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This Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice is the perfect side dish for any Mexican meal. The rice has the rich flavor and slightly dry texture as the rice served in most Mexican restaurants.
This Mexican rice recipe came from a close family friend from Mexico, and I have used it for years. She gave me the list of ingredients she uses and her cooking method. Unfortunately, she is one of those amazing cooks that naturally knows how much of each ingredient to use, but doesn’t use actual measurements and her Mexican rice was always made in bulk. I got to work with what I had and tested it until it was the perfect flavor and texture. This recipe is now measured in amounts perfect for the size of one family. If we are making any kind of Mexican food, this rice is a must as a side dish. It has become a favorite of everyone that tries it.
Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
Imagine your first bite of rice at your favorite Mexican restaurant. What is it that makes it taste so good? The rice is fluffy and a little dry. You taste the tang of tomato combined with the spicy, earthy flavors of cumin. The lightness of the rice perfectly complements the creamy refried beans next to it on the plate.
This Mexican Rice recipe delivers the same slightly dry texture, just like the rice served in Mexican restaurants. It’s not wet, clumpy, or sticky, which can often be the case with some homemade versions. The key to achieving the perfect texture and rich flavor is to fry the rice in oil before cooking it. Don’t skip this step!
Mexican Rice Ingredients
This authentic Mexican rice recipe uses long grain rice. Long grain rice is ideal for this recipe because it is a firmer, drier rice. The rice grains stay separate when cooked and don’t clump together. After the rice is browned in a little oil, the rice cooks in a combination of chicken broth and tomato sauce giving the rice a delicious flavor. The additional ingredients I use to season the rice are garlic, kosher salt, cumin, and cilantro.
How to Make Mexican Rice
- Brown the rice. Heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the rice to the pan and stir constantly. Once the rice begins to lightly brown, add the minced garlic, kosher salt, and cumin. Continue to stir the rice until it looks golden brown.
- Add liquids. Pour the chicken broth and tomato sauce into the pan with the rice. Turn the heat up to medium high and bring the mixture to a full boil.
- Cover and simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice.
- Remove from heat and fluff the rice. Remove the pan from the stove then remove the lid from the pan. Using a fork, fluff the rice to separate the grains. Gently stir in the fresh chopped cilantro. This adds color to the rice as well as flavor.
Mexican Rice vs Spanish Rice
Have you wondered what the difference is between Mexican rice and Spanish rice? The terms are used interchangeably by most people and on many recipes. Most Spanish rice and Mexican rice recipes have the same basic ingredients – rice, a tomato based sauce, garlic, and chicken broth.
According to Mahatma rice, there are two distinct differences. The first is the main seasoning in each of the rice dishes. Spanish rice is seasoned with saffron which gives it a bright yellow color, as well as a sweeter flavor. On the other hand, Mexican rice is seasoned with cumin giving it a more reddish orange color, and a spicier flavor. The second noticeable difference is in the texture of the each rice. The texture of Spanish rice is more moist and clumps together. Mexican rice is more dry and fluffy.
Mexican Rice Tips
The secret to a delicious Mexican rice is all in the way you cook it. Here are a few tips and tricks to get it right every time:
- Mexican rice needs to be fried in oil and browned BEFORE you add the chicken broth and tomato sauce. As a result, the rice really absorbs the flavors, yet has the perfect, tender consistency.
- Mix in the chopped cilantro after cooking. If you add it before, the cilantro gets brown in color and wilted. When you toss it in after, it stays bright and fresh.
- Use this stove top method. I have tried different methods in my rice cooker, but it just doesn’t turn out the same.
- For a spicier taste, your favorite medium or hot salsa can replace the tomato sauce.
- Long grain white rice is the best rice to use for this dish. The jury is out on whether the rice should be rinsed prior to cooking. You will get a wide range of opinions on this topic. I do not rinse the rice. My dear friend from Mexico did not rinse the rice when she made it. It turns out beautifully for me every time I make it.
- For more information on how to make the perfect Mexican rice, see our post on Mastering Mexican Rice: Common Mistakes and Helpful Tips.
Mexican Rice and Beans
What about the beans? Mexican rice and beans are a match made in heaven! This recipe goes hand in hand with our easy to make Cheater Refried Beans. These beans are easy to make and taste just like the creamy, chip-dippable beans served in Mexican restaurants.
Popular Additions
This rice is great as-is. We like to keep it simple and add as few ingredients as possible, but many people like to add more veggies to the mix. Some popular add ins are onions, red or green peppers, green peas, corn, diced carrots, diced tomatoes, green chiles, and lime juice. When adding in these vegetables, add them to the rice at the same time you add the liquids. They will cook along with the rice.
What to pair with Mexican Rice
Oh, the delicious possibilities are endless! This Mexican Rice tastes so good with any burrito, taco, chimichanga, enchilada, quesadilla, taquito, or flauta you can think of. Here are a few of our favorite Mexican recipes to get the wheels turning. Try one of these or add it to your own favorite Mexican dish.
Mexican Rice Recipe Reviews
My husband is very picky about his Mexican rice, and his love for this dish makes it a staple on the family menu plan. In addition to his five-star review, we’ve received many rave reviews from people who have made and loved this rice recipe. You can read them all in the comments below, however here are few of our favorites:
“I’ve made this about five times now and I love it! The last two times I was out of tomato sauce so I substituted half a cup of Chipotle Lime Salsa (Aldi brand). Wow! This made it even better. I love how easy it is to make and how beautiful it looks and smells when the time is up and you lift the lid.” – Ed
“This is EXACTLY the rice I have been spending YEARS trying to figure out. Everything was absolutely perfect. Flavor, texture, color, all completely spot on! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! You really just upped my taco game!” – Elizabeth
“I am a Puerto Rican woman married to a hard core Mexican man. I’ve tried just about every recipe available for this rice and it never quite worked. I made this today and IT’S PERFECT!! This is the way my MIL makes it. It is as authentic as it can get! Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is the recipe I will make my family from now on.” – Patty
We are so happy to see this has become a family favorite for so many!
Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
Video
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup long grain rice uncooked
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 14 ounces chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add the rice and gently stir until rice begins to lightly brown. Add the garlic, salt, and cumin and stir the rice until it looks golden.
- Add the tomato sauce and chicken broth and turn the heat up to medium high. Bring the mix to a boil, then turn the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fluff with a fork, then stir in chopped cilantro.
Ronald F.
Over the years I have been unsuccessful at cooking rice. Tried many so called 5 Star receipts off internet. Your recipe is easy to follow, few ingredients with a better than 5 star results. As good if not better than restaurants. Thanks for recipe. Plan to try more of your recipes.
I have tried for years to get the perfect Mexican rice, I am glad I found this recipe, comes out perfect every time!
It’s soo good
Love this recipe!! Way better than any other I’ve tried. I like a little more spices so I added some diced green chilies, a bit of chili power, extra salt and a whole lot of cayenne. Next time I’m gonna add jalapeños and some onion!
This is now MY FAVORITE Mexican Rice recipe! So easy to make, and so good. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe : )
This is terrific! I used minute brown rice and salsa in place of tomato paste. Very flavorful and fits into my diet!
I’m so happy this recipe was a success for you! 🙂
Yummy! If I wanted to double or triple this recipe, would I double or triple the ingredients evenly?
Yes!
This is a very good rice, tastier than most I have tried. My son even asked for seconds! I am definitely going to make it again.
You win! I am 57 years old and I now can make rice! This is the best rice that I have ever tasted. Just like any restaurant that I have ever gone to. Maybe even more flavor. I have never been able to make rice. I can now!!!
Worked perfectly and loved the taste. Thank you!
Made this my family loved it!!
Has anyone tried this with brown rice?
This is THE go-to Mexican Rice in our family now! It is so good we usually double it so we can enjoy it for days!
After so many years of buying the packaged stuff, I decided to try from scratch with this recipe. My daughter said, “this is what we should have been doing every time, it’s like in the restaurants!” 5 stars, ’nuff said.
Easy and full of flavor
I have just begun. I will tell you when I have made something. Your post is very appealing and I will be making one of your recipes soon.
I rarely cook and I’ve never made rice of any kind, ever. I decided to give this recipe a whirl because I just had a craving for Mexican rice and to my surprise it came out perfectly. My family and I are all vegans so I substituted the chicken broth for Better Than Bouillon chickenless base and it worked great. Also used a few shakes of dried cilantro instead of fresh because I hate cilantro. It added something to the whole dish without being a standout flavor. Everyone *loved* it. 10/10!
I’m so happy this recipe was a win for you! Thank you for sharing!
Needed a rice dish to go with taco bar birthday bash. Doubled recipe and worked out great. Can’t seem to leave a recipe alone lol so sautéed onions, celery and some peppers while rice was sautéing. Also added chili pepper. Everyone loved it. Soooo quick and easy also
This Mexican rice recipe is perfect – the one I’ve been looking for. Not wet, but dry. And the flavors are nice and not overpowering. I’ve made it several times and it’s a big hit. Thank you!!!
Has anyone tried doubling this recipe?
I made the 1 cup batch – added some veggies and extra pepper for heat – also added a touch more broth. It was great.
I worked at a Spanish Restaurant in Houston – they would add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil per cup of uncooked rice in the pot with the mix – the rice will never get sticky or clumps etc. It also allows for successful reheating and long holding periods. We would also use in it plain rice – then let it cool to make Mexican Stir Fried special meals. It will not stick or mush in a wok or cast iron pot. It adds no taste or flavor changes.
Great info!
Wow! I have been trying to make rice the way my mom makes it, but it would never quite work out for me.. This recipe is absolutely perfect! The flavor and fluff are there any my kids loved it!
I am so glad I discovered this recipe. It makes delicious, authentic Mexican rice to go with my enchiladas, tacos and other Mexican dishes I prepare. For a healthier version, I use olive oil to sauté the rice instead of vegetable oil and I like to add a cup of frozen veggies ( peas and carrots or whatever veggie mix you prefer) just before lowering the heat and putting the lid on. For a spicier version, add cayenne pepper with the other spices and/or a can of drained green chilies. The method of sautéing the rice is what makes it turn out so good. You can use your imagination to make different varieties. For pineapple rice, you can choose different spices, use pineapple juice in place if the tomato sauce and add diced pineapple and ham or bacon. Delish! Thank you for sharing!
I like to add about a cup of frozen mixed veggies (corn, peas, carrots & green beans or whatever you prefer) right before I put on the lid and lower the heat. It adds different food textures to the already delicious rice and vitamins for a more healthy version of the recipe. I too love Mexican food but feel you don’t always get enough veggies with most of the dishes. I also use a skillet when making this dish. The larger cooking surface allows each grain of rice to reach that golden brown stage desired in this recipe. So good!
I’ve made this recipe dozens of times over the past few years. IT TASTES TERRIFIC!!! It is an absolute perfect restaurant copycat. Thank you for publishing such a delicious and easy to make recipe. This is a standard in my house now. Mexican fare is my favorite!