Mexican Rice

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Learn the secret to making restaurant-style Mexican Rice at home. And it’s always perfect: Tender, delicious, never sticky. Whether you are making dinner for the family or feeding 100, this recipe works every time and it tastes exactly the way you want it to! 

Mexican rice in a blue bowl with a sliver spoon.Mexican rice in a blue bowl with a sliver spoon.

Recipe ingredients

Mexican rice ingredients in various bowls.Mexican rice ingredients in various bowls.

Ingredient notes

  • Rice. I use long-grain white rice, (basmati rice works too) but you can definitely make this with brown rice (you’ll need to increase your cook time).
  • Oil. The recipe calls for vegetable oil, but you can substitute olive oil or leave it out entirely (see Recipe Tips below).
  • Tomato paste. In Mexico, instead of tomato paste, cooks use one cube of Consomate brand tomato bouillon. If you don’t want to open a small can of tomato paste, look for a tube at the grocery store. The paste adds a deep, tomato flavor to the rice.
  • Cilantro or parsley (optional). Stirred in at the last minute. In truth, no one in Mexico ever does this (but let’s be honest – they would never make rice in the oven, either).

Step-by-step instructions

This method starts the rice on the stove, but finishes it off in the oven. You need a heavy Dutch oven or stock pot with a lid that’s oven safe. (If making large amounts of rice, use the largest stockpot you have, then transfer the rice to large baking dishes and seal with aluminum foil.)

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and adjust the rack to the center position inside the oven. To start, purée the raw onions and tomatoes together using a food processor or blender. Then measure out the amount of tomato and onion mixture you need for the amount of rice you’re cooking. (Discard or freeze the rest to add to a future recipe!)
    A side-by-side photo of two process shots from above the food processor. The photo on the left shows the processor filled with quartered roma tomatoes and quartered white onion, and the photo on the right shows after they have been processed together, producing a red sauce.A side-by-side photo of two process shots from above the food processor. The photo on the left shows the processor filled with quartered roma tomatoes and quartered white onion, and the photo on the right shows after they have been processed together, producing a red sauce.
  2. Next sauté the dry rice in oil over medium heat until toasted. Stir constantly so the rice doesn’t burn; your goal is to get toasted grains. Once about half the rice looks golden and toasty, stir in the garlic. Then pour in the tomato onion mixture, tomato paste, and chicken broth and bring the whole mixture to a boil.
    A rectangle side-by-side photo of an All-Clad saucepan from above. The photo on the left is of the white rice grains in the saucepan, and the photo on the right shows the rice with the tomato-onion mixture added.A rectangle side-by-side photo of an All-Clad saucepan from above. The photo on the left is of the white rice grains in the saucepan, and the photo on the right shows the rice with the tomato-onion mixture added.
  3. Cover the pot and transfer the rice to the preheated oven. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Stir the rice halfway through the cooking time. When tender, stir in parsley or cilantro and fluff with a fork before serving.

Recipe tips and substitutions

  • Brown rice: It takes longer to cook but tastes really great in this recipe. In the oven, add 10 minutes to the baking time will ensure the brown rice is cooked all the way through.
  • Peas and carrots: Sometimes in Mexico, they add ¼ cup frozen peas and carrots midway through cooking.
  • Jalapeños: If you want, stir in 1-2 minced jalapeños with the fresh garlic. They don’t do this in Mexico, but it tastes great.
  • Vegan: Just swap the chicken broth for water or vegetable broth.
  • No oil. If you want, you can omit the oil entirely in this recipe. Follow the recipe as written, making this change for Step 3: Instead of heating oil in a pot, toast the dry rice (un-rinsed) on high, stirring CONSTANTLY, until about half the rice is lightly browned. Keep your eye on it; you need to keep it moving so it doesn’t scorch. Continue the recipe as written, stirring in the garlic. The rice will bake up perfectly, separated and fluffy, as if you had used oil.
  • Salsa or canned tomatoes: So many readers love using their favorite salsa instead of the tomato/onion mixture. You can even use canned tomatoes (lookin’ at you, fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilies!) Rotel, or a couple cans of El Pato tomato sauce, a zesty tomato and chili purée found at Mexican grocery stores. As long as you have two cups of liquid, you’re good to go.
  • Skip the oven: You can also make Mexican rice on the stove (that’s what they do in Mexico). After the rice comes to a boil, reduce the heat to the lowest possible temperature on your stove, cover, and cook for another 15 minutes.
  • Use rice cooker: Follow the steps in the recipe below exactly as written through Step 4. Once you bring the rice to a boil, transfer it to your rice cooker (coated with nonstick spray). Close and seal the rice cooker and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For white rice, it took 33 minutes in mine (nearly the same as the oven) and there was no stirring needed. For brown rice, it takes about 50 to 55 minutes.
  • Reheating Mexican rice: Spoon the rice into a microwave safe bowl, add a splash of water, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in the microwave in 1 minute increments until heated through.
  • Big batch rice: For enough Mexican Rice to feed 25 people, use an 8-quart stock pot, triple the ingredients, and add 10 minutes to the baking time (40 minutes total).

Mexican rice on a blue plate with a sliver spoon.Mexican rice on a blue plate with a sliver spoon.

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Mexican rice in a teal bowl.Mexican rice in a teal bowl.logo illustrationlogo illustration

Mexican Rice

Learn the secret to making restaurant-style Mexican Rice at home. And it’s always perfect: Tender, delicious, never sticky. Whether you are making dinner for the family or feeding 100, this recipe works every time and it tastes exactly the way you want it to! 

5

from

112

votesReviewPrint

Prep Time

5

mins

Cook Time

50

mins

Total Time

55

mins

Servings

12

servings (1/2-cup each)

Course

Side Dish

Cuisine

Mexican

Calories

174

Ingredients 

  • 2

    medium vine-ripened tomatoes or 4 Roma tomatoes

    cored and quartered

  • 1

    onion

    peeled and quartered

  • 1/3

    cup

    vegetable oil

  • 2

    cups

    long-grain white rice

  • 4

    cloves

    garlic

    minced

  • 2

    cups

    chicken broth

    or water

  • 1

    tablespoon

    tomato paste

    or one cube Consomate tomato bouillon

  • Salt

  • minced fresh cilantro

    or parsley, for garnish (optional)

  • Lime wedges

    for serving

Instructions 

  • Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • In a food processor or blender, puree the tomatoes and onions until smooth. Measure 2 cups of puree, pouring off and discarding any excess.

  • In a large Dutch oven or a 3-quart saucepan, heat oil until shimmering. Add the rice and sauté, stirring frequently, until light golden in color, about 10 to 15 minutes.

  • Stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato mixture, broth or water, tomato paste, and salt to taste (I like 1 ½ teaspoons). Bring to a boil.

  • Cover (or transfer to a baking dish and cover) and bake until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 30 minutes. Stir halfway through baking time.

  • Fluff rice with a fork. Fold in cilantro or parsley (if using) and season to taste with salt. Serve with lime wedges.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Brown rice: It takes longer to cook but tastes really great in this recipe. In the oven, add 10 minutes to the baking time will ensure the brown rice is cooked all the way through.
  • Peas and carrots: Sometimes in Mexico, they add ¼ cup frozen peas and carrots midway through cooking.
  • Jalapeños: If you want, stir in 1-2 minced jalapeños with the fresh garlic. They don’t do this in Mexico, but it tastes great.
  • Vegan: Just swap the chicken broth for water or vegetable broth.
  • No oil. If you want, you can omit the oil entirely in this recipe. Follow the recipe as written, making this change for Step 3: Instead of heating oil in a pot, toast the dry rice (un-rinsed) on high, stirring CONSTANTLY, until about half the rice is lightly browned. Keep your eye on it; you need to keep it moving so it doesn’t scorch. Continue the recipe as written, stirring in the garlic. The rice will bake up perfectly, separated and fluffy, as if you had used oil.
  • Salsa or canned tomatoes: So many readers love using their favorite salsa instead of the tomato/onion mixture. You can even use canned tomatoes (lookin’ at you, fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilies!) Rotel, or a couple cans of El Pato tomato sauce, a zesty tomato and chili purée found at Mexican grocery stores. As long as you have two cups of liquid, you’re good to go.
  • Skip the oven: You can also make Mexican rice on the stove (that’s what they do in Mexico). After the rice comes to a boil, reduce the heat to the lowest possible temperature on your stove, cover, and cook for another 15 minutes.
  • Use rice cooker: Follow the steps in the recipe below exactly as written through Step 4. Once you bring the rice to a boil, transfer it to your rice cooker (coated with nonstick spray). Close and seal the rice cooker and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions. For white rice, it took 33 minutes in mine (nearly the same as the oven) and there was no stirring needed. For brown rice, it takes about 50 to 55 minutes.
  • Reheating Mexican rice: Spoon the rice into a microwave safe bowl, add a splash of water, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in the microwave in 1 minute increments until heated through.
  • Big batch rice: For enough Mexican Rice to feed 25 people, use an 8-quart stock pot, triple the ingredients, and add 10 minutes to the baking time (40 minutes total).
  • Source: I originally learned this recipe from America’s Test Kitchen. I thought the method was super innovative: blending tomatoes and onions to make a sauce, and the rice tasted just like a restaurant. After MULTIPLE trips to Mexico (my husband is from there), I now know that everyone in Mexico makes Mexican Rice this way, and this is not a unique ATK invention (even though they present it as such). The difference is, in Mexico they call it Spanish rice, they never add cilantro or jalapeños, and they typically make it on the stove, not in the oven. And they use a blender, not a food processor. 

Nutrition

Serving:

1

serving (1/2-cup each)

Calories:

174

kcal

Carbohydrates:

26

g

Protein:

3

g

Fat:

6

g

Saturated Fat:

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat:

4

g

Monounsaturated Fat:

1

g

Trans Fat:

1

g

Sodium:

156

mg

Potassium:

98

mg

Fiber:

1

g

Sugar:

1

g

Vitamin A:

21

IU

Vitamin C:

4

mg

Calcium:

15

mg

Iron:

1

mg

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