Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Name: Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 small onion (yellow or white); 3 garlic cloves (minced ); 2 cups long grain white rice ((can use brown rice, see notes)); 14.5 oz can chicken broth; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp chili powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1/2 tsp cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 8 oz can tomato sauce; green onions and cilantro for garnish

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Instant Pot Mexican Rice is the perfect side dish to serve with enchiladas, burritos or tacos. It is an easy way to make rice for your Mexican dinner! The rice cooks up perfectly in your electric pressure cooker and infuses will all the spices and seasonings.

A bowl of Mexican Rice topped with green onions and cilantro

Pair this with 15 Minute Refried Beans, Restaurant Style Salsa and a Tequila Cocktail for a great Mexican dinner!

Table of Contents hide

1 Ingredients and Supplies

2 Using Brown Rice

3 Rice Setting

4 How to Make Mexican Rice in the Instant Pot

5 FAQ

6 Did you make this recipe?!

7 Instant Pot Mexican Rice Recipe

8 Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Ingredients and Supplies

Here are the things you need to make this Instant Pot Mexican Rice recipe:

6-8 qt Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker
olive oil
white or yellow onion
garlic
Long grain white rice
chicken broth
kosher salt
cumin, chili powder, onion powder, dried oregano
tomato sauce
cilantro and green onion garnish

ingredients for Mexican rice laid out on a table

Using Brown Rice

You can absolutely use brown rice for this recipe. However brown rice has different cooking requirements. You will want to increase the chicken broth to 2 ¼ cups and cook the brown rice for 15 minutes on high pressure.

Rice Setting

If you have a modern Instant Pot then it is likely that your pot has a “rice” setting button. If it does you can use that to cook the Mexican Rice. It will automatically set the pot to cook for 12 minutes, normal heat, low pressure.

If your pot does not have a rice setting button then you will just manually set it. Use the pressure/manual button and set it to cook for 12 minutes, “normal” heat and “low” pressure. To get to low pressure on your Instant Pot just push the “pressure” button a couple times a watch it scroll through pressure settings on the display screen.

How to Make Mexican Rice in the Instant Pot

Start by rinsing you rice in a fine mesh sieve. This will rinse away the extra rice starch that is on the outside of the rice grains. This will help your rice cook more evenly and prevent clumping/mushiness.

Set the Instant Pot to sauté function, add the oil and sauté the chopped onions for about 5 minutes. Add the rice and garlic and sauté for another 3 minutes.

Turn the sauté function off and add in the chicken broth, salt, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and oregano. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot and make sure that all the rice is in the liquid.

steps one through three for making mexican rice in the instant pot

Gently pour the tomato sauce on top of the rice, but do not stir.

Pop the lid on the pot and set the pressure valve to seal. Set the pot to cook on rice mode for 12 minutes (or manual low pressure 12 minutes).

Do a quick release after cooking. Fluff the rice with a fork, incorporating the tomato sauce on top.

steps four through six for making instant pot mexican rice

Pro Tip: If you like your rice cooked even more just pop the lid back on the pot for another 5 minutes and let the residual heat of the pot cook the rice further.

Serving

Serve the rice topped with a little chopped green onion and or cilantro as desired. It is great with your favorite Mexican dinner or as the base of a delicious rice bowl.

Storing

Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You may need to add a little water when reheating.

Freezing

You can absolutely freeze rice! Make this dish once and eat it twice. Make the Mexican Rice and let it cool, spread it out on a sheet pan that will fit in the freezer and freeze for about 2 hours. Then pop the rice in a freezer safe baggie. It will stay good in the freezer for about 3 months.

To reheat pour the frozen rice in a skillet over medium-low heat with a couple tablespoons of water. Stir until it is warmed through.

FAQ

How to prevent sticky rice?

Rinse your rice in cool water before cooking. This will wash away the extra rice starch that is on the outside of each grain.

How to prevent mushy rice?

Do not overcook your rice. I recommend using the rice button on your Instant Pot, which is normal heat, low pressure for 12 minutes.

How long do I cook white rice in the Instant Pot?

I recommend 12 minutes on normal heat, low pressure (which is the same as the preset rice setting). After pressure cooking if you want it cooked a little more you can pop the lid back on and let the heat of the pot cook the rice for a couple more minutes.

Difference between Mexican Rice & Spanish Rice?

This recipe is specifically for Mexican rice, which is seasoned with tomato and chili powder/cumin. Spanish rice is usually seasoned with saffron threads and has more of a yellow color.

Did you make this recipe?!

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