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I’m not lying when I tell you I make this rice almost weekly in our house! We love making Mexican food at least once a week, and what is Mexican food night without a side of rice and beans? Now, this is by no means an authentic Mexican rice recipe, but it certainly is delicious and insanely easy to make. It’s meant to be a quick and simple recipe, but you can easily elevate it or bulk it up by adding onion, peas, corn, carrots, lime, cilantro, or whatever else sounds good to you. My favorite ways to use this savory rice is in taco salads, burrito bowls, burritos, or just as a side with some tacos or enchiladas. It’s a perfect compliment any Mexican-style dish and I guarantee you’ll want to make on the regular as well!

Below is a step-by-step guide to making this Mexican rice in a pressure cooker, with a full recipe summary, measurements, and alternatives at the bottom of the page.

Here’s an informational list of the ingredients:

• White rice or Jasmine rice: White rice is typically standard for making Mexican rice, but jasmine is what I tend to buy, so that’s what I always use for this recipe and it turns out just fine, plus it contains slightly more health benefits.
• Chicken broth: Regular chicken broth or vegan chicken broth work fine, but I wouldn’t recommend vegetable broth, as it just won’t achieve the flavor you’re looking for.
• Diced tomatoes: Tomatoes are a fantastic source of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants, such as Vitamins A and K, fiber and calcium. They help to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease by lowering cholesterol and boosting the immune system.
• Tomato paste: Tomato paste is just tomatoes in their most concentrated form, so you’re getting all the benefits listed above. It’s absolutely packed with flavor and helps to balance the texture and flavor of the rice.
• Taco seasoning blend: Any store-bought brand will work, or you can whip up your own using the recipe below. According to NutritonFacts.org, spices offer a wide range of benefits and are known to improve health issues such as cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and they can even be mood boosters! Therefore, it’s important to include at least a small amount of herbs and spices in your daily diet.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Blend: 1 tbsp chili powder, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp each: salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, 1/4 tsp cayenne powder

Step 1:

Thoroughly rinse rice and add it to pressure cooker, along with equal parts chicken broth. Cook on high pressure for 4 mins.

Pro tip: Rinsing the rice beforehand removes any excess starch, making it less sticky and more fluffy. It also helps to remove any dirt or chemicals that may be on the rice.

Step 2:

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and taco seasoning and mix well to combine.

Just like that you’ve got a flavor-packed side dish ready to serve! Add a squeeze of lime for a pop of acidity or some chopped cilantro for some fragrance and freshness. Serve it alongside my Spicy Black Beans for a fantastic combo. This rice will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you try this recipe and enjoy it, share it with a friend and comment down below. I always love to hear your feedback!

Don’t own a pressure cooker?

Cooking rice on the stovetop works just fine, it just takes some extra time. Using a pressure cooker or rice cooker is a great time saver and also allows your food to retain a lot of it’s vitamins and nutrients, whereas cooking in open containers with exposure to oxygen can lead to a loss of nutrients and flavor. I literally use my Instant Pot almost every single day and highly recommend investing in one to save yourself some time and energy! Here’s a link to the one I have been using for years: https://amzn.to/49X5iUa

5-Ingredient Mexican Rice

You only need a few ingredients to turn plain, cooked rice into a savory, flavorsome, Mexican side dish. A quick, easy, and delicious recipe that will compliment any Mexican-style meal.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 6 cups

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups white rice rinsed
• 2-3 cups chicken broth see notes
• 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tbsp taco seasoning

Instructions

 

• Cook rice according to package instructions, using chicken broth instead of water.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.

Notes

The amount of broth will vary based on your method of cooking the rice. Since I use an Instant Pot, I do a 1:1 ratio of rice to broth. Stovetop typically calls for 1.5:1 or 2:1 ratio of broth to rice. Just follow the package instructions for the rice you’re using. 

Keyword easy, few ingredients, mexican recipes, mexican rice, seasoned rice