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May 7, 2020

Basic Spanish Rice recipe in the Rice Cooker (frugal, easy)

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Rice is an inexpensive ingredient that can really stretch the number of servings you can get from a batch of tacos, burritos or fajitas. And making spanish rice in your rice cooker could not get any easier! I love that it doesn’t have a lot of sodium and MSG like a many of the boxed varieties do. Once you see how easy it is and how delicious it tastes, I think you’ll have a difficult time going back to the boxed brands.

And it’s so flexible – we had this rice with a little shredded cheese and sour cream wrapped in a tortilla for lunch today!

INGREDIENTS

Ā 1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice (any long grain will work, I used Basmati)

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 can of Rotel tomatoes
You can buy this at various spice levels

2 tablespoons of melted butter

1 teaspoon cumin

Optional: You could probably throw in a 4 oz can of chili peppers. I haven’t tried this.

HOW TO PREPARE

1.) Toss everything into rice cooker. Give it a good stir. Close the rice cooker lid. Press the cook button and walk away until it’s done. Usually takes about 30 minutes.

2.) Fluff rice and give it a good stir before serving

Spanish Rice recipe

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May 7, 2020
Related topics:
Recipes
Written by
Heather

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tiffany Cruz says

    March 29, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Love this recipe. First time using rice cooker and rice cooked perfectly using exact ingredients. I added fajita season chicken and corn. Hubby had second serving.

    Reply
  2. Suzanne says

    October 6, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    This is so awesome and easy. Thank you for sharing this.

    Reply
  3. Dyann Roseberry says

    November 4, 2019 at 3:27 pm

    I’m preparing mine in a mini rice cooker using your recepie. Hopefully it’s not to much. Its 3:25, Let’s see how long it takes to get the rice perfect! 4:10 stirred it up up and tasted it. Somethings missing its blaa. hum. So I added a 8oz tomato sauce and 1/2 t cumin more. Better. Could of been my chicken broth, its homemade, no salt. 1 1/2 cups of rice is too much for the mini cooker. So I will reduce the receipe, and will do it again. Thank you for the easier way of making the rice

    Reply
  4. Nancy says

    May 4, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    When you say 11/2 cup do you mean regular measuring cups or the little cup that comes with the rice cooker? It is a little different volume than a regular measuring cup.

    Reply
  5. Jennifer says

    August 3, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    I love this recipe! Do you have any recipes for the rice cooker to make other rices from “scratch”? i.e. rice pilaf, wild rice, or any other of the typical “rice-a-roni” ones? I love the rice cooker but I do like the other types of rice and I am not a chef and I’m not a fan of cooking, therefore experimentation is out.

    Thanks1

    Reply
    • Lillian says

      December 16, 2019 at 5:25 pm

      Does anyone know how to use it with salsa instead of tomato

      Reply
  6. Sarah Osborn says

    June 21, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Will let you know, I have this cooking right now…I made carnitas and cannot wait to eat

    Reply
  7. Jay says

    June 1, 2016 at 3:10 pm

    Hello! I tried this for the first time this afternoon and I enjoyed it. It is so easy and I don’t have to stand over the stove, I can get this in the rice cooker and cook other dishes. I also like some of the other comments and can make variations of this recipe. I look forward to making this again

    Reply
  8. Linda Lambert says

    May 25, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    What size can of Rotel did you use?

    Reply
    • Jay says

      June 1, 2016 at 3:14 pm

      I made this today and used a 14.5 oz can. The 10 oz size seems too small given the amount of rice being made. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  9. Kristine says

    May 20, 2016 at 8:36 am

    This was great!! I had never tried anything in my rice cooker aside from plain rice even after 12 years of having a rice cooker! This was so EASY and tasted delicious! I used ham broth instead of chicken because I had some in the freezer and it gave it a nice flavor.

    Reply
  10. James says

    February 10, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Does the can of tomatoes need to be drained or undrained?

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      February 15, 2016 at 7:16 pm

      Dump the whole can in!

      Reply
  11. sue says

    August 6, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    When I try to pin it it doesn’t come out. 404 comes out

    Reply
  12. Barb Conquest says

    February 11, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Do you use the “white rice” button on your rice cooker?

    Thanks!

    Also, I’m really excited about your quinoa recipe, too!

    Reply
    • Heather Clarke says

      February 11, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Yep! Works like a charm every time. Making a batch for tacos tonight, in fact. šŸ˜‰

      Reply
  13. Beacher says

    December 21, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    This is actually the recipe for Mexican rice, (browned in a fry pan for full effect). Spansh rice is made only with short grain non-sticky rice. Cllisparra is the standard, but arborio can work. Never plain white rice, because it has the wrong texture. Prepare the sofrito, (( red bell pepper, onion, one tomato. sweet paprika, and a pinch of saffron). Spanish rice is yellow when properly prepared.

    Reply
  14. Susan says

    September 28, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    I love this recipe…have made it many times already and will never go back to the boxed Spanish rice! I use Jasmine rice and besides that it’s perfect as is.

    Reply
    • Barb Conquest says

      February 11, 2015 at 2:43 pm

      I love Jasmine rice!

      Reply
  15. Becky says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    Be careful with tomatoes in the rice cooker. When I did this it pitted the finish on my rice cooker pan. Now I add warm tomatoes to the seasoned cooked rice. For a more authentic taste I brown the rice in a fry pan before cooking.

    Reply
  16. Tracy says

    July 24, 2014 at 11:09 am

    I make this often- I do not add the butter, but do add a little olive oil, I also add sofrito and spoon in pigeon peas when there is 5 to 10 minutes of cooking left. Add some fresh cilantro before you serve…

    Reply
  17. SUE MCBRIDE says

    June 7, 2014 at 9:39 am

    JUST BOUGHT ONE AND CAN’T WAIT TO TRY IT OUT…………………………………

    Reply
  18. Kerry says

    April 25, 2014 at 11:08 am

    Okay a few questions. As I have the same rice cooker from Amazon. Did you use the rice cup that came with your rice cooker for measuring ? I dbl the recipe and made it last night. (Teen boys 1 single watch isn’t enough) mine came out pretty sticky. I used a reg measuring cup not the cup it came with. Also I used Rotel I canned so there might be more in my can of Rotel then store bought. After I left the lid open for a bit the dish did dry out and wasn’t as sticky. Mom about to make it again going to use 1/2 cup less chicken broth this time. I used my own home canned broth as well. Oh shoot thought of something else do you time the rice like the cooker says to do? I also did that. So the rice was a little wet when I started. I think I will skip rinsing it.
    Great recipe the flavor is awesome! Thank you

    Reply
    • Kerry says

      April 25, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Grrr ….. I should Learn to use my not so smart smart phone for stuff like this.

      Reply
    • Kerry says

      April 25, 2014 at 11:10 am

      I meant do you rinse the rice ?

      Reply
  19. Amber says

    March 30, 2014 at 4:59 pm

    This turned out just amazing! I don’t know if it’s the butter or the bone broth I used, but it is really good. Made two batches already to go with our Mexican pulled pork rice bowls.

    Reply
  20. Heather says

    March 8, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    Heather,
    Can’t wait to try this recipe tomorrow with our dinner! Quick question…where do you/have you found the best deal on Basmati rice? I tried it for the first time last week and am in love, but at $4 a small bag that isn’t the best deal I am sure of it. By the way, yes, I have been living under a rock…ha! šŸ™‚

    Reply
  21. Angela says

    March 7, 2014 at 8:39 pm

    I have a rice cooker and unfortunately it stinks. šŸ™‚ I make Mexi rice on the stove using equal parts water, picante sauce (or salsa) and rice. Mix picante and water together and bring to a boil. Add rice, stir and simmer for 15-20 mins. Easy peasy. I’m sure it work in a rice cooker as well.

    Reply
  22. Deb Petty says

    January 9, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    Love Spanish rice, mine also has hamburger, onions and green peppers, then shredded cheddar on top šŸ™‚

    Reply
  23. Jennifer Howland says

    December 7, 2013 at 9:27 am

    Thank you SO much for this recipe!! I have made it a total of four times now and I LOVE how simple it is to make! I adore Mexican food, but have always dreaded making Spanish or Mexican rice box mixes due to the baby sitting you have to do so it does not burn. I have modified your recipe and found the perfect combination for our family…thought I would share with you šŸ™‚

    I use 1 1/2 tsp. Cumin, added 1/2 tsp. salt, regular white rice, and we add the can of green diced chilies as you mentioned and it is so flavorful! Everything else I do is the same as you suggest šŸ˜‰ Thank you for sharing this with the rest of us!

    Reply
  24. Elizabeth says

    October 23, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    Have you ever done this recipe using brown rice?

    Reply
  25. Susan says

    August 7, 2013 at 6:24 pm

    My brother has always liked Mexican rice. I’ll have to make this for him when he comes to visit as a treat. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday at Organized 31.

    Reply
  26. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    August 5, 2013 at 6:52 am

    I have never used a rice cooker, but it looks like an easy way to cook rice. Your recipe looks delicious. I love how easy it is to make and all the wonderful flavours in it.

    Reply
  27. Miz Helen says

    August 4, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    I love my Rice Cooker and this is a great recipe to try. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great weekend and come back soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
  28. Heather M says

    August 1, 2013 at 3:48 am

    Sounds great – frugal on money AND time. Thank you for linking up with us for Fabulously Frugal Thursday.

    Reply
  29. Marla says

    July 8, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    Sounds great! What size can of Rotel did you use? Thanks!

    Reply
  30. Marla says

    July 8, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    What size can of Rotel did you use?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  31. Teresa says

    June 18, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    I made this last night. I forgot to add the butter and I did add the optional can of green peppers. This was very good and so easy. Thank you!

    Reply
  32. Tacy caudle says

    June 13, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    Yumm. I cook the best rice in my microwave.

    Reply
  33. Heather Cansler says

    May 23, 2013 at 4:00 pm

    FYI, I love this recipe, but I got creative and added a cup of frozen peas and carrots. It adds a few more veggies into the mix and still tastes great.

    Reply

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