Our homemade Spanish Rice Recipe is quick, flavorful, and the perfect side for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or fajitas. Ready in under a half hour, it uses pantry-friendly ingredients you likely already have on hand and comes together with minimal effort.
Homemade Spanish Rice Recipe
I’ve worked on this Spanish rice recipe for years, refining it until it hit the balance of toasted rice, bright salsa, and warm spices I wanted. I’ve always enjoyed convenience rice mixes for their comforting flavor, but this homemade version delivers that nostalgic taste with fresher ingredients and far better texture. It’s simple enough for weeknights yet tasty enough to serve at a gathering.
The method is straightforward: toast the rice for nuttiness, sauté peppers and onions for sweetness, then simmer everything together with salsa, Rotel, taco seasoning, and a splash of green chiles for depth and mild heat. Keep an eye on the liquid as it cooks — the rice should finish tender, not mushy.
Try our Mexican Rice, too!
Recipe Shopping List
Here’s a quick checklist of what you’ll need to prepare this Spanish rice. See the ingredient list lower in the recipe card for exact amounts.
- Bacon grease or butter
- Long-grain white rice
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow onion
- Salsa
- Taco seasoning
- Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
- Mild canned green chiles
- Hot water
Try our Smoked Salsa!
How To Make This Recipe
If you want a quick overview before you start cooking, here are the basic steps. Follow the full instructions in the recipe card below while you cook.
- Brown the rice – Heat bacon grease or butter in a large skillet and sauté the rice, stirring frequently, until it turns a light golden brown. This adds nutty flavor and helps the rice stay separate.
- Add peppers and onions – Stir in the diced bell pepper and onion, and cook until the onion is translucent and the pepper has softened.
- Combine and simmer – Add salsa, taco seasoning, Rotel, green chiles, and hot water. Stir to combine, then cover and lower the heat.
- Finish cooking – Simmer for 10–15 minutes until the rice is tender. If the liquid is absorbed before the rice is fully cooked, add 1/4–1/2 cup more hot water and continue cooking until done.
- Serve – Fluff with a fork and serve hot alongside your favorite Mexican-style mains.
Have some Cilantro Lime Rice as an alternate side!
Recipe FAQ
Yes. This Spanish rice stores and reheats well, making it a great make-ahead side for busy dinner nights.
What’s the best way to store and reheat this recipe?
Transfer cooled rice to an airtight container and refrigerate promptly. Use within 4–5 days. Reheat in the microwave until steaming or warm on the stovetop with a splash of water to restore moisture.
Substitutions and variations
To increase heat, add cayenne or extra chili powder. For milder results, omit the green chiles and use a mild diced tomato product. For a Rice-a-Roni–style texture, stir in a small amount of orzo with the rice during the browning step.
Serve This With…
- Mexican Beef Stew
- Blackstone Mexican Pizzas
- Traeger Chicken Tacos
- The BEST Ground Beef Enchiladas
- Braised Beef Shank Tacos
- Braised Chicken Tacos
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Spanish Rice
A flavorful, easy Spanish rice that complements any Mexican-style meal.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup bacon grease or butter
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- ½ cup diced yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup salsa
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 (14.5 oz) can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
- 1 (4 oz) can mild green chiles
- 3 cups hot water
Instructions
- Heat the bacon grease or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the rice and stir frequently until it becomes a light golden brown.
- When the rice is nearly the desired color, add the diced bell pepper and onion. Cook until the onion is translucent and the pepper has softened.
- Stir in the salsa, taco seasoning, Rotel, green chiles, and hot water. Mix well, cover the pan, and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for about 10–15 minutes, or until the rice is tender. If the liquid is absorbed before the rice is fully cooked, add ¼–½ cup more hot water and continue cooking until done.
- Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve hot.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Yield: 6 | Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 194
- Total Fat: 11g (Saturated Fat: 5g; Unsaturated Fat: 6g)
- Cholesterol: 13mg
- Sodium: 394mg
- Carbohydrates: 22g (Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 3g)
- Protein: 3g
Nutrition data is an estimate. Consult a trusted source if you require precise values for medical reasons.