Easy Mexican Rice Recipe

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This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe makes fluffy, flavorful rice with the same lightly toasted texture and savory tomato flavor I love at Mexican restaurants. The rice is toasted before simmering with tomato sauce, chicken broth, garlic, and cumin, which helps the grains stay separate instead of turning soft or sticky. Once you learn this simple method, homemade Mexican rice is surprisingly easy to get right.

Cooked Mexican Rice side dish in a bowl topped with a sprig of cilantro.

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

“This is hands down the best dupe of real Mexican restaurant rice that I have ever tasted! My kids request this all the time and I have made it SO many times! Thank you!” – Pearl

Why I Love This Mexican Rice Recipe

Mexican rice is one of those side dishes I want every time we make Mexican food at home. This recipe is especially meaningful to me because it came from a dear family friend from Mexico. She is an amazing cook who can add a little of this and a little of that without measuring anything.

I watched her make her rice and, after some trial and error, figured out the measurements so I could make it the same way every time.

The biggest thing I learned was not to skip toasting the rice. Cooking the dry rice in oil until it turns light golden gives it that fluffy, slightly dry texture you expect from Restaurant Style Mexican Rice. Once I figured out that step, this became the rice we make whenever Mexican food is on the menu.

🩷 Emily

5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why I Love This Mexican Rice Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
How to Make Mexican Rice
Recipe Tips for Fluffy Rice
Frequently Asked Questions
Troubleshooting
Make Ahead and Storage
Pairing Ideas
More Popular Rice Recipes
Easy Mexican Rice Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this Easy Mexican Rice Recipe.

Mexican Rice ingredients: long grain rice, chicken broth, tomato sauce, seasonings, garlic, vegetable oil and cilantro.

Long-grain white rice: Long-grain rice cooks up fluffy with grains that stay separate, which is exactly what you want for Mexican rice.
Vegetable oil: The oil coats the rice and helps it toast until lightly golden. Avocado oil works well too.
Garlic and seasonings: Minced garlic, kosher salt, and cumin give the rice its savory flavor.
Tomato sauce: Tomato sauce gives Mexican rice its familiar reddish-orange color and mild tomato flavor.
Chicken broth: Cooking the rice in broth instead of water adds much more flavor.
Fresh cilantro: I like stirring cilantro into the finished rice so it stays fresh and green.

Ingredient Additions and Substitutions

This recipe is easy to adjust depending on what you have in your kitchen.

Brown rice: Brown rice needs additional liquid and a longer cooking time, so I don’t recommend using it as a direct one-for-one substitution.
Avocado oil: Use it in place of vegetable oil in the same amount.
Vegetable broth: Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth if you want a vegetarian version.
Beef broth: Beef broth can also be used, although it gives the rice a richer flavor.
Tomato bouillon: For a stronger tomato-bouillon flavor, use 1 ½ teaspoons tomato bouillon, reduce the salt to ¼ teaspoon, and replace the ½ cup tomato sauce with ½ cup additional broth.
Onion: Add finely diced white or yellow onion and sauté it briefly before adding the garlic.
Peas and carrots: Stir in frozen peas and carrots when you add the liquid so they cook with the rice.
Corn or bell peppers: Either can be added along with other vegetables.
Serrano or jalapeño: Add a finely chopped pepper if you want a little heat.
Salsa: Replace up to ½ cup of the broth with salsa for more tomato flavor and spice.
Jasmine rice: Jasmine rice can work because it is a long-grain rice, although the flavor and texture will be slightly different.

How to Make Mexican Rice

The ingredients are simple, but the cooking method is what gives this rice its fluffy texture. Toast the rice well, keep the lid closed while it cooks, and give it a few minutes to rest before fluffing.

Golden rice with seasoning in a saucepan, the first step in making a homemade Mexican rice side dish.

Toast the rice. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the uncooked rice and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the grains are light golden and smell slightly nutty.

Garlic and seasoning added to golden cooked rice in a saucepan for Mexican rice.

Add the seasonings. Stir in the garlic, salt, and cumin. Cook for about 30 seconds, just until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Pouring chicken broth into sauce pan with golden rice and tomato sauce for making Mexican rice.

Add the liquid. Carefully pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Increase the heat and bring everything to a full boil.

Simmering rice in a pot for making a Mexican rice recipe.

Cover and simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Don’t lift the lid or stir the rice while it cooks.

Cooked Mexican rice after it has been browned, seasoned, and simmered in a pot.

Let the rice rest. Remove the pan from the heat and leave it covered for 5 to 10 minutes. This allows the steam to redistribute and finish cooking the rice.

Mexican rice recipe step of sprinkling chopped cilantro on cooked Mexican rice.

Fluff and serve. Remove the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Fold in the chopped cilantro and serve.

Recipe Tips for Fluffy Rice

If you want that fluffy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice texture, these little details make a big difference.

Use long-grain rice. Short and medium-grain rice contain more starch and are more likely to become sticky.
Don’t skip toasting the rice. Give it the full 5 to 7 minutes to turn lightly golden.
Keep stirring while the rice toasts. This helps it brown evenly without burning.
Use a heavy-bottomed pan. A sturdy saucepan or Dutch oven distributes the heat more evenly.
Use a tight-fitting lid. You need to keep as much steam inside the pot as possible.
Turn the heat down after boiling. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low before covering the pan.
Don’t peek. Every time you remove the lid, steam escapes and the cooking temperature drops.
Don’t stir the rice while it simmers. Stirring can release starch and make the rice sticky.
Let it rest before fluffing. Five to ten minutes of covered resting time helps the rice finish evenly.
Fluff with a fork. A fork separates the grains without mashing them together.

Wooden spoon with Mexican Rice held over a saucepan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to rinse the rice first?

No. I usually don’t rinse the rice for this recipe because toasting the dry rice in oil helps keep the grains separate. If you prefer to rinse your rice, drain it very well and let it dry as much as possible before toasting. Wet rice will not toast as evenly.

What is the best type of rice for Mexican rice?

I recommend long-grain white rice. It cooks up fluffy with separate grains and gives you the texture most people associate with Mexican restaurant rice.

Can I use jasmine rice?

Yes. Jasmine rice is a long-grain rice and can be used, although it has its own aroma and may cook a little softer than standard long-grain white rice.

Can I make Mexican rice in a rice cooker?

Yes. For the best flavor, toast the rice with the oil, garlic, and seasonings on the stovetop first. Transfer it to your rice cooker, add the tomato sauce and broth, then cook according to your rice cooker’s directions.

Can I make Mexican rice in an Instant Pot?

Yes. I recommend using my Instant Pot Mexican Rice recipe because the liquid amounts and pressure cooking time are already adjusted for the Instant Pot.

Can I double this Mexican rice recipe?

Yes. Double all of the ingredients and use a large, heavy-bottomed pot so the rice has enough room to cook evenly. The simmering time should stay close to the same, although a larger batch may take longer to come to a boil.

What is the difference between Mexican and Spanish rice?

The names are often used interchangeably in the United States, but they aren’t exactly the same thing. Mexican rice is commonly made with tomatoes and cumin, which gives it a reddish-orange color. Traditional Spanish rice dishes may use ingredients such as saffron, giving them a different flavor and color.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes. Simply replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. Check the labels on any bouillon or other seasonings you add to make sure they fit your dietary needs.

Is Mexican rice gluten-free?

The basic ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free, but always check the labels on packaged chicken broth and bouillon if you need to avoid gluten because ingredients can vary by brand.

Troubleshooting

Rice can be a little finicky, but most problems are easy to trace back to the amount of liquid, cooking temperature, or lost steam.

My Mexican rice is mushy or sticky – Too much liquid, stirring during cooking, using short-grain rice, or overcooking can all cause sticky rice. Remove the lid and let the rice sit for a few minutes so excess moisture can escape, then gently fluff it with a fork.
My rice is still crunchy – Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot broth or water, cover the pan again, and cook over very low heat for about 5 more minutes. Remove it from the heat and let it rest before checking again.
The rice burned on the bottom – The burner was probably too hot or the pan may be heating unevenly. Once the liquid comes to a boil, reduce the heat all the way to low. A heavy-bottomed pan also helps prevent hot spots.
My rice tastes bland – Make sure you are using broth instead of water and don’t skip the salt, cumin, garlic, or tomato sauce. You can also add a squeeze of lime or a little extra fresh cilantro before serving.
There is still liquid in the pan when the rice is done – Cover the pan again and cook it over low heat for a few more minutes. Once the visible liquid has been absorbed, remove it from the heat and let the rice rest.
Some of the rice is soft and some is crunchy – Uneven cooking usually happens when too much steam escapes or the pan heats unevenly. Use a tight-fitting lid, keep the heat low, and avoid opening the pan while the rice cooks.

Authentic Mexican Rice, restaurant style, being served with a fork.

Make Ahead and Storage

Mexican rice is easy to make ahead, which makes it especially handy when I’m serving a larger Mexican dinner.

Let leftover rice cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it. For best quality, use refrigerated rice within 3 to 4 days.

To reheat it, microwave individual servings or warm the rice in a covered saucepan over low heat. If it seems dry, add a small splash of water or broth before reheating.

You can also freeze Mexican rice. Let it cool completely, transfer it to freezer-safe bags or containers, and freeze it for up to about 3 months for best quality. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or reheat it from frozen in the microwave.

Pairing Ideas

This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe goes with just about any Mexican-inspired dinner. We especially love it with Birria Tacos, Homemade Enchiladas, Carne Asada Burritos, Grilled Steak Street Tacos, Hatch Chiles Rellenos, or Chicken Flautas. Add refried beans, black beans, guacamole, or a simple salad and you have an easy restaurant-style Mexican dinner at home.

More Popular Rice Recipes

If you love having a good rice recipe ready for dinner, here are a few more of our favorites:

Homemade Rice A Roni

Sushi Rice

Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice

Lemon Rice

Once you learn to toast the rice first and let it cook without stirring or lifting the lid, homemade Mexican rice gets so much easier. This is the recipe I come back to when I want fluffy rice with plenty of tomato, garlic, and cumin flavor without a complicated ingredient list.

If you make this Easy Mexican Rice Recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing how it turned out and what you served with it! 💛🇲🇽