This easy Spanish rice made in the rice cooker comes together with a few simple ingredients, including a can of tomatoes, a diced onion, and some flavor-filled spices, so all you have to do is dump everything in, set it, and forget it!
I love a good rice recipe. You are in for a treat with these too: Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice, Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice and One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
Easy Spanish Rice in the Rice Cooker
I don’t think I’ve ever said no to Mexican food. There are so many rich and bright flavors and eclectic ways to serve it that I doubt I’ll ever get sick of it! Easy Spanish rice made in the rice cooker is just one of those easy Mexican side dish staples that you must try. All you do is throw all the ingredients into the rice maker, and voila! You have rich, flavorful rice with almost zero effort.
I prefer using a rice cooker over stovetop rice because I am cursed with crunchy rice every single time I cook it in a regular old pot. Seriously. It’s sad how difficult it is for me. So a rice cooker simplifies everything since I don’t have to mess with it after throwing in all the ingredients! This rice is so delish and goes great in burritos and enchiladas, or as a side for any of your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex meals!
Tips and Tricks for Making Easy Spanish Rice in the Rice Cooker:
- I have this rice cooker and love it (it makes 20 cups of cooked rice, perfect for a party or crowd!). I know that the Instant Pot has a rice cooker function that also works great.
- You can serve this as a side to tacos (like our favorite Best Chicken Tacos Ever), and it’s also great tucked inside Smothered Burritos.
- This easy Spanish rice recipe makes a fair amount. If you don’t use it all, it freezes really well. Once it’s cooled, place extras in a zipper-topped freezer bag, label, and freeze. It should keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Can you use brown rice for Spanish rice?
You sure can! I do and prefer it. Just make sure to increase the liquid by one cup, and you’ll be solid. In general, a long-grain rice makes the pieces of rice less sticky and more individual, while short-grain tends to be stickier and more like a traditional Spanish rice consistency.
What’s in easy Spanish rice?
My recipe for easy Spanish rice calls for a couple cups of rice, a can of diced tomatoes, water, a small onion, bouillon, chili powder, salt, cumin, and garlic powder. Super simple, and super delicious.
Can you use an Instant Pot to make Spanish rice?
You can! Just follow the instructions for the rice cooker function on your Instant Pot.
How long does easy Spanish rice keep for?
This recipe makes a good amount of Spanish rice — if you have leftovers, it freezes really well. Place remaining cooled rice in sealable bags and freeze for up to two months. To thaw it out, place the bag in a bowl of warm water before heating through to serve!
Easy Spanish Rice in the Rice Cooker
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 30
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Makes 5 cups of cooked rice 1x
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Pin RecipeDescription
Spanish Rice made in the rice cooker with a few simple ingredients – just dump, mix, set it & forget it! An easy recipe cooker recipe your family will love!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice
- 1 can diced tomatoes, with juice (14-ounce )
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 bouillon cubes or 3 teaspoons Better than Bouillon
- 1–3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin or smoked cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place the rice in the bottom of the rice cooker and then add the diced tomatoes and water. Add the onion and spices and stir a little on the top to dissolve the spices in the water.
- Cook according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- When the rice is cooked, test for salt and add more if needed.
- Serve as a side dish or inside your favorite burritos and tacos.
Notes
- I use brown rice often and increase my water by one cup. The Spanish rice in the pictures was made with brown rice and I bet you didn’t even notice. Your family won’t either.
- You can use chicken or vegetable stock in place of the bouillon and water. T
- he amount of chili powder you use is going to depend on how much you like. I’d try it with 2 tablespoons first and then you can go up or down from there depending on your preferences.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Rice Cooker
- Cuisine: Spanish
Keywords: Spanish rice recipe, easy rice cooker recipe, how to make Spanish rice, best rice cooker recipes
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Other rice recipes you’ll love:
- Easy Korean Ground Beef and Rice
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Cilantro Rice and Bean Bake (vegetarian enchilada casserole)
- Cafe Rio Cilantro Lime Rice
- One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Cajun Beans and Rice Recipe
- One-Pot Sausage, Rice, and Peas Dinner
- Simple Santa Fe Rice with Cilantro and Garlic
- Stove Top Chicken and Rice
- One Pot Coconut Chicken and Rice
- Easy Rice Pudding
This recipe was originally published in February 2013. It was retested with reader feedback and rewritten in June 2017, and updated and rephotographed in August 2019.
This easy Spanish rice in the rice cooker is so divine and full of flavor that you’ll be wanting to make it as a side every time you enjoy a Mexican-inspired meal!
About Melissa
Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...
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This is a wonderful recipe and I thank you so much for it. I use a rice cooker, that depending on how many cups of rice you start with there is a measurement on the inside of the cook pot as to how much water to add. I use chicken broth and add first my rice, then my tomatoes with juice, and then fill to the line with chicken broth. Add spices , stir, cover, and Presto! Now I can save money and also control the sodium which is way too much in the prepackaged Spanish rice. Cheers!
★★★★★
Way less broth/water. And no chili powder more garlic powder/salt.
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I used basmati rice. Reduced water by 1/2 cup. Turned out great.
★★★★
Thanks for letting us know what worked!
I did less water as well but also did it in the rice cooker so I made sure to fill the water according to the amount of rice used. Was ridiculously good, thanks for the recipe!!
Calls for way too much water. It came out very mushy. I should have trusted my instincts and reduced the water beforehand
How much water should be used then?
Hi! I made this but it was too much I know you said it would freeze but have you ever cut the recipe in half? If I do that do I keep some stuff the same and just half the rice & liquid?
★★★★★
I made this, was delish. Defo going to make it again. I am in the uk and went really well with a Spanish Chicken I bought from Morrisions. I substituted the Boullion for a Knorr Stock Pot (Paprika & Sun Dried Tomatoes) Mouth Watering just thinking about it. I used Basmatti Rice, but will reduce the water content next time as it came out a bit mushy. All in all, very tasty.
★★★★★
Mexican rice is not Spanish rice! They are two different animals.
Yvonne, she doesn’t say it’s Mexican rice, She says it’Spanish Rice. Think you need to read a bit more slower.
She says “This rice is so delish and goes great in burritos and enchiladas, or as a side for any of your favorite Mexican or Tex-Mex meals!” Doesn’t say Mexican Rice. It goes Great with mexican or tex-mex.
She also says “This easy Spanish rice in the rice cooker is so divine and full of flavor that you’ll be wanting to make it as a side every time you enjoy a Mexican-inspired meal! Again….Enjoy a Mexican Inspire Meal Doesn’t say Mexican Rice.
★★★★★
Can I use Basmati rice for this recipe?
★★★★
You can!
Melissa, you may have to reduce water amount, mine came out very mushy
Are you using the scoop that came with your rice cooker to measure the rice? If so, those are not actual 1 cup measurements, actually closer to 3/4C, which will definitely cause some issues considering you’ll be using 1/2C less rice than the recipe calls for. Just FYI.
We make this at least once a month. Don’t change a thing, it’s a perfect recipe! Our go to all the time, and we get a ton of requests for it too!
★★★★★
First attempt at Spanish rice. My family loved this! I will print and bookmark this recipe for future! Thanks!
Do you drain the tomatoes?
Nope, leave the juice in!