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    Home » Mexican Recipes » Mexican Red Rice Homemade

    Mexican Red Rice Homemade

    Date: February 6, 2022 by Christian Guzman • This post may contain affiliate links. See Privacy Policy below.

    This easy Mexican Red Rice, arroz rojo in Spanish, is the most requested side dish for Mexican food. So tasty in this non spicy version of restaurant style rice.

    Arroz Rojo means “red rice” in Spanish. It’s the most requested side dish for Mexican food and perfect for filling burritos and tacos.

    You will often find this dish served in restaurants as Spanish Rice or sometimes Mexican Rice. You’ll love it infused with the flavors of tomato and chicken broth.

    Try adding leftover ground beef or chicken mixed in with your arroz rojo or on the side to make it a meal in a bowl. Add black beans instead, for a meatless lunch or dinner.

    • What’s the Difference Between Spanish Rice and Mexican Rice
    • What Rice Do You Use for Mexican Rice?
    • Is Arroz Rojo Gluten Free?
    • Why Does My Spanish Rice Come Out Mushy?
    • Recipe
    24Bite: Mexican Red Rice Recipe from Christian Guzman
    A Spanish rice so tasty you could eat it all on its own.
    Jump to Recipe

    Mexican Red rice gets this moist and delicious by using both the drained liquid from the tomatoes AND the chicken stock. You can, of course, use only chicken stock, but you’re going to get more color if you use the tomato liquid too.

    Ingredients

    With only a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, you can be enjoying a delicious homemade Spanish rice in about 30 minutes or so.

    Ingredients for Mexican Red Rice displayed on a countertop
    Just a few pantry staples will get this red rice on the table.

    Canned Tomatoes

    Start off by straining the diced tomatoes into a measuring cup. If you add the entire can, you could have too much liquid.

    Diced tomatoes being strained over a glass measuring cup.
    Strain the canned tomatoes direclty into a measuring cup.

    If you strain it into the sink, you’re going to miss out on the red color on the rice. The color is the most distinctive part of the rice.

    Have a browse at all
    24Bite recipes
    to customize your own search.

    Make It Spicy

    If you are craving a spicy version of Mexican red rice, let me introduce you to El Pato Jalapeno Sauce.

    A can of El Pato Jalapeno Sauce on a countertop.
    You can easily make it spicy with some El Pato.

    Even though this is jalapeno sauce, it’s actually jalapeno and tomato. It’s red, not green. You will get the red color but it will be spicy. Add it instead of the tomatoes, if you like.

    Chicken Broth

    I’ve used chicken broth, but you can also use water, if you prefer. To add the chicken flavor, add a teaspoon of granules or chicken bouillon paste.

    You can keep it vegan by adding vegetable broth instead of chicken.

    If you want to use water, add some bouillon for extra flavor.

    Cilantro

    I tend to use cilantro only as a garnish on this rice. I prefer uncooked cilantro. Too much of a good thing and all that. Personal choice.

    Long Grain White Rice

    I’ve used a standard, easy to find rice for this recipe. It’s tender and fluffy. It doesn’t stick as much as other varieties.

    If you’re curious, The Kitchn has an article on some different varieties of rice.

    What’s the Difference Between Spanish Rice and Mexican Rice?

    Technically, Mexican rice is red. This is the perfect recipe for arroz roja. It gets its red color from the tomato juices. Spanish rice, on the other hand, is yellow because of the saffron used for flavor.

    At some point, here in the US, people started calling red rice Spanish rice instead of Mexican rice. My guess is that it was called Spanish rice at some point purely for marketing purposes. These days, all three names are interchangeable in the United States.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you garnish red rice?

    I like queso fresco and a few squeezes of lime. You can also garnish with cilantro, serrano and chopped onion, as shown.

    What rice do you use to make Mexican Rice?

    I use a long grain white rice. It turns out fluffy and delicious without being sticky.

    How much rice is in a serving?

    One cup of uncooked rice will usually feed 4-6 people.

    Is Arroz Rojo Gluten Free?

    This recipe is naturally gluten free. You don’t need to make any special substitutions.

    The only thing you need to watch is your chicken seasoning, if you don’t use broth or stock. Some bouillon may not be gluten free. But, as written, this is gluten free.

    Cooking the Rice

    There are some things exclusive to this rice recipe that you don’t find when making plain ‘ole rice.

    plate of birria tacos with link to recipe

    Infusing the Oil with Onion

    Cut off the top part of the onion. I like to cut it off at the stem so I can use the stem to move it around in the oil.

    The top of an onion being sauteed in olive oil, cut side down.

    You only need the top of the onion. Once you finish with the onion, set it aside. You can use it for garnish with your finished rice.

    You don’t usually find pieces of onion in the rice. Infusing the onion into the oil like this will give some flavor of the onion without having onion in the rice itself.

    Preparing the Uncooked Rice

    As with all rice, be sure to rinse it first. I usually put it in a strainer basket and run water over it with a little swishing.

    When you get ready to pour the rice into the skillet, be careful. The wet rice is going to splitter, splatter.

    Skillet with sauteed white rice and a wooden spoon.
    You’ll know the rice is ready when it turns golden brown like this.

    Why Does My Spanish Rice Come Out Mushy?

    Saute the rice, stirring frequently, until it gets a golden brown. Watch closely. You don’t want it to burn.

    Don’t skip this part. The outside of the rice kernels should be a little crisp to repel the sticky starch but should still be able to absorb the water.

    Don’t saute it too long, though. It’s possible to harden the rice so much that it won’t absorb the water. You don’t want that.

    How to Store Your Spanish Rice

    This rice will keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days if kept in an airtight container.

    You can freeze it in an airtight container for 4-6 months. It seems to change texture after being frozen, though. I really prefer it fresh so I try to use it all up as soon as possible.

    It’s really not hard to eat it all. I promise. Making a rice bowl by adding leftover meat is a favorite. Or, try it in burritos with this Chipotle Barbacoa Beef.

    24Bite: Mexican Red Rice Recipe from Christian Guzman
    Garnish with queso fresco, cilantro, sauteed onion, lime quarters and a serrano chile.

    What Do You Serve with This Rice?

    Mexican rice, or Spanish rice if you prefer, is delicious on its own but I usually serve it with other Mexican recipes.

    Fry and mix in a batch of homemade Mexican chorizo.

    I’ve served this as a side dish with my Green Chicken Enchiladas. Also try it with my recipe for Milanesa De Res Breaded Steak.

    If you’re looking for the best refried beans ever, try my Sinaloa Frijoles Puercos. It’s the refried beans recipe of your dreams.

    Although not technically a refried beans recipe, my recipe for Instant Pot Vegan Bean Dip will work perfectly as a side as well.

    A tostada with this bean dip, rice and some black beans would be a delicious lunch treat.

    Recipe

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    Easy Mexican Red Rice Not Spicy

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    4.87 from 75 votes
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 171kcal
    Author: Christian Guzman
    Save or Print
    This easy Mexican Red Rice, arroz rojo in Spanish, is the most requested side dish for Mexican food. So tasty in this non spicy version of restaurant style rice. Delicious, infused with the flavors of chicken and tomato.

    For more information, be sure to check the recipe details in the attached 24Bite® post.

    Ingredients

    • 14.5 ounces Diced Tomatoes, canned
    • 2 cups Chicken Broth
    • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
    • dash Cumin
    • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
    • ¼ Onion
    • 1 cup Long Grain White Rice, uncooked

    Instructions

    • Drain tomatoes, allowing liquid to drain into a 2-cup measure. Once completely drained, add chicken broth until the total liquid measures 2 cups. Add the diced tomatoes to the chicken broth mixture. Add salt and cumin. Stir then set aside.
    • Place uncooked rice in a strainer and hold it under cool water, swishing around with a spoon or your hand. Set aside to drain.
    • Heat olive oil over medium heat. Cut off the top ⅛ to ¼ of an onion at the stem side. Place cut side of onion in heated oil and push it around, allowing the onion to infuse with the oil, about 3 or 4 minutes. Remove onion and set aside to be used for garnish.
    • Add rice to skillet (you'll need a skillet that has a lid). Be careful because the wet rice will splatter in the oil. Saute in the skillet, stirring often, until the rice is golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
    • Add tomato mixture, stir. Again, it's going to splitter and splatter so be careful. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Don't open or stir during the 20 minutes.
    • If there is liquid remaining, cover and cook on low another 5 minutes.



    Note: If there is a video, it will not display while there is an adblocker.

    Notes

    Makes 6 servings.
    Garnish with bits of cilantro, crumbled queso fresco and a couple squeezes of lime, if desired.
    To keep it vegan, use water or vegetable stock instead of chicken broth.
    Web Story Web Story
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Mexican Red Rice Not Spicy
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 171 Calories from Fat 45
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 5g8%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 774mg34%
    Carbohydrates 28g9%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 2g2%
    Protein 3g6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Mexican
    Keyword Authentic Mexican Rice Recipe, Easy Mexican Rice, Easy Spanish Rice
    ______________________



    Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. All amounts are estimates and 24Bite® takes no responsibility for actual figures since calculations vary by packaging and supplier. Please calculate the amounts yourself based on package labeling if you have specific dietary requirements. 24Bite®, Kim Guzman or Christian Guzman shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on this website or actions you take as a result.

    © 2019-2023 Kim Guzman and Christian Guzman. All rights reserved. Subscribe to 24Bite email newsletters.



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    Appetizers and Side Dishes, Gluten Free Recipes, Mexican Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tyanne says

      March 26, 2021 at 9:47 am

      5 stars
      I never thought about adding chicken broth before! I will have to try that. I also like the display of the recipe card.

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        March 26, 2021 at 12:09 pm

        So much extra flavor! I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    2. Leslie says

      March 26, 2021 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect Mexican Rice recipe!

      Reply
    3. Natalie says

      March 29, 2021 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      Delicious easy dinner option. I will definitely make this again.

      Reply
    4. Debra says

      March 29, 2021 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      Easy and super tasty….just the way I like my recipes.

      Reply
    5. Wheat says

      May 15, 2021 at 12:22 pm

      5 stars
      Prepared it as written, yum
      Also learned a new word, splitter
      That happens a LOT InMySmallkitchen

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        May 15, 2021 at 12:33 pm

        Great! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    6. Heather says

      October 13, 2021 at 8:59 pm

      5 stars
      Really delicious! My family loved it.

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        October 14, 2021 at 3:06 pm

        That’s great! Thank you for visiting.

        Reply
    7. Laura Houck says

      October 18, 2021 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this. My dad was wanting some Spanish rice but he can not have garlic, salsa, peppers, chili powder etc due to his acid reflex. This was a great alternative and he loved it!

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        October 18, 2021 at 7:49 pm

        That’s wonderful! I’m so glad your dad was able to enjoy it. Thanks so much for visiting!

        Reply
    8. Bee Clemens says

      November 27, 2021 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe tonight. I used homemade bone broth and didn’t use the jalapeno’s. This was hands down the best, and easiest to prepare rice I’ve ever had. Thank you so much for this recipe ❤️

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        November 27, 2021 at 10:16 pm

        That’s great! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for visiting!

        Reply
    9. Sheri Truesdale says

      May 05, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      You, young man are a genius! This was so delicious. I made it tonight for Cinco de Mayo, with taco’s – mmm, it was so good. Thank you for sharing your recipes. I can’t wait to try more of them.

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        May 07, 2022 at 3:33 am

        I’m so glad to hear it! I hope you get a chance to try more of them too. Thank you for visiting!

        Reply
    10. Steph T says

      May 24, 2022 at 9:52 pm

      5 stars
      This was very very good. The whole family liked it! Easy to make and it paired beautiful with my pressure cooker Mexican pork chops. I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes!

      Reply
      • Christian Guzman says

        May 25, 2022 at 10:17 pm

        That’s great to hear.Your Mexican pork chops sound amazing. Thanks for visiting!

        Reply
    11. Gwynn says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      My family enjoyed this recipe as a side dish with our enchiladas. Delicious!

      Reply
    12. Ann says

      November 20, 2022 at 10:10 am

      5 stars
      This rice was delicious! I made it for a side dish for some enchiladas. The whole family loved it! Will definitely make this again!

      Reply
    13. Amy Liu Dong says

      November 20, 2022 at 11:50 am

      5 stars
      Such an amazing rice dish for everyone to love and enjoy! An instant favorite, plus the color it brings will set the mood. Totally a yummy rice meal!

      Reply

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