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Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Instant Pot Mexican Rice

30 mins
| 6 Comments |
4.60 from 5 votes
Jump to Recipe 01/21/20 | Updated: 01/21/20 | by Nora
Instant Pot Mexican Rice Image Pin
top down view on instant pot filled with Mexican rice
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4.60 from 5 votes
Yield: 6 servings
Ready In: 30 mins
This is one of my favorite side dishes to make when I need something quick and easy to go with a Mexican inspired main. My kids regularly request this with my Southwestern Baked Chicken!
Print Comment Review

Recommended Equipment:

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup onion (finely diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 ½ cups long-grain rice (uncooked)
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 2 ¾ cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 (14-oz) can fire roasted tomatoes (drained)
  • Optional: 1-3 seeded and minced jalapeño peppers and/or 2-3 tablespoons diced mild green chiles
  • salt, pepper and red pepper flakes (to taste)
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Extra Time: 10 mins
Ready In: 30 mins

Instructions

  • Set a 6-quart electric pressure cooker to sauté.
  • Add oil and onion. Cook, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes or until softened.
  • Add garlic and uncooked rice. Stir until coated with oil, then stir in taco seasoning and tomato paste.
  • Add broth, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot (IMPORTANT or you may trigger the burn warning during pressure cooking!).
  • Stir in tomato sauce and drained tomatoes (and jalapeño peppers/green chiles, if using).
  • Close and lock lid. Set pressure valve to the "sealing" position. Choose "pressure cook" on high (or "manual" on high on older models) for 6-7 minutes (6 for rice that still has a bite, 7 for well done rice).
  • Once time is up, open pressure cooker immediately using quick release method. Stir well before serving and adjust seasoning to taste.

    Add Your Review

    Step by Step Recipe Video

    Nora’s Tips

    Ingredient Notes:

    Rice: I use a plain old long grain rice that cooks in 20 minutes on the stove (according to the package). Don’t use instant rice, or minute rice. They will turn into mush. Also, I have never tried this with brown rice and I’d assume it needs more liquid and more cooking time, so try at your own risk.
    Taco Seasoning: If you want to avoid packaged food, I have my own taco seasoning recipe!
    Fire roasted tomatoes: Regular diced, canned tomatoes work, too.

    Cooking Tips:

    Do make sure to scrape ALL browned bits off the bottom of the pot, or you might not be able to pressure cook the rice due to the burn warning being triggered.
    Manually release the pressure (according to manufacturer’s instructions) immediately once the pressure cooker indicates cooking time is up, to keep the rice from overcooking.
    This tastes best served immediately, it will thicken more and more as it sits.

    Stovetop:

    Follow instructions for the instant pot in a large Dutch oven on the stove up to sealing the pot. Instead, close the lid, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for around 20 minutes, stirring a few times.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 559IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 1mg

    More recipe information

    Cuisine: Tex-Mex
    Course: Side Dish
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    Step by Step Photos:

    Instant Pot Mexican Rice Image Steps
    1: Sauté onion, then stir in garlic and rice. 2: Stir in taco seasoning and tomato paste. 3: Stir in broth, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pot. 4: Stir in remaining ingredients, then pressure cook.
    top down view on an instant pot filled with Mexican rice
    close up view of Mexican rice in pressure cooker

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    Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings
    About Nora 
    When I got married to my professional chef husband, I realized I had to step up my game in the kitchen. Now I share my favorite foolproof family recipes here on Savory Nothings: Chef-approved, kid-vetted and easy enough for everyday home cooks like you and me!   Learn more.

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    Comments

    1. Rachel says

      May 15, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      If I were to double this recipe, would I need to adjust cooking time?

      Reply
      • Nora Rusev says

        May 16, 2020 at 12:13 am

        Rachel, no, the cooking time would stay the same. Just make sure the volume doesn’t go over your pressure cooker’s maximum fill line. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Stan says

      March 24, 2020 at 9:47 pm

      I love this recipe! I use canned diced tomatoes with jalapeno, juice and all.
      As a side note, my father was a hotel chef. My mother was large family home trained. Dad got out of the way. We never complained. I appreciate what you do and thank you!

      Reply
      • Nora Rusev says

        March 26, 2020 at 10:16 pm

        Thank you so much for sharing, Stan!

        Reply
    3. MacKenzie says

      January 23, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      first time EVER I made a recipe bc I saw on instgram, and what a hit!!!!! family devoured. made with cilantro lime grilled chicken and chopped salad. Devine!!

      Reply
      • Nora Rusev says

        January 23, 2020 at 7:50 pm

        I am so glad, MacKenzie!

        Reply

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    Nora Rusev from Savory Nothings

    Hi, I'm Nora! I wasn't always a good cook, but then I fell in love with a professional chef and learned my way around the kitchen. Now I share all my secrets to effortlessly great food here on my blog, bite-sized for home cooks just like me and you.

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