Our easy Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice rivals anything you can get in a restaurant. It has the perfect consistency and just the right amount of seasoning.
Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
This Mexican Rice is slightly on the dry side, which is just how Mexican restaurants serve their sides of rice. It isn’t wet, clumpy, or sticky like some homemade Mexican rice recipes can be, and it’s definitely more authentic than anything you can buy in a box at the grocery store! A good Mexican Rice has the perfect texture and is rich in flavor. That is exactly what the result will be when you make this recipe.
Have you wondered what the difference is between Mexican rice and Spanish rice? The terms are both used to describe the same basic dish. Most Spanish rice and Mexican rice recipes have the same ingredients – rice, a tomato based sauce, garlic, and chicken broth. There can be some minor variations in the seasonings used and additions made to the dish, like onions and peppers. Most restaurants call this dish Mexican rice on their menus.
Recipe Tips
The secret to a delicious Mexican rice is all in the way you cook it. Here are a few tips and tricks to get it right every time:
- Mexican rice needs to be fried in oil and browned BEFORE you add the chicken broth and tomato sauce. As a result, the rice really absorbs the flavors yet has the perfect consistency.
- Mix in the chopped cilantro after cooking. If you add it before, the cilantro gets brown in color and wilted. When you toss it in after, it stays bright and fresh.
- Use this stove top method. I have tried different methods in my rice cooker, but it just doesn’t turn out the same.
- For a spicier taste, your favorite medium or hot salsa can replace the tomato sauce.
- Long grain white rice is the best rice to use for this dish.
Is Mexican Rice Gluten Free?
Yes! This Mexican Rice recipe can easily be made gluten free. Use a gluten free chicken broth, like Swanson’s Chicken Broth, for gluten free Mexican Rice.
Mexican Rice and Beans
What about the beans? Mexican Rice and Beans are a match made in heaven! This recipe goes hand in hand with our Restaurant Style Refried Beans. Also, be sure to include our Best Guacamole EVER, and our fresh Homemade Salsa. With all of these recipes combined, you will have your sides covered for your next big fiesta! Your friends will think you had it all catered in from your favorite Mexican joint. We have tons of great Mexican recipes here on Favorite Family Recipes. Our Mom is what you would call a Mexican food addict, she would eat it for every meal if she had the choice. Because of this, we learned at an early age how to make all different kinds of Mexican dishes. Consequently, as we got older and more adventurous, our Mexican food recipe collection grew even more.
What to pair with Mexican Rice
Oh, the delicious possibilities are endless! This Mexican Rice tastes so good with any burrito, taco, chimichanga, enchilada, quesadilla, taquito, or flauta you can think of. Here are a few of our favorite Mexican recipes to get the wheels turning. Try one of these or add it to your own favorite Mexican dish.
- Steak Street Tacos
- Shredded Beef Taquitos
- Sweet Pork Baked Burritos
- Cheese Enchiladas
- Chicken Flautas
- Crisp Bean Burrito
Mexican Rice Recipe Reviews
My husband is very picky about his Mexican rice, and his love for this dish makes it a staple on the family menu plan. In addition to his 5-star review, we’ve received many rave reviews from people who have made and loved this rice recipe. You can read them all in the comments below, however here are few of our favorites:
“I’ve made this about five times now and I love it! The last two times I was out of tomato sauce so I substituted half a cup of Chipotle Lime Salsa (Aldi brand). Wow! This made it even better. I love how easy it is to make and how beautiful it looks and smells when the time is up and you lift the lid.” – Ed
“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
We are so happy to see this has become a family favorite for so many!
How to Make Mexican Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup long grain rice uncooked
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 14 ounces chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to lightly brown. Add the garlic, salt, and cumin and stir the rice til it looks golden.
- Add the tomato sauce and chicken broth and turn the heat up to medium high. Bring the mix to a boil then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fluff with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro.
Equipment
- Stove Top
- Large Sauce Pan
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I’m making this for the weekend, I bet everyone is going to devour it!
Sonya says
Do you rinse your rice before cooking in oil? Or just straight from the bag into the oil?
Thanks in advance 😊
Favorite Family Recipes says
I don’t typically rinse my rice when I’m making this particular recipe.
Kathryn says
Yesssss! I love that I can eat Mexican rice from my favorite restaurant at home. Thanks for making this so easy!
Annissa says
Thanks for such a comprehensive post about how to make Mexican rice! My mother showed me how to make Spanish rice. Now I want to try making this one instead. Looks delicious!
Paula says
We love this recipe – wouldn’t change a thing!!
Ashley F says
The best side dish! Love how simple it is to make!
Lisalia says
I always love your recipes. This was also a winner for my family. Easy for me to make and everyone ate it. My picky eaters will always eat your recipes… True Story! Thanks for this yummy mexican rice.
Lily says
I love how easy this was. We enjoyed this rice for dinner with chicken and then on the next day I used leftover for burritos, this rice was the perfect addition to those burritos so flavorful.
Elizabeth Peterson says
This is my absolute favorite recipe from the girls at fav family recipes! It is super easy and it tastes as good as if not better then the Spanish rice served at your favorite Mexican restaurant! Definitely a recipe to keep on hand for every taco Tuesday!
Molly says
I LOVE Mexican rice!!!!! But I HATE homemade Mexican rice. It always get gluey and gummy and the flavor isn’t right…… OMG. This is FIRE! I just made it an hour ago and have gone one about the amazing flavor since!!!! It’s soooo good! Trust me! I measured everything and it was absolutely perfect! It was fluffy and not sticky and just the absolute best I’ve ever had. I would have guessed it to be take out of I didn’t make it myself! Thanks So much for this recipe! It is a game changer for me! I’m in love!
Favorite Family Recipes says
I am so glad you loved it! Thank you so much for the 5-star rating!!
Theresa says
Made this recipe exactly as printed. I will make this again. Was exactly what I wanted to serve with our enchiladas.
Zach says
If I may make one suggestion: drop in one cube of tomato bouillon (Knorr Caldo de Tomate) when you add the liquid. It deepens the tomato flavor and adds a wonderful richness. A sister in law is from Guadalajara and she gave me the tip. It really is a very nice addition. You can find tomato bouillon cubes in the Latin/Hispanic section of any major supermarket.
Caren says
Someone else told me the same thing and it’s definitely a game changer!
Bhavika says
Hi I would like to know can we subitute vegetable broth instead chicken broth
Favorite Family Recipes says
Absolutely!
Shanna says
This was such a flavorful rice. It was the perfect addition to my street tacos for dinner last night.
Christian Guzman says
This was so perfect for our smothered tamales yesterday! Yum! Thank you for your attention to detail. It really helped to get just the right texture.
Noelle says
This is as close to a restaurant’s rice as you can get! Love it, thanks for sharing 🙂
Abigail Raines says
I always just cook plain rice so this is a great enhancement on that. What a versatile side dish!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Love all the flavors here, I already know I’m going to enjoy this recipe a lot!
L says
I love this recipe and have made it several times. I have tried to double it a couple of times and always end up with hard grains of rice still left at the end. A single batch comes out great. Is there a trick to doubling the ingredients?
Favorite Family Recipes says
It sounds like you may need to add a little more liquid. I would add 4 cups of chicken broth. Hope this helps!
BECKY G says
Pretty great
Jill Bartlett says
Does this reheat well? I would like to make it in advance. Looks and sounds amazing. Thanks!
Favorite Family Recipes says
It will be a little dry if you reheat it. You can try adding some more liquid to it, but I usually make this the day of.
Ted says
I had another dry fluffy restaurant style Mexican rice recipe that I’ve been using, but this one blows it out of the water! It’s easier to make, and tastes completely amazing. I could have eaten the whole pot of this stuff tonight, but I didn’t, I shared it with my son. I did not measure the oil and I think I was a little heavy-handed, but that actually turned out to be a bonus. I can honestly say this is the best homemade rice I’ve ever made. Thank you!!!!
Emily Walker says
I’m so glad you loved it!
Ted says
I will probably make it again this week. It’s just the perfect rice!
Katrina S says
I used this with chickpea rice (I’m allergic to grains), and it was delicious! I cut the time by about half, and stirred it pretty regularly.