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Make restaurant-quality Mexican Rice at home in no time! I will show you how to get delicious, fluffy, and flavorful Mexican rice in the Instant Pot every time with my easy, foolproof recipe. It’s a game-changer for busy nights!
Effortless Mexican Rice in Minutes
I’m all about keeping things simple in the kitchen, and this Instant Pot Mexican Rice is a game-changer. While I absolutely adore my traditional Mexican Rice recipe, this Instant Pot version is ideal when you’re short on time. No babysitting the stove, no constant stirring—just perfectly cooked rice every single time. It is perfect for busy weeknights or when you’re juggling multiple dishes in the kitchen. It’s tender, flavorful, and ready in a fraction of the time (with less effort)!
Why Make Mexican Rice in the Instant Pot?
Using the Instant Pot to make Mexican rice is a total lifesaver. It eliminates the hassle of rice sticking to the bottom of the pan or uneven cooking. Here’s why you’ll love it:
Saves Time and Space: With the Instant Pot doing the work, you free up your stovetop for other dishes.
Fluffy Perfection: The Instant Pot cooks the rice evenly, so you never have to worry about mushy or undercooked grains.
Stress-Free Cooking: Toss the ingredients in, set it, and forget it. Meanwhile, you can focus on preparing the rest of your meal.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice Ingredients
- Here’s everything you need to create this delicious rice dish:
- Vegetable oil
- Long grain white rice (jasmine rice works great too!)
- Onion – diced
- Garlic – 2 cloves, minced
- Seasonings: Salt, cumin, and chili powder
- Tomato sauce – 1 can
- Chicken broth
- Fresh cilantro – chopped
How to Make Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Follow these simple steps for foolproof Mexican rice:
- Sauté the Rice: Set your Instant Pot to “Sauté” mode and heat the vegetable oil. Once hot, add the rice and stir until it’s golden brown.
- Add Aromatics and Seasonings: Stir in the diced onion, minced garlic, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Sauté for a couple more minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Give it a good stir to combine everything.
- Pressure Cook: Secure the lid, set the valve to “Sealing,” and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Once the timer is up, let it naturally release pressure for 10-12 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Fluff and Garnish: Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and stir in freshly chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
No Instant Pot? No Problem!
No Instant Pot? No worries—you can still enjoy delicious Mexican rice cooked on the stovetop. Our traditional Mexican Rice recipe has been a favorite for years (in fact it’s one of the most popular recipes on our site). While it does require a little more attention than the Instant Pot version, it’s worth it for the authentic flavor and texture.
Tips and Variations for Mexican Rice in the Instant Pot
- Toast the Rice: Don’t skip this step! Toasting the rice in oil adds a nutty flavor and helps prevent mushiness.
- Dry Your Rice: If you rinse the rice beforehand, ensure it’s completely dry before adding it to the oil.
- Add-Ins: Customize your rice with extras like diced tomatoes, Rotel, frozen peas, corn, or a kick of heat with chopped jalapeños.
- Vegetarian Option: Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly.
What to Serve with Mexican Rice
This rice is the perfect side dish for all your favorite Mexican meals! Pair it with:
For a complete meal, serve it alongside refried beans, black beans, or even tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa.
Absolutely! Brown rice works well but requires a longer cooking time. Adjust the pressure cook time to 20-22 minutes and increase the natural pressure release to 15 minutes for perfectly cooked brown rice.
Make sure to deglaze the pot by stirring well after adding the liquids to scrape any stuck bits. This helps avoid the “Burn” notice and ensures even cooking.
Rinsing the rice removes excess starch, which helps prevent clumping. If you choose to rinse, ensure the rice is completely dry before toasting it in the oil.
Yes, you can double the ingredients, but keep the cooking time the same. Just ensure your Instant Pot has enough capacity to handle the increased quantity.
More Easy Rice Recipes
How to Cook Instant Pot Rice
Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
Brown Rice in the Instant Pot
Instant Pot Sushi Rice
Super Easy Yellow Rice
Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice
Wild Rice
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (or any pressure cooker)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups long grain white rice (Jasmine rice works great)
- 1/3 cup diced onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to the "sauté" function and add oil. When oil is hot, add rice.Stir rice often until it becomes golden brown.
- Add onion, garlic, salt, cumin, and chili powder and sauté another minute or two, stirring constantly.
- Add tomato sauce and chicken broth and stir until well combined.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and turn knob to the sealing position. Pressure cook on high pressure for 4 minutes. Natural pressure release 10-12 minutes, then quick release by turning the knob to the venting position.
- Uncover and fluff with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro.
