If you need a quick and easy side dish that is ready in less than 30 minutes, try these Instant Pot Spanish Rice. It’s a vegan and gluten-free recipe that is full of flavor and perfect to go with almost any main dish.

bowl of instant pot spanish rice with chopped cilantro on top

Spanish Rice is not Spanish at all. It is also called Mexican rice, and it’s probably an Americanized version of a traditional dish. My husband remembers his mom making it back in the 1950s. In fact, this recipe is inspired by her!

For this version, I’ve used tomato sauce, green chiles, and cilantro to garnish. You can also add onions and chili powder if you like (see the full recipe card at the end of this post for all the specific measurements and variations).

It’s one of those dishes you can serve with just about anything, including beans, baked chicken, steak, or hamburgers. This recipe is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.

I think you’re going to love how easy and tasty this healthy side dish is. It’s not too spicy, but it has great flavor.

labeled photo with ingredients for spanish rice

Recipe Steps

There are just a few quick steps to making Instant Pot Spanish Rice. One reason this recipe should become part of your weekly meal plan is because of how simple and easy it is to throw together.

Step One

Rinse two cups of white rice and put it in the bowl of a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot. If you want to use brown rice, please see the recipe card below that discusses how you need to alter the cook time for brown rice.

white rice rinsed in a fine mesh colander

Step Two

Place the rinsed rice in the bowl of your Instant Pot, along with the vegetable broth, tomato paste, and green chiles.

instant pot filled with ingredients for spanish rice

Step Three

Lock on the lid and set the time to 6 minutes for white rice (brown rice will need 22 minutes). When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes, and then carefully release any remaining pressure.

Remove the lid and use a fork to fluff the rice.

cooked spanish rice in the instant pot

Step Four

Sprinkle some chopped cilantro on top, and serve your vegan Instant Pot Spanish Rice hot.

Recommended Items

  • 6-quart Instant Pot
  • Organic white rice
  • Canned green chiles
white bowl filled to the top with mexican rice

FAQs

Can I use brown rice for this recipe?

Yes, you can! But, you need to increase the cooking time to 22 minutes. Brown rice takes longer than white rice to cook.

Can I make this in a 3-quart mini Instant Pot?

Yes, just cut the recipe in half.

How long does cooked Spanish Rice store in the fridge?

This recipe will last up to 5 days in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator.

Can I add an onion to this recipe?

Yes! I left it out to make the recipe super simple. Just add 1/2 of a chopped onion to cook with the rice.

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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Print

Instant Pot Spanish Rice

spanish rice in a bowl with two gold forks

★★★★★

5 from 12 reviews

If you need a quick and easy side dish that is ready in less than 30 minutes, try these Instant Pot Spanish Rice. It’s a vegan and gluten-free recipe that is full of flavor and perfect to go with almost any main dish.

  • Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 minutes
  • Total Time: 21 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white rice, rinsed well in a fine-mesh colander
  • 1 3/4 cups reduced sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup tomato paste
  • 1 4-ounce can green chiles, with the liquid
  • Chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for topping)

Instructions

  1. In the base of a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot, pour in the rinsed rice and vegetable broth. 
  2. Add the tomato paste and green chiles and stir gently to combine.
  3. Lock on the lid and set the time to 6 minutes.
  4. When the cooking time is complete, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes.
  5. Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the lid and use a fork to fluff the rice.
  6. Sprinkle the rice with the chopped cilantro and serve hot. 

Notes

  1. If you want to use brown rice for this recipe, increase the cooking time to 22 minutes. 
  2. If you want to add a chopped onion to this recipe, just add it with the rice and the other ingredients.
  3. If you want this recipe to be spicy, add 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder to the rice before you cook it. 

Keywords: instant pot mexican rice, pressure cooker spanish rice, vegan instant pot recipes

 

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