Spanish Rice

This Spanish rice is perfectly cooked with a mixture of seasonings and flavor that pairs perfectly with any Mexican dish.

Spanish Rice Recipe

We love Mexican food at our house – like so very much. But it can be tricky to find a side dish to pair with Mexican food. (Enter this wonderfully delicious, perfectly seasoned and fulfilling recipe for Spanish rice.) This easy Spanish rice recipe is my go-to side recipe. It’s a family favorite, is simple, and did I also mention super cheap to make?

The Cowboys’ Rating: 9/10

Every time I make a new recipe, I have my family rate the recipe out of 10. By the time, these recipes make the blog, they’ve been tried and tested by some of my hardest tiny critics!

What Ingredients Are in Spanish Rice?

• Jasmine Rice – You can use any type of rice, but I feel like I need to tell you, Jasmine rice is THE best for this recipe. Jasmine rice is a fragrant Thai rice that is aromatic and considered to be a “long-grain” rice. Each grain is about four times as long as it is wide. I have tried this recipe with brown rice, white rice and Jasmine rice, and the texture and flavor were overall better with Jasmine rice.
• Oil – Any oil will do here. I usually use canola oil or olive oil.
• Tomato Sauce – Adding tomato sauce will give the rice the beautiful red color. It also adds a great deal of flavor. Every summer when I have a surplus of tomatoes, I can my own tomato sauce. You can find that recipe here if you’re interested.
• Minced Garlic – You’re going to flavor here, so minced garlic will add that to this dish.
• Chicken Boullion – Again with the flavor. Just one little cube of chicken Boullion adds a great deal of flavor to the rice.
• Salt and Pepper – Always a must to every dish.
• Cumin – Cumin adds a warm, earthy, slightly peppery flavor to the rice.
• Garlic Powder – I know more garlic. But adding just a hint of garlic powder gives a subtle flavor that isn’t too overpowering.

Tools You’ll Need

• Stock Pot with Lid
• Spatula
• Measuring Cups & Spoons

Why You’ll Love This Easy Spanish Rice Recipe

• Perfect Side Dish – This recipe for Spanish rice pairs well with any Mexican dish you make.
• Flavorful – This entire combination is like an explosion of flavor in your mouth. It’s as close to authentic as I have gotten.
• Cheap – When you’re feeding a crowd (or a bunch of boys in my case), you have to find budget friendly meals. This is one of them. It’s incredibly cheap to make and makes a lot!

How to Make Spanish Rice

1. In a large stock pot, heat oil.
2. Add rice to heated oil and mix until rice is well coated with oil.
3. Let rice cook over medium high heat for a few minutes, stirring frequently until the rice begins to turn golden brown.
4. Once rice is browned, add water to the rice.
5. Add in remaining ingredients and mix well.
6. When all ingredients have been added, reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
7. Simmer for 25-30 minutes stirring frequently.
8. Cook until the rice is softened, and all the liquid has been absorbed.
9. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
10. Serve with your favorite Mexican dish.
11. Enjoy!

Tips and Substitutions

• Brown Rice – As previously mentioned, you can use any variety of rice, but I think Jasmine rice is the best in this recipe.
• When cooking rice, to make sure that the bottom doesn’t burn, make sure to stir frequently and scrape the bottoms when stirring.
• If the rice appears to be “too dry,” add a little more water and simmer for a few minutes longer.

Is Spanish Rice Gluten Free?

Rice is naturally gluten free but the chicken Boullion cube is not. So you’ll want to find a gluten free chicken Boullion to use to make this recipe gluten free. Here is what I suggest:

• Gluten Free Chicken Boullion

Storage and Freezing

• Refrigerator – Spanish rice is soooo good as a leftover. Once cooled, store it in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. It will be good for up to 7 days.
• Freezing – Did you know you can actually freeze rice? Once the Spanish rice has cooled completely, place the desired amount of rice in a freezer Ziploc bag and place it in the freezer.
• Reheating – When you’re ready to heat your rice back up add a few tablespoons of water to the rice and heat it back up in the microwave.

What Goes with Spanish Rice?