: Top with salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped fresh peppers or onions. For something different, try this Chipotle copycot: Cilantro lime rice. Not in the mood for Mexican? Try this easy fried rice recipe or one pan sweet pepper rice with sausage.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Refrigerate: Leftover Mexican rice can be stored in the fridge for four to five days, tightly covered. Freeze: Mexican rice can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to a month. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat: Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. Reheat larger amounts in a skillet on the stove over medium low heat, stirring frequently. Go Mexican tonight! Make your own restaurant style Mexican food. It’s healthier, more economical, and tastes better!
Interested in a weekly meal plan (it’s free!) that includes this recipe? Take a look at Meal Plan #19, Meal Plan #37 or Meal Plan #56. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. We add a new meal plan weekly.
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