This Instant Pot Spanish rice recipe also known as Mexican rice is easy, quick, and ready in 25 minutes. This pressure cooker rice is a tasty one-pot dish that is packed full of flavor and delicious.
If you've been following this blog you already know we love rice. Instant pot perfect basmati rice, long grain rice, and Jollof rice are a few of our favorite rice recipes. This Spanish rice in instant pot is top of the list because it's just so good. It is made with tomato sauce, spices, herbs, and of course rice.
Why You Will Love This Instant Pot Spanish Rice Recipe
- Easy- This Instant Pot Spanish rice (Arroz Rojo) is one of the easiest rice to cook, especially when it's cooked in the Instant Pot or any pressure cooker.
- One pot- With this instant pot Mexican rice, just dump everything in the pressure cooker and go do your thing while the instant pot does its thing! Life is just easier with the instant pot and I can't say enough how much I love and appreciate my instant pot duo 6 quarts.
- Flavorful - It's packed full of flavor and delicious.
Aside from instant pot rice recipes, there are so many easy recipes you can cook in your IP, like instant pot chicken curry and instant pot chicken wings. If you are new to the instant pot, check out my post on how to use instant pot- a simple guide. It's a good place to start.
Related: Instant pot jollof rice
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need to make Instant pot Spanish rice:
Rice - I used long grain rice.
Sunflower oil - You can substitute it with vegetable oil or olive oil.
Onion
Garlic
Paprika
Chilli - Adjust quantity to suit personal taste
Cumin
Tomatoes - Fresh tomatoes. In the absence of fresh tomatoes, substitute canned chopped tomato
Tomato puree - Forms what gives Spanish rice its color.
Chicken broth - You can use turkey broth or Vegetable broth if vegan. Use rich stock.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Cook Spanish Rice in Instant Pot - Step-By-Step Instructions
This pressure cooker Spanish rice is easy to make and with this recipe, you get fluffy, separate grains and delicious rice. Let me show you how:
First, get all the ingredients ready. Chop the onion, mince garlic, chop tomatoes, and other preparation necessary as detailed in the recipe card below.
Switch on the instant pot and set it to saute. Add sunflower oil into the instant pot, then add chopped onion and garlic. Sautee onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
Wash rice in warm water till water runs clear.
Add the washed rice and stir with the onions and garlic for 3 minutes before adding paprika, chilli, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, chicken broth, and salt.
Switch off the saute function of the instant pot.
Give the instant pot content a good stir before covering and locking in place the instant pot lid.
Turn the valve into sealing position and select manual pressure cook for 8 minutes. After pressure cooking for 8 minutes, do 10 minutes natural pressure release.
Once the pot is depressurized, open the instant pot. Sauce and bits of the chopped ingredients will be nicely settled on top of the rice. Stir to incorporate with the rice and that's instant pot Spanish rice ready.
Serve and enjoy with any protein of your choice.
What to Serve With
Although this is best paired with Mexican dishes like chicken tacos, other dishes you can pair with it include:
How To Store
Leftover Spanish rice can be stored in the fridge for 3 - 5 days. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To store, transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bags, label with name and dates, and put it in the fridge or in the freezer.
When needed, reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
Tips
- Give the rice a good stir so it's mixed well with the other ingredients before you close the instant pot and pressure cook. This is also good to avoid instant pot burn error which can occur if tomato sauce is settled at the bottom.
- There are some instant pot models that are sensitive to burn errors. It hasn't happened to me with this recipe but If you ever get burn notice while cooking rice in IP, it's not the end. Just turn off the instant pot without releasing the pressure. Set a timer to what's left of the cooking time and natural release time. After this time you can then open the instant pot. The rice will be cooked.
- Wash rice till water runs clear to avoid sticky rice.
- Use good quality rice.
- You can use stock cubes like knorr, oxo, Maggi for extra seasoning or to replace chicken broth.
- Spanish rice is best served warm.
Recipe FAQS
My two favorites are long grain rice and golden sella basmati rice. I used easy cook long grain rice in this recipe. Another type of rice that is good for Spanish rice is Jasmine rice.
If you add too much water your rice will be mushy. Follow this recipe and tips and you will have perfect Spanish rice.
Yes, you can. Some of the vegetables you can add are carrots, peas, and sweetcorn. If using frozen vegetables, ensure you defrost and drain before adding to the rice.
Absolutely. Follow the same process but make sure your instant pot is big enough. The instant pot duo 6 quarts will accommodate the doubling of this recipe.
Yes, you can however brown rice takes longer to cook than basmati and long grain. If using brown rice, pressure cook for 22 minutes followed by 10 minutes of natural pressure release.
More Instant Pot Recipes
You must use the category slug, not a URL, in the category field.Easy Instant pot rice and beans
Hope you like this recipe as much as we do. If you try this Instant Pot Spanish rice recipe, rate it and leave a comment below. Will love to read from you!
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This recipe was first published on November 7, 2019.
Recipe
Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Equipment
- Instant pot pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups easy cook long grain rice or golden sella basmati rice
- 3 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 fresh tomatoes chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp chilli adjust to suit preference
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 3 cups chicken stock
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Switch on the instant pot and set to sautee.
- Add sunflower oil into the inner pot of the instant pot then add in chopped onion and garlic. Sautee onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
- Wash rice in warm water till water runs clear. Drain and add into the instant pot.
- Add in the washed rice and stir with the onions and garlic for 3 minutes before adding paprika, chilli, chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, chicken broth and salt.
- Switch off sautee function.
- Give the instant pot content a good stir before covering and locking in place the instant pot lid.
- Turn the valve into sealing position and select manual pressure cook for 8 minutes.
- After pressure cooking for 8 minutes, do 10 minutes natural pressure release. Once the pot is depressurised, open the instant pot.
- Sauce and bits of the chopped ingredients will be nicely settled on the rice. Stir to incorporate with the rice and that's instant pot spanish rice ready.
Carolyn says
Can I use brown whole grain rice instead?
Kemi says
Brown rice takes longer to cook so instead of 8 minutes stated for long grain rice, you'll have to pressure cook brown rice for 22 minutes.
Olubunmi Roberts says
I love Spanish rice and this recipe is easy to follow and my rice came out great!
Kemi says
Thank you for the feedback!