This homemade Spanish rice is a flavorful side dish you can serve with a variety of main dishes. You only need one skillet and five ingredients to make it! It’s full of flavor from salsa and chicken stock and so easy to make.
Mexican rice recipes are made with tomato sauce, garlic, onions and spices to create a flavorful dish that pairs with all kinds of main dishes like tacos, enchiladas, grilled chicken, pork, and steak. Jarred salsa is the secret ingredient for this recipe – it has many of the same ingredients of the traditional side dish, but easier because you don’t have to chop as many things – the work is already done! It’s a really great way to dress up rice and one of our favorite sides.
If you’re tired of plain cooked rice as a side dish you definitely need to give this easy Spanish rice recipe a try. With just a few ingredients you can turn plain white rice into a delicious side dish that’s loaded with flavor!
How to Make Spanish Rice
- First, cook the onions in oil in a large skillet on the stove, then add the long-grain rice. Stir frequently so the rice browns evenly. This step gives it an extra layer of flavor that is so good.
- Once the rice starts to turn golden, add the chicken broth and salsa. Stir it all together and then lower the heat and cover the pan. Simmer the rice per the instructions until it’s fork tender and the liquid is absorbed.
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Storing Spanish Rice
- Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat in the microwave.
mel’s expert tips
- You can make the rice as spicy as you like with the kind of salsa you use, but you can also amp up the heat level by cooking some chopped peppers with the onions. Or, add some of your favorite hot sauce at the end before you serve it.
- Make it into a meal by adding some ground beef, turkey or pork. You can also add shredded cooked chicken, leftover sliced steak or any other cooked protein based on your preference.
- When we serve it as a side, we love it with our favorite tacos, burrito, or enchiladas. It really compliments any Mexican dish.
Spanish Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups long grain rice
- 3 tablespoons onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent and soft. 5-7 minutes.
- Add rice, stirring often. Once the rice starts to brown add in chicken broth and salsa. Mix well and then turn heat down. Cover and let simmer until rice is cooked through and liquid has absorbed (20-25 minutes). Note that if you cook in a saucepan the cooking time for the rice will increase.
- Serve hot.
Recipe Notes
- Add a protein to the rice for a hearty meal. We like cooking some ground turkey and then adding it to the rice.
- You can add some spicy peppers or hot sauce if you like a little extra heat.
Recipe Nutrition
Variations
- White rice is our favorite, but brown rice works as well.
- Add some green bell pepper, minced garlic, or cilantro to change up the flavor.
