Easy Mexican Rice

This easy Mexican rice recipe is SO simple you'll want to make it every Taco Tuesday, or as a side dish for all your Mexican meals!

Prep time: PT5M

Cook time: PT20M

Total time: PT25M

Rating

4.53 stars (867 reviews)

Keywords

Easy Mexican Rice, mexican rice recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Cuisine

Mexican
Spanish

Steps

Rinse the rice in a mesh strainer until water draining is clear. (This is optional, but it helps remove the starch and keep the cooked rice from being mushy.)
Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and cook until translucent (somewhat clear) about 3-4 minutes; stirring frequently.
Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a rapid boil over high heat.
Stir once and cover. Turn the heat down to a low simmer (a little less than medium low) and cook for 20 minutes. Remove cover and let stand 2-3 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 185 kcal
Carbohydrates: 29 g
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 6 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Cholesterol: 2 mg
Sodium: 679 mg
Sugar: 3 g

Reviews

Eric on 2025-05-23 (1 stars):
Same here. Mushy, Mushy, Mushy. And too much chili powder. Basically a disaster.
Crystal on 2025-03-04 (5 stars):
I follow the directions to a T and it comes out great thank you for posting
Shitey joe young on 2025-03-02 (5 stars):
Really mushy, the recipe should be taken down. Don’t lecture me about “you don’t know how to cook rice”. Been cooking rice for 40 years, B. Standard water-to-rice ratio about 1.5:1. But, this recipe calls for that amount of water/broth, and ALSO another 8 oz of tomato sauce! I cooked it to the letter, and it was a horrible mess.so much for trusting.
Don on 2025-02-21 (5 stars):
I used Jasmín rice, unrinsed. I used passata tomato sauce. Toast the rice... Fry it. Most important when u add the liquids let it come to a rapid boil. That's where most go wrong. When they see the edges bubbling they cover it. Let it boil until it is all boiling. Then stir and cover, reduce heat and walk away for at least 20 minutes. Maybe a few more. Trial and error on ur and ur stove tops part. This is a solid Spanish rice recipe
Don on 2025-02-21 (5 stars):
This is restaurant style Spanish rice. Came out perfect. Lots of ways to screw up rice and everyone knows it. It's trial and error with your stove top and knowledge of cooking rice. Make sure you bring it to a rapid boil, not just the edges. The whole surface. Stir and cover, let it simmer for the full 20 minutes and don't look. Let it sit, off heat for at least 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork and leaving uncovered. Depending on how watery ur tomato sauce is, remember that 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water is the max
theunartist on 2025-01-21 (4 stars):
I think the recipe as of 1/21/25 works out just fine! Rice was cooked as expected. I used Basmati rice but did not rinse. Results were as expected when following directions. Rice was well cooked and not mushy or dry. Next time I make this, I will substitute a good Salsa for the 8oz can of tomatoes. Happy with recipe!
Carolina on 2024-12-04 (5 stars):
No lie, this has become my go-to whenever I want to make Mexican rice!! It’s so flavorful and easy to whip up a big batch. And that’s coming from someone who used to always mess up rice on the stovetop. Not anymore thank you!
Nancy D on 2024-10-25 (3 stars):
This rice was very flavorful, however when I saw the ratio of liquid to rice, I knew it would turn out soggy and mushy and it did. 1 Cup of Rice should never be cooked with 2.5 cups of liquid, as far as I know. I will use 1 c of broth and 1 c of tomato sauce next time and I image it will be perfect. I expect Mexican Rice to be almost dry and fluffy??? Again, it was really tasty!
Lana on 2024-10-08 (1 stars):
Literally followed step by step and broth evaporated way too quickly and rice was burned and undercooked.
Carrie on 2024-09-05 (5 stars):
This was delicious. followed recipe to a T except I added about 1/4tsp salt. rice is exceptional.