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A serving of Instant Pot Mexican rice is presented in a bowl, adorned with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Adjacent to the bowl, a kitchen cloth and two glasses can be seen.
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5 from 1 vote

Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Unlock the secrets to the most flavorful Instant Pot Mexican Rice. Learn how with this quick, foolproof recipe and turn dinner into a fiesta!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
Total Time26 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Arroz Rojo, Instant Pot Mexican Rice, Mexican Red Rice
Servings: 4
Author: The Foodess Team

Ingredients

  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • ½ a serrano or jalapeno pepper seeds removed and finely chopped
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup vegetable broth or chicken broth or 1 tsp bouillon concentrate or powder + 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and helps the rice not stick together.
  • Set your Instant Pot to sauté mode. Add a bit of oil, then add the chopped onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Sauté until the onion is translucent.
  • Add the tomato sauce, vegetable broth, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
  • Add the drained rice to the pot and stir for a couple of minutes until it's well coated and slightly toasted.
  • Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook for 6  minutes. Once done, let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
  • Open the lid, fluff the rice with a fork, and stir in the chopped cilantro. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

  • If you use unsalted broth, add an additional ½ tsp of salt.
  • You can stick the other half of the serrano or jalapeno pepper in the freezer if you don’t have an immediate use for it.
To make it stovetop: 
Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let the rice simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Then let it stand with the heat off for another 5 minutes before fluffing it with a fork. 

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 664mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg