Easy Mexican Rice
Need a simple side dish for taco night? This easy Mexican rice recipe brings restaurant style flavor to your dinner table in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups water
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup brown rice dry
- ¼ cup medium picante sauce or salsa
- 1 tablespoon lime juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- First, add the water and chicken broth to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, stir in the paprika, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, and salt. Then, stir in the brown rice.
- Cover the pot and turn the heat to low. Simmer until the rice has absorbed all the liquid, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Once the rice is cooked, remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the picante sauce and fresh lime juice until well-combined, then serve hot.
Notes
Brown rice: Brown rice offers the most authentic texture and flavor for a Mexican style rice. You can substitute with white rice if you prefer, but note that the texutre may be stickier and the color won't be as vibrant.
Vegetarian version: You can easily make this Mexican rice vegetarian by swapping out the chicken broth for vegetable broth!
Freezing leftover chicken broth: Since you won't use a whole carton of broth, you can easily freeze whatever is left in half-cup portions. Then, when you want to make this rice again, just add a frozen cube of the broth to the water and bring it to a boil as normal - no defrosting required.
Rice cooker instructions: Yes, you can make this Mexican rice in a rice cooker. Simply combine the water, chicken broth, seasonings, and rice in the pot, then cook as usual. Let the rice rest for about 15 minutes once it's done, then stir in the picante sauce and fresh lime juice before serving.
Serving suggestions: 2 cups of steamed rice is about 4 servings. You can serve this rice as a side dish with Mexican meals such as carne asada, tacos, or burritos. Or, you can use it as an ingredient in burritos, fajitas, or Mexican rice bowls. Read our blog post above for more suggestions!
Storing and reheating leftovers: Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat single servings (about a half cup) for 1 minute in the microwave, stirring halfway through; or heat in a frying pan over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently so the rice doesn't crisp.
Nutrition
Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg