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By Heather
Jan 06, 2017, Updated Jun 09, 2023
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One pot Mexican rice is the perfect side dish. Filled with rice, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spices.
Easy Mexican Rice
Growing up my mom referred to this recipe as Spanish rice, we also call it Mexican rice. It’s one of our favorite side dishes to serve for taco Tuesday, with a burrito, refried beans, and other Tex-Mex food.
The best part about this Mexican rice recipe is that it’s one pot. That’s right, just put all of your ingredients into an oven safe pot, bake and your done. The rice turns out perfect every time with minimal effort.
Simple Mexican rice ingredients
- Long grain white rice – Any brand will work, just be sure to use long grain white rice.
- Onion – Diced white onion. Make sure to dice very small.
- Pepper – Diced bell pepper. I like using red but you could use green pepper.
- Petite diced tomatoes – Can of petite diced tomatoes.
- Tomato sauce – Small can of tomato sauce.
- Sugar – This adds a little balance to the dish.
- Salt – Seasoning for the rice.
- Cumin – Adds a delicious smoky flavor.
- Water – Used to cook the rice.
- Optional – Fresh chopped cilantro.
How to make Mexican rice
Step one: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large, oven safe pot with a lid with non-stick cooking spray.
Step two: Rinse the rice under cold water. Place rice in the pot. Pour in water, tomatoes, tomato sauce, onions, peppers, sugar, salt, and cumin. Stir to combine the ingredients.
Step three: Cover the dish and bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and uncover. Stir and serve warm.
How to serve Mexican rice
There are so many ways to use this rice, as a side dish, in a burrito bowl, or a breakfast burrito just to name a few. This rice in a burrito with scrambled eggs and cheese, AMAZING!
Recipe tips
- Rinse your rice under water. Rinsing the rice will help to remove extra starch which could make the rice mushy.
- Chop the onion and pepper small.
How to store leftover Mexican rice
Store: Let this rice cool before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to a week. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the difference between Spanish rice and Mexican rice?
These two rice dishes are very similar but Spanish rice usually contains saffron which gives it a yellow color.
Why is my Mexican rice mushy and sticky?
It can become mushy if cooked too long.
More Tex-Mex recipes
- Charro beans
- Mexican white sauce
- Black beans
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One Pot Mexican Rice
By Heather
One Pot Mexican Rice is the perfect side dish. Filled with rice, tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices.
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr
Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Servings: 6
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Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
- 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chopped cilantro (optional)
- 1 3/4 cup water
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Grease an oven safe casserole dish with a lid.
Add all of the above ingredients to the dish and stir to combine the ingredients.
Cover the dish and bake.
Bake for 50 minutes.
Add cilantro for garnish
Notes
You can use any color pepper of your choice. This recipe is also great if you sprinkle a little Monterey jack cheese on top after it has cooked.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 462mg | Potassium: 490mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 655IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
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