Ready in 10 minutes and full of spices and tomato sauce, this Instant Pot Mexican Rice is perfect for your next Taco Tuesday! Serve this rice with burritos, fajitas, or quesadillas!
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If you are tired of boring, old white rice, you have to try this Instant Pot Mexican Rice! This is the most flavorful rice recipe and it's ready in less than 15 minutes!
I first made rice in the Instant Pot when I was making long grain rice. I could not believe how easy it was and how the rice came out perfect every time! Since then, I only make rice in my electric pressure cooker!
This rice is the perfect side dish for Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas, Buffalo chicken quesadillas, Blackstone fried rice, or on a taco bar with mango salsa!
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What is Mexican Rice?
Mexican rice, also known as arroz rojo or Mexican red rice, is a Mexican side dish often served in Mexican restaurants. The rice is usually toasted in a pan with olive oil or another type of fat, and then cooked with broth and tomato.
This simple recipe is often served as a side dish to many different types of Mexican food such as refried beans, like many recipes, there are so many different variations of Mexican rice.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's full of flavor! A change from regular rice, you'll feel like your in your favorite Mexican restaurant when you serve this flavorful rice!
- The Instant Pot does the work for you! The Instant Pot has quickly become my favorite rice cooker. It cooks perfect rice every single time!
- This recipe is ready with only a few simple steps! This recipe comes together quickly and is perfect if you are getting to know your Instant Pot.
Ingredients For Instant Pot Mexican Rice
- Olive Oil. To saute the rice in.
- Onion. One medium onion
- Long grain rice. I used jasmine rice for this recipe.
- Tomato Sauce. One 8 ounce can.
- Chicken Broth. Low sodium, if you have it.
- Chili Powder.
- 3 garlic cloves, or 2 teaspoons of garlic powder.
Equipment You'll Need
- Instant Pot. I have a 6-quart Instant Pot that I use, and I love it! If you have a 3-quart Instant Pot, half this recipe.
- Cutting Board
- Knives
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoon
- Liquid Measuring Cup
- Fine Mesh Strainer
Let's Make Instant Pot Mexican Rice!
Peel the onion and chop it into small pieces. Chop the garlic and set it aside. Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and run water over the rice until the water runs through the strainer clear.
Set the Instant Pot to the saute function and add the olive oil. Add the onion to the Instant Pot and cook for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes, add the chopped garlic. Add the rice and cook for another 3 minutes to toast the rice.
Pour the tomato sauce and chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Add the chili powder and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt.
Close the Instant Pot and make sure the knob on the lid is set to the sealing position. Select the "Rice" function on your Instant Pot and cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, quick release the pressure. With a fork, fluff the rice. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lime juice and chopped fresh cilantro if you would like.
Tips and Tricks
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to temperature.
- If you are not using low sodium chicken broth, reduce the amount of salt you are adding to the rice. Chicken broth can be quite salty, and you don't want to overpower the rice.
- To avoid mushy rice, make sure you release the pressure from the Instant Pot as soon as the cook time is over.
- Sometimes 8-ounce cans of tomato sauce can be hard to find. You can use one tablespoon of tomato paste and cook that into the rice. You can also use 2 tomato bouillon cubes in place of the chicken broth.
- If your Instant Pot does not have a rice function, cook the rice on low pressure for 10 minutes.
Variations
- Add beans! Add one drained can of black beans to the Instant Pot before you close the Instant Pot to cook.
- Make it vegan! Use water or vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a vegan option.
- Use brown rice! Brown rice takes a bit longer to cook, so you will have to up the cook time to 15 minutes and cook the rice on high pressure.
- Add veggies! Feel free to mix in chopped carrots, peas, or even corn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure that you have enough liquid in your Instant Pot. If there is not enough liquid, the rice will stick to the bottom of the pot and cause a big mess! It's important to remember the ratio of water to rice. It should be 1 cup of rice to 1 ¼ cups of water.
Place any leftover rice into an airtight container and store the rice in the refrigerator. To reheat the rice, microwave for 2-3 minutes or until the rice is heated through.
Long grain rice is best type of rice to use. Basmati or jasmine rice are classic in Mexican rice.
Other Recipes To Try!
Did you love this Instant Pot Mexican Rice Recipe? If you did, don't forget to tag me on social media on Instagram or Facebook and share this recipe on Pinterest! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these easy recipes!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil Vegetable oil or avocado oil can be used
- 1 Medium Onion chopped
- 2 cups Long Grain Rice
- 8 oz Tomato Sauce
- 2 ½ cups Chicken Broth
- 2 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 3 cloves Garlic Minced
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Peel the onion and chop it into small pieces. Chop the garlic and set it aside.
- Place the rice in a fine mesh strainer and run water over the rice until the water runs through the strainer clear.
- Set the Instant Pot to the saute function and add the olive oil. Add the onion to the Instant Pot and cook for 2 minutes.
- After 2 minutes, add the chopped garlic. Add the rice and cook for another 3 minutes to toast the rice.
- Pour the tomato sauce and chicken broth into the Instant Pot. Add the chili powder and salt and mix together.
- Close the Instant Pot and make sure the knob on the lid is set to the sealing position. Select the "Rice" function on your Instant Pot and cook for 10 minutes on low pressure.
- After 10 minutes, quick release the pressure. With a fork, fluff the rice. Serve immediately with a squeeze of lime if you would like.
Notes
- The Instant Pot will take 5-10 minutes to come up to temperature.
- If you are not using low sodium chicken broth, reduce the amount of salt you are adding to the rice. Chicken broth can be quite salty, and you don't want to overpower the rice.
- If your Instant Pot does not have a rice function, cook the rice on low pressure for 10 minutes.
Rebekah Kuk
This Mexican Rice was such an easy side to make, using ingredients that I always have on hand. I paired it with some taco beef, black beans, and toppings. My family all loved it!
laura
So easy and delicious!! Thanks!!
Sherry
I made your Instant Pot Mexican Rice as a side dish recipe with my chicken quesadillas. What an easy and fast rice recipe and my family loved it!!
Kris
So easy, so good! The spices were spot on - thank you!!