Easy Mexican Rice Recipe
This Easy Mexican Rice recipe is a flavorful and simple side dish perfect for any Mexican-inspired meal. Made with basic pantry ingredients like long-grain white rice, tomato sauce, and aromatic spices, it delivers rich taste and comforting texture in just 25 minutes. The rice is first sautéed for a nutty flavor, then simmered in seasoned chicken stock until tender, resulting in fluffy, vibrant rice that pairs beautifully with tacos, enchiladas, or grilled meats.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Oil
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock or broth
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice thoroughly in a mesh strainer under cold running water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch to prevent the rice from becoming mushy during cooking.
- Cook Rice: Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the rinsed rice and sauté while stirring frequently for about 3-4 minutes, until the rice grains turn translucent and slightly toasted, which enhances flavor.
- Add Ingredients: Pour in the chicken stock, tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic salt, and ground cumin. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil on medium-high heat.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan with a lid, and allow the rice to simmer gently for 20 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid during this time so the rice can fully absorb the liquid and cook evenly.
- Fluff and Serve: Remove the pot from heat and let it sit covered for an additional 2-3 minutes. Then, uncover and fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains before serving warm.
Notes
- Rinsing the rice is key to preventing it from becoming sticky or mushy.
- You can substitute vegetable broth for chicken stock to make it vegetarian.
- Adjust chili powder to your preferred spice level.
- For extra flavor, sauté some chopped onions along with the rice.
- Leftover rice stores well in an airtight container refrigerated up to 3 days.
Keywords: Mexican rice, easy side dish, tomato rice, spicy rice, quick rice recipe
Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/easy-mexican-rice-recipe/
