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Best Spanish Rice

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This Easy One Pot Spanish Rice will quickly become a family favorite!  We use fresh ingredients that you most likely have on hand.  Chicken stock for added flavor along with mexican spices…even a pepper if you like a little heat!

 

What makes this Spanish Rice recipe the best?

  • We fresh veggies for some crunch.  Chicken stock instead of water to boost the flavor and lots of cumin for that authentic Spanish (or Mexican Rice) Rice that you have grown to love at your local Mexican restaurant!

What you need to make this dish:

  • peppers – red, green or a combination of both.  A jalapeno if you like the heat!
  • onion
  • chicken stock
  • uncooked rice – short grain is best for this dish
  • tomato paste
  • diced tomatoes
  • chili powder and cumin
  • see the recipe card below for full recipe and instructions

We start by cooking up the veggies.  

Uncooked rice added to the veggies while making Spanish Rice

Add the uncooked rice.  Toss in the tomatoes and spices.  Then in goes the chicken stock.

Now put the lid on and try not to peek!  I’m a pot stirrer so I allow myself one little stir about half way through. Just to check nothing is sticking to the bottom of the skillet.

After tomatoes and broth are added to the rice, simmer, cover and cook

Some tips to make the Best Spanish Rice!

  • I have made this with long and short grain rice and they both cook the same.
  • You can use broth or water but broth adds more flavor.  Stick with the low sodium stuff if you can.
  • MOST IMPORTANT:  Spices vary in intensity.  I kept the spice low on this recipe because it’s a lot easier to add some in than take it out.
  • Don’t cook this soooo long that there is no liquid left.  You want about a half cup that hasn’t cooked into the rice.  It will continue to absorb the liquid as it cools.
  •  Nice additions would be corn or black beans.  Toss them in after the dish is cooked to warm through so they don’t get to soft.

 

What can I serve this rice dish with?

Chicken Fajitas

Shrimp Fajitas

Salmon Fajitas

Taco Pie

Clink!

Kathi

 What do you think about this recipe? Have questions? Comment below! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula,while you’re at it…We love to see your pics!

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While you’re at it- check out our video of this Best Spanish Rice to see how great it turns out! 

Best Spanish Rice

This one skillet big flavored rice dish cooks up in about 30 minutes.  Even the rice goes in uncooked!
4.02 from 65 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Kathi & Rachel

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup peppers, chopped - green, red or a combination of both
  • 1 cup yellow onion - chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped (optional) seeds removed and deveined
  • 2 cloves garlic - chopped
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup white rice, uncooked short rice works best but any will do
  • 1 15.4 oz can roasted diced tomatoes undrained
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese for topping optional

Instructions

  • In large skillet heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
  • Saute peppers, onion and garlic until just tender.
  •  Add tomato paste and cook for one minute.
  • Add rice, broth, canned tomatoes , spices, salt and pepper.  Stir well.  Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low.
  • Put lid on skillet.  Simmer for 10 minutes then give a little stir to be sure rice isn't sticking.  Return lid to pan and cook for another 10-12 minutes or until the rice is tender but about 1/2 cup liquid still remains in the pan. (Remaining liquid will be absorbed as the dish cools a bit.)   
  • Taste for seasoning!  More cumin, chili powder, salt or pepper?
  • Top with cheese if desired and serve with grilled chicken, taco's or your favorite Mexican main dish!

Notes

Be sure to check for seasoning.  Chili powder and cumin can vary in intensity. 
  • I have made this with long and short grain rice and they both cook the same.
  • You can use broth or water but broth adds more flavor.  Stick with the low sodium stuff if you can.
  • MOST IMPORTANT:  Spices vary in intensity.  I kept the spice low on this recipe because it's a lot easier to add some in than take it out.
  • Don't cook this soooo long that there is no liquid left.  You want about a half cup that hasn't cooked into the rice.  It will continue to absorb the liquid as it cools.
  •  Nice additions would be corn or black beans.  Toss them in after the dish is cooked to warm through so they don't get to soft.

Nutrition

Calories: 229kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 620IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1.4mg

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beverly Hatcher says

    Excellent I changed a few things I left out the tomato sauce and I used the Muier Glen brand diced fire roasted tomatoes. Also added cooked smoked turkey sausage after the first stirring. Thank you so much for sharing I received many complements .

    Reply

  2. Nikkole says

    Is there anyway I can get the original recipe? This is my absolute favorite rice recipe ever and the poblano pepper was my favorite part. I always go to my Pinterest to access it and now it’s different 🙁

    Reply

    • LaughingSpatula.com says

      Hi Nikkole – you can add chopped poblano instead of the green pepper. We were getting quite a bit of feed back that the rice was mushy so we felt it was time for an update. We really like this new version and I think you will too!

      Reply

  3. Teresa J says

    5 stars
    Delicious and tasty. after years of using my family recipe i️ was searching for something new. This did not disappoint.

    Reply

  4. Donald says

    I want to make this recipe to serve about 20 people, so I want to increase the amount of rice to 4 cups. Do I increase all the ingredients by 4 times? If not, by how much?

    Reply

      • Donald says

        Thank you for your help! I think I will have to adjust some of the spices as I think it would be too much. I’ll
        Keep the liquid items at the amounts you stated and hopefully everything will turn out Okayama! Thanks against n.

  5. Brittany says

    5 stars
    Made this with brown rice in my rice cooker and it was so amazing! The spices really came together well and complimented my chickwn fajita dinner. My husband and 3boys enjoyed this so it’s a keeper.

    Reply

  7. Angela says

    5 stars
    By far, this was THE BEST “Spanish Rice” recipe which I’ve ever tried! All of the ingredients worked well together, and made this dish incredibly tasty. I liked the addition of chicken broth, since it gave the rice (yet) another layer of flavor. This recipe is a definite keeper! I served it as a ‘side dish’, to accompany dinner…. which consisted of Meatloaf, Italian Green Beans, and a Tossed Salad. Thanks Kathi, your recipes are terrific! .

    Reply

  8. Diane says

    I want to make this with short grain brown rice instead of white. Do u know how long would I cook the recipe using the brown rice? Thanks..

    Reply

    • Kathi Kirk says

      Hi Diane – I really don’t have an exact number for you as I haven’t tried it, but brown rice takes more liquid a a lot longer! Wondering if it wouldn’t be better to cook the rice in advance then add tomatoe’s and spices…
      Kathi

      Reply

  10. Andrea says

    Found this to be too “soupy”. With the canned tomatoes & small can of tomato sauce the rice ended up a deep red. If I was to make this again I would leave out the tomato sauce & reduce the amount of broth.

    Reply

  11. Kathy says

    I didn’t have everything I needed to make it exactly like your recipe, but what I did have tasted awesome! I didn’t have any chili powder or fresh peppers, diced roasted tomatoes, or tomato sauce. I left out the chili and peppers, then substituted a can of Rotel to add a little bit of zip and a can of tomato paste mixed with 1 cup water. It tasted great!

    Thanks for this recipe. This will show up frequently on our dinner table and at some family functions coming up later in the year.

    Reply

  13. john says

    Too spicy. Instead of 2 table spoons of spice try using at the most 2 tea spoons of the spice. This will improve the quality of the dish.

    Reply

    • Kathi Kirk says

      Hi John,
      I think it depends on your chili powder and how spicy you like your food. I get my spice from the Pike Place Market, so fresh! And it tends to be on the sweeter side – but I think you have good advice. If you don’t like to much heat then cut back.
      Thanks for the note!
      Kathi

      Reply

    • Lynda McDevitt says

      2 stars
      I agree,John. Absolutely too spicy. I used double the rice, no tomato sauce and only 1 can of tomatoes. Still too spicy and too much liquid.

      Reply

  14. Pat says

    I have not made Spanish Rice/Mexican Rice in a long time and this sounds very good. I checked out your rub recipe which also looks good. Thanks, Kathi…:)

    Reply
4.02 from 65 votes (56 ratings without comment)

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