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This authentic Mexican rice recipe infuses garlic, onion, chicken stock, and tomatoes together to create a delicious restaurant-style rice at home.
I have been trying out different recipes for years trying to come up with one that does not taste like tomato paste with some seasonings, and this one is perfect! The tomatoes are there, and so are the chiles and cilantro, but they do not overpower the rice...or any of the other delicious foods on your plate.
If you can boil water, you can make Mexican rice, it is really easy!
Easy Mexican Rice ingredients:
- olive oil
- long-grain white rice
- large white onion, chopped
- fresh garlic cloves, minced
- diced tomatoes and chiles in a can - you can substitute .75 pound fresh, seeded and chopped tomatoes, and 1 small can of diced green chiles.
- chicken stock - homemade or store-bought
- cilantro leaves
- sea salt
How to make Authentic Mexican Rice (Arroz Rojo)
Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan or skillet. Stir in the rice and cook until browned, about 3 minutes stirring occasionally.
Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook for an additional 5 minutes, still stirring occasionally.
Add the chicken stock and tomatoes, stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
Stir in the chopped cilantro and adjust seasonings if needed.
Serve garnished with additional chopped cilantro and hot sauce on the side.
This is the perfect side dish to serve with Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Fish Tacos, Grilled Steak Fajitas, Shredded Beef Chimichangas, and Instant Pot Refried Beans. I also have an Instant Pot Spanish Rice (they are the same thing) if you prefer.
My friend Gloria {Simply Gloria} has an awesome recipe for Classic Refried Beans if you are looking for a stove-top recipe.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- You could easily make this rice vegan by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken stock.
- If it is not spicy enough for you, sprinkle with crushed red chile or hot sauce!
Recipe modifications:
- add one cup of frozen peas with the tomatoes.
- add 0.5 cup of fresh or frozen peas and .5 cup of peeled and diced carrots with the tomatoes.
Tools used to create this recipe:
If you love this recipe, please rate it five stars and help me share on facebook and to help other readers in our community!
Enjoy!!
Authentic Mexican Rice
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 2 large cloves fresh garlic minced
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with chiles drained
- 4 cups chicken stock or homemade
- .25 cup firmly packed, chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pan or skillet. Stir in the rice and cook until browned, about 3 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook for an additional 5 minutes, still stirring occasionally.
- Add the chicken stock and tomatoes, stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped cilantro and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve garnished with additional chopped cilantro and hot sauce on the side.
Notes
- Substitute .75 pound fresh, seeded and chopped tomatoes, and 1 small can of diced green chiles if needed.
- You could easily make this rice vegan by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken stock.
- If it is not spicy enough for you, sprinkle with crushed red chile or hot sauce!
- add one cup of frozen peas with the tomatoes.
- add 0.5 cup of fresh or frozen peas and .5 cup of peeled and diced carrots with the tomatoes.
Nutrition
Winnie says
I like it!!
It's different and I like the ingredients that you used (I'd just replace to veggie stock)
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Winnie. 🙂
Leslie says
This looks so good. I love Mexican rice, yum!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Leslie! 🙂
Seana Turner says
Yum! It looks really natural too, not artificially colored. I love rice and cilantro, so I'd try this. In fact, I'm hungry and was thinking "I wish I were sitting in front of that plate of food right now!"
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Seana! Have you ever seen the Jetson's cartoon? Wouldn't it be nice if we could just push a button, and anything that we would like to eat would just magically appear! 😉 Rosie the housekeeper would be nice as well, lol
Cindy Eikenberg says
Lisa, I love rice and this dish looks incredible - what a beautiful dish! Pinning, of course! Hope you're having a great Monday!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Cindy!! Have a great day, whatever day we are now on. I am soooo far behind, it's ridiculous. 😉
Zainab says
I love this!! I eat rice 4 out of 7 days of the week so I will be trying this soon!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Zainab! 🙂
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says
I could live on Mexican food in one form or another every day for every meal. Love it! Of course, every good Mexican meal needs rice - this one sounds super, Lisa!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Jamie! I could as well, I never get tired of it. 🙂
marcie says
I've made mexican rice at home once and it was just so-so. This looks like a great recipe! I need to try it soon. 🙂
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Marcie. You will have to let me know what you think! 🙂
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
This rice looks so good! I love that it's not overwhelmed with tomato flavour -- it looks so fresh!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you so much Ashley! 🙂
Starla J says
Looks yummy!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Starla! 🙂
Diane Balch says
So simple yet looks so delicious.
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Diane. 🙂 Simple is nice every once in a while!
Melissa @ Simply Sweets by Honeybee says
Your rice looks amazing!
Lisa Johnson says
Thank you Melissa. 🙂
Adelina Priddis says
I was thinking today that I needed a new rice recipe. Sounds absolutely perfect! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday
Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says
So simple! Pinned!
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
I want this rice! And the rest of your meal, too!