Spanish Rice

This Spanish rice is quick to make and packed with flavor! Also called Mexican rice, it’s an easy side dish to pair with tacos, enchiladas, and more.

Here’s our new favorite easy side dish to go with tacos and enchiladas: Spanish rice! Contrary to its name, it’s actually not Spanish at all. It’s a Mexican-style red rice: and I’m not sure how we went so long without it in our repertoire! As often as we make tacos around here, it’s our new go-to. This recipe is a quick and easy spin: it uses salsa to get big flavor quickly. It’s also got a special flavor secret that takes it from good to irresistible. Here’s how to make it!

Got a pressure cooker? Go to Instant Pot Spanish Rice.

What is Spanish rice? Is it Mexican?

So: Spanish rice is not Spanish at all! It’s actually a Mexican dish, sometimes called Mexican rice or arroz rojo (“red rice” in Spanish). It gets its red color from cooking it with tomatoes. Rice dishes in Spain are usually yellow colored from using saffron. The country’s best known rice dish is paella! (If you follow along here, you’ll know I’m a Spain fanatic and we have lots of paella recipes and a Spain travel guide.)

Why is it called Spanish rice? No one knows for sure, but it’s possible that it got the name because the Spanish introduced rice to Mexico when they invaded back in the 1500’s. Whatever the case, it’s darn good and worth adding to your Mexican side dish arsenal.

Spanish rice ingredients (aka Mexican rice)

There are lots of variations on how to make Spanish rice. Just like a dish like coleslaw or potato salad, everyone has their own spin on this side dish. Alex and I wanted this Mexican rice to be as easy as possible, but with as much flavor as possible (just like our Pretty Simple cookbook!). So we picked ingredients that pack a big punch:

• White onion
• Medium or long grain white rice
• Salsa
• Adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers
• Olive oil, vegetable broth, and kosher salt

Using a store bought salsa shortcuts cutting any vegetables outside of the onion, and it brings big flavor! The other secret is adobo sauce, which brings a smoky, nuanced undertone. It’s our secret weapon in Mexican-style recipes. Keep reading for why…

How to use adobo sauce

What’s adobo sauce? Adobo sauce is a tomato-chili sauce that brings savory, smoky flavor to Mexican dishes. It’s optional in this recipe, but we highly recommend it. This Spanish rice uses only 1 teaspoon, so it doesn’t add heat! Here’s what you need to know about it:

• Chipotles in adobo sauce are available in the Mexican food section in most groceries. The can has both chipotle chiles: smoked and dried jalapeños that are rehydrated and canned, and adobo sauce, a purée of tomato, vinegar, garlic, and other spices.
• This recipe calls for adobo sauce only, not the peppers! Pull out just 1 teaspoon sauce from the can and leave the peppers inside. Each brand of can has different amounts of adobo sauce, so you’ll have to experiment and find your favorite.
• Refrigerate or freeze the rest for other recipes. You can refrigerate the can for a few weeks, or place the contents in a sealed container and freeze for a few months.

Some favorite recipes with adobo sauce? Try our Enchilada Sauce, Vegetarian Tortilla Soup, Quinoa Chili, or Refried Bean Tacos.

Ways to serve Spanish rice

Now for the fun part: ways to serve Spanish rice! Of course it’s fit for Mexican style recipes, like a healthy side dish for tacos or to pair with enchiladas. Or, you can make it into a meal in itself. It’s a plant based recipe, so it works for many diets. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Use in a burrito. This Spanish rice we originally created to go in our Vegan Burrito, which also has spiced black beans and peppers and creamy avocado. It’s majorly good!
• Serve with tacos. Some favorites are Quick Shrimp Tacos and Cauliflower Tacos with Yum Yum Sauce.
• Pair with enchiladas. This makes a stunning meal for entertaining! Try our Vegan Enchiladas or Vegetarian Enchiladas with Quinoa.
• Make into rice and beans. Try Spanish Rice and Beans! Stir in a can of kidney beans and chopped roasted red peppers from a jar, and you’ve got a delicious vegetarian meal.
• Add a margarita. Try our Classic Margarita or one of our 10 ways to make a margarita, and you’ve got a party. Or maybe a Michelada or Chelada!

This Spanish rice recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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More great side dishes

There are so many healthy and easy side dish recipes! Here are some of our favorites:

• Easy Mexican Salad The best salad for Mexican style meals! It’s easy to make and has lots of variations, topped with cilantro dressing and tortilla strips.
• Favorite Roasted Cauliflower How to make cauliflower addicting? This is it! It comes out caramelized and crisp.
• Garlic Toast Need an easy adder to an Italian-style pasta or soup? Try this garlic toast: it’s so easy and full of serious garlic flavor.