On the spot Pot Mexican Rice | Cookies and Cups

By: Shelly
Posted: Jul 6, 2025

This On the spot Pot Mexican rice is a festive facet dish made foolproof! The On the spot Pot takes the guesswork out of cooking completely fluffy rice. In the meantime, onion, garlic, and tomato paste pack this straightforward recipe filled with taste.

I like this On the spot Pot rice recipe as a facet to our favourite Mexican dinners, from tacky oven-baked chicken enchiladas to pork carnitas (additionally fast and simple to make within the On the spot Pot!). Try my skillet taco rice for a straightforward stovetop recipe!

A bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice with a plate of lime wedges, a bowl of refried beans, and flour tortillas in the background.

Why This On the spot Pot Recipe Works

Making Mexican rice in my On the spot Pot is the weeknight life hack I can’t dwell with out! This recipe ranges up your typical white rice right into a festive facet dish. It’s full of zesty, tomato-y taste and veggies. To not point out, it pairs nice with my favourite Mexican recipes. Right here’s why this On the spot Pot recipe makes it straightforward:

It’s tremendous fast. Strain cooking locks in plenty of taste in a brief period of time. This rice cooks in minutes! There’s a little bit of ready in and round that whereas the pot involves strain, however that leaves my palms free to whip up some taco monkey bread for a starter.
It cooks the rice completely. The On the spot Pot takes the guesswork out of completely cooked rice. In the event you comply with the recipe as directed, this straightforward Mexican rice is all however assured to come back out tender, fluffy, and filled with taste.
It wants minimal substances. Only a few pantry substances go a great distance within the On the spot Pot. Tender rice soaks up the savory, tangy flavors of rooster broth and tomato paste, plus onion, carrots, and garlic. I barely should elevate a finger!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mexican rice with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Mexican Rice Elements

Mexican rice is a bit totally different from its cousin, Spanish rice. Whereas Spanish rice is vivid yellow, cooked with saffron, Mexican rice will get its signature crimson hue from tomato paste.

I make this On the spot Pot Mexican rice with only a handful of substances. You’ll discover my notes under, and you should definitely scroll to the recipe card for a printable checklist with quantities.

Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, like canola or avocado oil.
Rice – You’ll need to use long-grain white rice and never immediate rice for this recipe.
Onion – Yellow or white onion, diced.
Carrots – In the event you’d like, swap out the carrots for an additional veggie with an identical cooking time, like broccoli.
Garlic – Freshly minced, or you’ll be able to substitute every clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Tomato Paste – Or tomato sauce.
Broth – This may be rooster broth (store-bought or homemade chicken stock) or vegetable broth.

How you can Make On the spot Pot Mexican Rice

Cooking good Mexican rice within the strain cooker is tremendous easy. Right here’s an outline of the steps. Scroll to the recipe card for printable directions.

Rinse the rice. First, rinse the rice below chilly water to take away the surplus starch. This manner, the grains are extra separate, and fewer sticky when cooked.

Water added to rice inside the Instant Pot. — Toast the rice.

Toast the rice. Subsequent, with the On the spot Pot set to sauté, add the rice and a little bit of oil. Stir and let the rice toast for about 10 minutes (much like the way you’d toast the rice for risotto).
Add the veggies. Stir within the onion, carrot, and garlic and sauté till the veggies are mushy and aromatic.

Broth poured over Mexican rice inside the Instant Pot. — Add tomato paste and broth.

Mix. Lastly, stir within the tomato paste and pour over the broth.
Prepare dinner. Seal and set the On the spot Pot to cook dinner on Excessive Strain for 3 minutes, adopted by a 10-minute pure launch. Afterward, launch the leftover strain, fluff the rice, and serve.

Close up of a spoonful of Mexican rice held over the Instant Pot.

Suggestions and Variations

What to do in case you get a burn discover: It occurs! In case your IP throws a burn discover, change off the cook dinner mode and launch the strain earlier than opening the lid. Then, simply use a (non-metal) spatula to scrape any stuck-on bits from the underside of the pot. Seal and restart the pot afterward.
Rinse the rice. Cooked rice can develop into sticky if it’s not rinsed beforehand. It’ll be clumpy and chewy as a substitute of separated.
Serve instantly. It’s when this Mexican rice is at its freshest! In the event you’re not serving your rice instantly, I don’t suggest leaving the rice contained in the On the spot Pot on Heat. It’ll overcook and develop into mushy. See additional within the submit for make-ahead and storage particulars.
Add veggies. You’ll be able to add frozen peas or bell peppers similtaneously you add the broth or inventory.

Overhead view of a bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice.

A spoon resting in a bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover Mexican rice hermetic and refrigerate it inside 2 hours of cooking. It’ll final within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat. Heat the rice in parts on the stovetop, or within the microwave till it’s good and scorching all through.
Freeze. You’ll be able to freeze leftover rice for as much as 1 month. Freeze the cooled rice hermetic and thaw it within the fridge earlier than you reheat it.

Extra Mexican-Impressed Recipes

Description

This foolproof On the spot Pot Mexican rice is a flavorful facet dish made with pantry staples, together with fluffy rice, onion, garlic, and tomato paste.

1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups long-grain white rice
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups rooster or vegetable broth
Kosher salt to style

Rinse the rice properly with cool water.
Flip the moment pot to saute mode. Add the oil and rice to the pot. Stir continuously till golden, about 10 minutes.
Add the onions, carrots, and garlic and proceed to cook dinner for five extra minutes whereas stirring. Be certain to scrape off any bits that persist with the underside of the moment pot.
Flip off the moment pot. Add the tomato paste and stir.
Pour within the broth. Place the lid on the pot and set to the sealed place.
Prepare dinner on guide excessive strain for 3 minutes. As soon as the cooking time has elapsed, let the strain naturally launch for 10 minutes.
Launch the remaining strain. Season to style. Fluff the rice and serve.

Notes

In the event you get the burn discover whereas cooking, flip off the cook dinner mode. Launch the strain valve and open the lid. Use a spatula to scrape the underside of the pot after which reseal and restart cooking. Typically the rice will get sticky if it isn’t rinsed properly sufficient.
Don’t go away the cooked rice on heat mode as a result of it is going to get mushy.
Be at liberty so as to add different greens, like frozen peas on the similar time the broth is added to the pot.