By Becky Hardin
Published Feb 5, 2020
This Easy Mexican Rice recipe turns plain old white rice from your pantry, into a delicious side dish packed with Mexican flavors and cheese!
Rice is a staple side, but can be a bit…boring. This Easy Mexican Rice recipe is so quick to make from scratch, it’ll liven up your rice game! Homemade Mexican Rice is so much more flavorful boxed versions and you can add or remove seasonings and spices to suit your tastes.
How To Make This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe – Step By Step
- Cook rice according to package directions, then Add oil, butter and onions to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until onions have softened and are translucent, then add garlic and cook.
- Add can of tomatoes with juice, cumin, paprika and chili powder, cook 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- When the rice is cooked, add the onion mixture, cheese, chipotle pepper (if using), cilantro and lime juice.
- Stir well and serve. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro.Enjoy!
What To Serve With This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe
You can serve as is or alongside some tacos or enchiladas, or pork and fish dishes. It’s even great as a main dish, digging your way in with tortilla chips. Either way, you’ll loved the change from our usual plain ol rice!
How To Store Leftover Rice
Cooked rice is very moist, which can be a breeding ground for bacteria growth if it is left at room temperature for more than two hours. Play it safe and cool down any leftover rice quickly—either by spreading it out on a baking sheet, or placing it in the refrigerator.
Transfer the cooled, cooked rice into an airtight storage container or a ziplock plastic bag (remove as much air from the bag as possible before sealing) then store in the refrigerator. It will last about 4 days.
Can I Make This Mexican Rice With Brown Rice?
Yes indeed. Brown rice does need more liquid. For every 1 cup of brown rice used you will need 2 and 1/2 cups of liquid. Also, brown rice does take longer to cook.
Top Tips For This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe
- Rinse your rice. Take an extra second to rinse your rice with water to remove the starch film on the surface that can cause the rice to clump together.
- Adding peas and carrots. Peas and diced carrots are traditional to add to Mexican rice. You can leave them out if you want to, but they are a great addition.
- If liquid evaporates before rice is done, then add just a little liquid, keeping in mind that the rice will continue to steam for 10 minutes once it’s removed from heat, so it doesn’t need to be 100% cooked once liquid is gone.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Delicious Mexican Recipes We Love
- Grilled Chicken Nachos (BBQ Chicken Nachos & Mexican Nachos)
- Mexican Pinwheels (Southwest Cream Cheese & Sausage Pinwheels)
- Black Bean & Corn Mexican Dip Recipe (Fresh Fiesta Dip)
- Easy Chilaquiles Recipe
- Mexican Stuffed Peppers Recipe (Cheesy Enchilada Stuffed Peppers)
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1½ cups long-grain white rice
- ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ▢ ½ yellow onion diced
- ▢ 1 clove garlic minced
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles with juice
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ▢ ½ cup Mexican Blend cheese
- ▢ 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce minced; optional
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro plus more for garnish
- ▢ Juice of ½ lime
Video
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package directions.
- Add oil, butter and onions to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until onions have softened and are translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add can of tomatoes with juice, cumin, paprika and chili powder. Stir and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- When the rice is cooked, add the onion mixture, cheese, chipotle pepper (if using), cilantro and lime juice. Stir well and serve.
- Garnish with additional chopped cilantro.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Mexican Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles with juice
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ cup Mexican Blend cheese
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce minced; optional
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro plus more for garnish
- Juice of ½ lime
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package directions.
- Add oil, butter and onions to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until onions have softened and are translucent. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Add can of tomatoes with juice, cumin, paprika and chili powder. Stir and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat.
- When the rice is cooked, add the onion mixture, cheese, chipotle pepper (if using), cilantro and lime juice. Stir well and serve.
- Garnish with additional chopped cilantro.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
