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This Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice is the perfect side dish for any Mexican meal. The rice has the rich flavor and slightly dry texture just like the rice served in most Mexican restaurants. It is a family favorite and must-have any time we are making Mexican food.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is EXACTLY the rice I have been spending YEARS trying to figure out. Everything was absolutely perfect. Flavor, texture, color, all completely spot on! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! You really just upped my taco game!” – Elizabeth
“I am a Puerto Rican woman married to a hard core Mexican man. I’ve tried just about every recipe available for this rice and it never quite worked. I made this today and IT’S PERFECT!! This is the way my MIL makes it. It is as authentic as it can get! Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is the recipe I will make my family from now on.” – Patty
The Secret to Mexican Restaurant-Style Rice
If you’ve ever had that perfectly fluffy, slightly dry, and flavorful Mexican Rice at a restaurant and wondered how to make it at home, I’ve got you covered! This recipe comes straight from a dear family friend from Mexico. She’s one of those incredible cooks who just knows how much of everything to add without measuring. After a bit of trial and error, I finally nailed down the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
The secret to getting that perfect texture at home? Toasting the rice in oil before cooking it. Trust me, it makes all the difference! Now, anytime we make our Birria Tacos, Homemade Enchiladas, or Carne Asada Burritos, this authentic Mexican rice is a must-have on the side. It’s become a family favorite, and I can’t wait for you to try it too!
🩷 Emily
Key Ingredients
- Long Grain White Rice – The best rice choice for achieving that dry flavored rice.
- Vegetable Oil – Helps toast the rice to a golden brown for better flavor and texture. This is the most important part of getting Mexican Rice perfect. Avoid using olive oil, it can taste bitter when cooked at this high of temperature.
- Chicken Broth – You can also use beef broth or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option. Chicken bullion with the same amount of water can also be used.
- Tomato Sauce – Gives the rice that delicious tomato flavor. Tomato bouillon (caldo de tomate) can also be used. See the recipe notes for adaptation.
- Fresh Cilantro – Adds a pop of color and freshness. Stir in at the end so it doesn’t wilt.
(full recipe with ingredient amounts in recipe card below)
How to Make Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice
- Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the uncooked rice and stir frequently until it turns a light golden color. This step is essential for dry, fluffy, restaurant quality rice.
- Once the rice is toasted, stir in the garlic, salt, and cumin. Heat briefly until the garlic becomes fragrant. This allows the spice to bloom in the oil and evenly coat the rice.
- Carefully add the tomato sauce and chicken broth to the pan. Bring the mixture to a full boil. The liquid should fully cover the rice at this point.
- Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice simmer until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Avoid lifting the lid or stirring while it cooks. This will release steam and affect the texture.
- Remove the pan from the heat, but keep it covered. Allow the rice to rest 5-10 minutes. The resting time allows the rice to finish cooking evenly.
- Remove the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork to separate the grains. Stir in the chopped cilantro just before serving to add fresh flavor and color.
Common Mistakes and Quick Solutions
If your rice turns out mushy, sticky, or clumpy, don’t get discouraged! A lot of these common mistakes have simple solutions and can be solved in just a matter of minutes. Here are a few of the most common mistakes when making Mexican rice:
| 1. SKIPPING THE TOASTING STEP: I can’t emphasize this enough. Not toasting the rice before cooking results in sticky, unevenly cooked rice. Toasting the rice in a little bit of oil before cooking seals the starch in the rice. If skipped, rice will be sticky and clumpy. | ||
| Solution: Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the rice and stir constantly until the it’s a light, golden brown. This step coats the rice grains in oil keeping them separate and avoiding clumping. The hot oil also gives the rice a nuttier, richer texture and flavor. | ||
| 2. USING THE WRONG SAUCEPAN: Thin pans heat unevenly and cause the rice to burn on the bottom before it finishes cooking. | ||
| Solution: Use a sturdy, heavy-bottom saucepan to heat the rice evenly and to keep the rice absorbing the liquid at the right pace. | ||
| 3. LIFTING THE LID WHILE COOKING: Lifting the lid releases the steam built up in the pan which is essential for cooking the rice evenly. | ||
| Solution: Resist the urge to check on the rice until the cooking time is up. Peeking too early interferes with the steaming process and can result in dry, undercooked rice. | ||
| 4. WET, CLUMPY RICE: Rice sticks together in large clumps and is soggy. | ||
| Solution: Uncover the rice and let it rest a few minutes before fluffing. When fluffing, use a fork. Don’t stir the rice with a spoon. | ||
| 5. CRUNCHY RICE: Uncooked or unevenly cooked rice. | ||
| Solution: Heat 2-3 tablespoons of broth and add it to the rice. Cover the pan and steam for 5 more minutes. | ||
| 6. NOT LETTING THE RICE REST: Skipping the resting step can result in uneven texture. | ||
| Solution: Once the rice is done cooking, remove it from heat and let it sit, still covered, for 5-10 minutes. This allows the steam to redistribute through the rice, giving it a fluffier texture. After few minutes you can fluff the rice with a fork and get it ready to serve. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rinsing rice removes excess starch and can help prevent clumping. For restaurant-style Mexican rice, rinsing is optional because toasting the rice seals in the starches and gives the rice a fluffy texture and nutty flavor with or without rinsing.
Yes, adding vegetables like peas, carrots, corn, or bell peppers can enhance the flavor and nutrition of your Mexican rice. Add these vegetables when you add the liquid to the rice so they can cook along with the rice.
According to Mahatma rice, there are two distinct differences.
1. Seasonings: Spanish rice is seasoned with saffron which gives it a bright yellow color, as well as a sweeter flavor. Mexican rice is seasoned with cumin and tomato based ingredients giving it a more reddish orange color, and a spicier flavor.
2. Texture: The texture of Spanish rice is more moist and clumps together. Mexican rice is more dry and fluffy.
Yes, Mexican rice can be made in an Instant Pot. For the best restaurant-style texture the rice still must be toasted before simmering. We have a great adaptation for Instant Pot Mexican Rice, perfect for when you’re short on time.
Yes! This recipe contains no gluten, I am celiac and this rice is a staple of mine.
Restaurants toast the rice in oil before cooking, use the correct amount of liquid, simmer without stirring, and let the rice rest before fluffing with a fork. Following this recipe exactly will achieve that same restaurant quality rice.
Pair It With a Mexican-Inspired Entree
I hope this Mexican Rice recipe becomes a staple in your home like it has in mine. It’s easy to make, full of flavor, and the perfect side dish for all your favorite Mexican meals. Give it a try and let me know in the comments how it turns out! 🇲🇽
Mexican Rice Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 14 ounces chicken broth, (see recipe notes)
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the rice and stir constantly for 5-7 minutes, until the grains turn light golden and smell nutty. Do not rush this step. Toasting the rice is key to that restaurant-style texture.
- Add the garlic, salt, and cumin and stir for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Carefully pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a full boil.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Do not lift the lid or stir while the rice cooks.
- Remove from heat and let the rice rest for 5 minutes, still covered. Remove the lid and fluff the rice gently with a fork.
- Gently fold in the chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe uses tomato sauce + broth instead of tomato bouillon (caldo de tomate). To substitute with tomato bouillon, use 1 ½ teaspoons bouillon and reduce the salt to ¼ teaspoon and replace tomato sauce with ½ cup broth.
- Long-grain rice works best for that dry, restaurant-style texture. A short or medium grain will be softer with a stickier texture.
- If rice is still a little crunchy, add 2-3 tablespoons of HOT broth over the rice, cover, and steam for 5 more minutes.
- If rice is wet or clumpy, uncover and let it rest a few extra minutes before fluffing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Made this as part of our dinner tonight, it was very yummy and so easy to make! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m planning a family reunion for 100 people. We’ve got an award-winning Texas smoked beef brisket, and I would love to experiment with this recipe to complement that.
How would I scale this up for 100 servings? I might need to do several batches in order to fit everything into the pot. Any hints or tips?
You would probably need 12 times this recipe to feed 100. Maybe keep warm in crock pots.
By “Large Saucepan” do you mean the 4-quart size? Does that seem large for a cup of rice or is a smaller size, like a 2 or 3-qt., acceptable? Thanks!
As long as it holds at least 4 cups you should be ok!
Thank You, Emily!
This rice ROCKS the taste buds! It is outstanding! Made a triple batch to go with the cheater restaurant beans on this blog (which are also to die for delicious) . I was hosting a huge family bbq of carne asada, the were no leftovers on the rice, they were THAT good. I like my mexi rice dry too 🙂
Did you just double the recipe? Curious if less or more stock will be needed when doubling the recipe!
This looks delicious, I’m in Australia can you clarify the tomatoe sauce, is it tomatoe purée or is it tomatoe paste sauce?
It is more of a liquid-y puree… it’s not as thick as a tomato paste… hope this helps!
can i say that i use regular short grain rice,i dont like long grain,it has a dif taste and doesnt hold together good,its calrose brand been using it for years,also i add small diced amounts of onion and cumin,just a shake.also i use diced tomatos w/liquid,no cilantro,i do add crumbled bacon up into it oh so good,and black pepper.so this is my version.thank you.
The key is the chicken broth if you can get it. One thing I always add…pick up some chili powder and mix it in with the sauce/broth mixture for a little kick…I also chop up 1/2 green and 1/2 Red Bell pepper, and a can of Vegal. Or sometimes just a can of corn and peas.
I have made this about 4 times and it is so delicious. Twice it was perfect but twice, including tonight, for some reason it was so crunchy. Am I doing something wrong in the beginning steps? Maybe I need to cook it longer at the front end? I never time it until the simmer time, I just go by the color of the rice in the beginning so maybe you can guide me in the right direction. 🙂 because I love this recipe! Thanks.
I would say maybe go on a lower heat for longer to get the rice cooked through when you are first stir-frying the rice. You don’t want it to brown up too fast or the inside of the rice won’t get cooked through all the way. Let me know if this helps!
I have made numerous attempts at restaurant style Mexican rice, plenty of Mexican friend’s have tried explaining how to make it, tried numerous recipes online and those pre-made boxes like rice-a-roni. I finally just drew the conclusion that you cannot be a white girl and make it right, it’s against the laws of nature or something. BUT SUCCESS! With your recipe! My son even told me it’s better than the local restaurants rice, which means I can absolutely die happy now. Thank you.
Thank you so much!! We love those kind of success stories! I’m so happy you all liked it. 🙂
Will this work using yellow rice
I bought that par excellence yellow rice ..can I use it??
I don’t see why not? 🙂
1/2 c. tomato sauce
I am guessing from your posts that c. is can. What size can is it?
It is actually 1/2 cup… so that is 4 oz.
I have basmati rice, would that work with this recipe?
We haven’t tried it with basmati rice before so I’m not sure what to tell you! If you try it let us know how it works out!
Just wanted to say that this mexican rice recipe is the one I have been looking for forever! It complemented black beans perfectly for delicious vegetarian burritos. Thanks so much for putting this out there.
So glad to hear that you liked it!!! We are SO picky about our rice so this is the only recipe we use… you must have great taste 😉
For those wanting to use brown rice, I tried this with Trader Joe’s quick cooking brown basmati and it was perfect. I just shortened up the cooking time to correspond with the package directions.
Made chicken lime taco meat in the crock pot. We ate the shredded chicken over this rice. Was wonderful. Added some black beans and corn to the rice.
GREAT idea!!! Thank you for sharing!
If made ahead, can this be kept warm in a crock pot?
definitely!
Have you cooked it in a crock pot? Not just keep it warm?
I haven’t cooked this in a crock pot. I did try it in a rice cooker, but I prefer the stove top method. It turns out great every time. Thank you for visiting our site!
Who needs a box of Spanish rice with a bunch of ingredients that you can’t pronounce when you can make this recipe from scratch? It was easy and tasted totally authentic. Loved it!
Turned out perfect! Great recipe. I used a big nonstick frying pan with a lid. When it was time to let it steam I put a piece of foil on top of the pan and then put the lid on top. That helps every piece of rice to get done perfectly. <3
Thanks for the tip! I always have trouble getting the rice to cook evenly – never thought of this before!
Can you use instant white rice? If so should I cook it before or cook it like the recipe says? Also I have rice a roni..would the rice from that work? Thank you!!
I don’t think I would use instant rice or rice a toni. Just regular rice.
This was the easiest and best Mexican rice I have made to date. Fluffy and spiced perfectly…
We made this last night as a side dish, and everyone loved it. We are thinking about trying it with a little bit of salsa for a little extra oomph, but it was just like the rice that I’m used to getting at some of my favorite Mexican restaurants!!