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    Home » Recipes » Fried Rice

    Restaurant Style Mexican Rice

    Published: Apr 20, 2021 · Modified: Sep 2, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments Jump To Video

    This is truly the best Mexican rice recipe out there. Restaurant-style Mexican Rice is easy to make at home. This delicious rice recipe is fluffy, flavorful, and the perfect side dish recipe for enchiladas or your favorite tacos. It's even perfect to serve with Chile Verde.

    easy restaurant style mexican rice recipe

    Mexican rice aka Spanish rice is the best side dish to serve with tacos, fajitas, or shrimp enchiladas.

    I first learned how to make Mexican rice from a friend's mom while I was living in San Diego.

    I've been fortunate to live all over this country and have been inspired by some pretty awesome moms in my life.

    I've learned to cook a few authentic Mexican recipes by watching friends' moms cook over the years. This recipe is one of my favorites in the recipe box because I love Mexican food.

    homemade restaurant style Mexican rice recipe sprinkles with fresh minced cilantro

    What You’ll Love About This Recipe

    • It's Authentic. This Mexican rice tastes better even better than the Mexican rice you might find in a Mexican Restaurant.
    • It's easy to make. Mexican rice is easy to make. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry right now.
    • It's the perfect side dish. Rice is the perfect side dish for all things of your Mexican-inspired recipes. Serve it with tacos, fajitas, and even enchiladas.

    Recipe Notes

    This easy Mexican rice recipe is sometimes called Spanish Rice. There are different ways to make it, but this is the method that I learned. I've made it different ways but always come back to this recipe because the flavor is so authentic. It always tastes exactly as I remember.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Long grain white rice.
    • Tomato Sauce.
    • Caldo de Pollo. Which is powdered chicken boullion by Knorr. You can use another brand or even substitute chicken broth.
    • White onion.
    • Garlic.
    ingredients for mexican rice

    How To Make Mexican Red Rice aka Spanish Rice

    1. Brown the rice. This step is key to getting the authentic texture and flavor of this rice recipe.
    2. Add the diced onion. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion is fragrant and translucent.
    3. Add the liquid. Add the tomato sauce and the water with the Caldo de Pollo to the rice.
    4. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the temperature to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. About 20 minutes.

    Step-by-Step Instuctions

    add the butter and the long grain wild rice to a large pan, saute until brown
    butter + long grain rice
    add the butter and the long grain wild rice to a large pan, saute until brown
    sauté until the rice is toasty brown
    add the garlic to the browned rice, sauté for a few minutes until it is f
    add the garlic
    add the diced onion to the browned rice, sauté for a few minutes until it is f
    add the onion
    add the tomato sauce, water and caldo de pollo to the mexican rice
    add the tomato sauce, water, and caldo de pollo
    add the tomato sauce, water, and caldo de pollo
    bring the mexican rice to a boil
    bring the rice to a boil
    cover and reduce the temperature.
    cover nd reduce to a simmer
    remove the lid and fluff the rice with a fork
    fluff the rice with a fork
    sprinkle with freshly minced cilantro and serve.
    sprinkle with cilantro and serve

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    How long does Mexican rice take to cook?


    Mexican rice takes about 30 minutes to cook.

    Can you freeze Mexican rice?


    Yes, Mexican rice freezes really well. Simply place it into a Ziploc bag and put it in the freezer for up to four months.

    Let it thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

    How much rice do you need per person?

    Plan on using ¼ cup uncooked rice per person. Once the rice is cooked it will end up being about ¾ – 1 cup per person.

    Which rice is best to use for Mexican rice?

    Long-grain white rice is best for making this rice. It ends up being fluffy and the perfect texture.

    Can Spanish rice be made with brown rice?


    Yes, you can definitely make this rice with brown rice. However, it will take a little bit longer to cook. Plan on an extra 10 minutes.

    Cook the rice until it is tender.

    Which topping ingredients are best for this rice? 


    A sprinkle of minced cilantro is really the only thing you need. But, crumbled Cotija cheese is also delicious on top of Mexican rice.

    one yummy bite of fluffy mexican rice on a fork

    Storage Tips

    How to freeze Spanish Rice.

    You 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.

    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.

    homemade restaurant style Mexican rice recipe sprinkles with fresh minced cilantro

    Recipe Variations

    • Leave out the tomato sauce. Not a fan of tomato sauce you can skip it and just replace it with an extra cup in half of water.
    • Add in some veggies. You can add a half-cup to a cup of frozen veggies. I like to use the variety with peas, carrots, and corn.
    • Make it with brown rice.  Add a third of a cup more water per cup of brown rice and let it simmer a bit longer- until the brown rice reaches your desired texture.
    • Use salsa instead of tomato sauce. Salsa adds some extra spiciness. I've made this recipe using Pace's chunky salsa. But you can use your favorite brand.

    Instant Pot Mexican Rice Instructions

    It's easy to make this Authentic Mexican recipe in an Instant Pot. I've made it several times like this. It cuts your cook time in half. Just follow the directions in the recipe and then put the lid on your instant pot.

    Instant Pot Timing for Mexican Rice

    1. Set to Manual or High Pressure, and cook for 3-4 minutes (3 minutes for tender to the bite, or 4 minutes for softer rice).
    2. When the timer beeps, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.

    What To Eat With Mexican Rice

    Mexican-inspired recipes to serve with this Mexican rice recipe. Don't forget the pico de gallo and the homemade guacamole.

    • How to Make Shredded Beef
    • Air Fryer Fish Tacos
    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Mexican Street Corn - Grilled & Addictive
    • Creamy Shrimp Enchiladas
    • Easy Steak Fajitas | Sheet Pan Recipe

    Hungry for more rice recipes?

    Rice has always been a staple in out house and are some of my most popular recipes so I'm guessing you like it too.

    • Spam Fried Rice
    • Coconut Rice with Fresh Mangoes
    • Chinese Take Out Fried Rice
    • Spicy Dirty Rice – Rice, and Beans
    • Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
    • How to Make an Easy Curry Risotto

    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    homemade restaurant style Mexican rice recipe sprinkles with fresh minced cilantro
    Favorite Saved!

    The BEST Homemade Mexican Rice

    Laura Reigel
    How to make the BEST homemade Mexican Rice. This is truly the best Mexican rice recipe out there. I've tried a bunch and always come back to this one.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 386 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups long grain rice
    • 2 tablespoons oil
    • ½ cup white onion approx ½ medium onion diced
    • 15 ounces tomato sauce canned
    • 2 tablespoons pollo de caldo bouillion powder
    • 2 cups water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Brown the rice. This step is key to getting the authentic texture and flavor of this rice recipe.
    • Add the diced onion. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion is fragrant and translucent.
    • Add the liquid. Add the tomato sauce and the water with the Caldo de Pollo to the rice.
    • Bring to a boil. Then reduce the temperature to medium-low, cover the pot and simmer until the liquid is absorbed. About 30-40 minutes.
    • Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

    Video

    Laura's Tips + Notes

    Instant Pot Timing for Mexican Rice
    1. Set to Manual or High Pressure, and cook for 3-4 minutes (3 minutes for tender to the bite, or 4 minutes for softer rice).
    2. When the timer beeps, allow pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes.
    Recipe Variations
    • Leave out the tomato sauce. Not a fan of tomato sauce you can skip it and just replace it with an extra cup in half of water.
    • Add in some veggies. You can add a half-cup to a cup of frozen veggies. I like to use the variety with peas, carrots, and corn.
    • Make it with brown rice.  Add a third of a cup more water per cup of brown rice and let it simmer a bit longer- until the brown rice reaches your desired texture.
    • Use salsa instead of tomato sauce. Salsa adds some extra spiciness. I've made this recipe using Pace's chunky salsa. But you can use your favorite brand.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4ouncesCalories: 386kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 9gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 902mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword rice
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

    More Fried Rice Recipes

    • Pork Fried Rice
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    167 shares

    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. patrick

      July 28, 2022 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      did you use the whole bag of rice? how many cups of rice does this recipe call for?

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        August 01, 2022 at 11:20 am

        Hi there, Patrick. The recipe card indicated 2 cups of rice. Hopefully, that helps.

        Reply
    2. Lukas

      July 20, 2021 at 7:44 am

      How many OZ is the can of tomato sauce that you are using?

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        July 20, 2021 at 7:51 am

        Lukas, it would be the 14.5-ounce can. The small one. I will update the recipe to include this. Thank you for catching it.

        Reply
    3. Stuart Hoover

      July 02, 2021 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious rice I added a few cloves of minced garlic. Perfect

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        July 05, 2021 at 1:48 pm

        Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad that you loved this recipe. Happy cooking 🙂

        Reply
    4. Kim Moore

      May 06, 2021 at 8:21 am

      5 stars
      I made this for Cinco de Mayo and it was so yummy and easy. I'll definitely make it again!

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        May 08, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Thanks, Kim! I'm so glad this recipe came out great! Hope you had an awesome Cinco de Mayo. Thank you for the awesome review.

        Reply
    5. Seanna Borrows

      April 23, 2021 at 4:28 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great recipe! So good!!

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        May 08, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Thank you, Seanna for the awesome review!

        Reply
    6. Lisa Hatfield

      April 21, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      Laura, this is my go-to Mexican rice recipe! Everyone loves it, a family fave.

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        May 08, 2021 at 2:53 pm

        Thank you, Lisa. I'm so happy to hear that you and your family loved this recipe!!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Laura! Welcome to Foodology Geek restaurant-inspired recipes & culinary science.

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