On the spot Pot Mexican Rice | Cookies and Cups

By: Shelly
Posted: Jul 6, 2025

This On the spot Pot Mexican rice is a festive aspect dish made foolproof! The On the spot Pot takes the guesswork out of cooking completely fluffy rice. In the meantime, onion, garlic, and tomato paste pack this straightforward recipe stuffed with taste.

I like this On the spot Pot rice recipe as a aspect to our favourite Mexican dinners, from tacky oven-baked chicken enchiladas to pork carnitas (additionally fast and straightforward to make within the On the spot Pot!). Take a look at my skillet taco rice for a straightforward stovetop recipe!

A bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice with a plate of lime wedges, a bowl of refried beans, and flour tortillas in the background.

Why This On the spot Pot Recipe Works

Making Mexican rice in my On the spot Pot is the weeknight life hack I can’t stay with out! This recipe ranges up your typical white rice right into a festive aspect dish. It’s filled with zesty, tomato-y taste and veggies. To not point out, it pairs nice with my favourite Mexican recipes. Right here’s why this On the spot Pot recipe makes it straightforward:

It’s tremendous fast. Strain cooking locks in a whole lot of taste in a brief period of time. This rice cooks in minutes! There’s a little bit of ready in and round that whereas the pot involves stress, however that leaves my arms free to whip up some taco monkey bread for a starter.
It cooks the rice completely. The On the spot Pot takes the guesswork out of completely cooked rice. If you happen to comply with the recipe as directed, this straightforward Mexican rice is all however assured to come back out tender, fluffy, and stuffed with taste.
It wants minimal substances. Only a few pantry substances go a great distance within the On the spot Pot. Tender rice soaks up the savory, tangy flavors of hen broth and tomato paste, plus onion, carrots, and garlic. I barely need to raise a finger!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mexican rice with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Mexican Rice Substances

Mexican rice is a bit completely different from its cousin, Spanish rice. Whereas Spanish rice is vivid yellow, cooked with saffron, Mexican rice will get its signature purple hue from tomato paste.

I make this On the spot Pot Mexican rice with only a handful of substances. You’ll discover my notes beneath, and you should definitely scroll to the recipe card for a printable listing with quantities.

Olive Oil – Or one other cooking oil, like canola or avocado oil.
Rice – You’ll need to use long-grain white rice and never on the spot rice for this recipe.
Onion – Yellow or white onion, diced.
Carrots – If you happen to’d like, swap out the carrots for one more veggie with an analogous cooking time, like broccoli.
Garlic – Freshly minced, or you’ll be able to substitute every clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Tomato Paste – Or tomato sauce.
Broth – This may be hen broth (store-bought or homemade chicken stock) or vegetable broth.

How you can Make On the spot Pot Mexican Rice

Cooking excellent Mexican rice within the stress cooker is tremendous easy. Right here’s an summary of the steps. Scroll to the recipe card for printable directions.

Rinse the rice. First, rinse the rice below chilly water to take away the surplus starch. This manner, the grains are extra separate, and fewer sticky when cooked.

Water added to rice inside the Instant Pot. — Toast the rice.

Toast the rice. Subsequent, with the On the spot Pot set to sauté, add the rice and a little bit of oil. Stir and let the rice toast for about 10 minutes (much like the way you’d toast the rice for risotto).
Add the veggies. Stir within the onion, carrot, and garlic and sauté till the veggies are smooth and aromatic.

Broth poured over Mexican rice inside the Instant Pot. — Add tomato paste and broth.

Mix. Lastly, stir within the tomato paste and pour over the broth.
Cook dinner. Seal and set the On the spot Pot to cook dinner on Excessive Strain for 3 minutes, adopted by a 10-minute pure launch. Afterward, launch the leftover stress, fluff the rice, and serve.

Close up of a spoonful of Mexican rice held over the Instant Pot.

Ideas and Variations

What to do if you happen to get a burn discover: It occurs! In case your IP throws a burn discover, swap off the cook dinner mode and launch the stress earlier than opening the lid. Then, simply use a (non-metal) spatula to scrape any stuck-on bits from the underside of the pot. Seal and restart the pot afterward.
Rinse the rice. Cooked rice can develop into sticky if it’s not rinsed beforehand. It’ll be clumpy and chewy as an alternative of separated.
Serve straight away. It’s when this Mexican rice is at its freshest! If you happen to’re not serving your rice straight away, I don’t suggest leaving the rice contained in the On the spot Pot on Heat. It’ll overcook and develop into mushy. See additional within the submit for make-ahead and storage particulars.
Add veggies. You possibly can add frozen peas or bell peppers concurrently you add the broth or inventory.

Overhead view of a bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice.

A spoon resting in a bowl of Instant Pot Mexican rice.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover Mexican rice hermetic and refrigerate it inside 2 hours of cooking. It’ll final within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat. Heat the rice in parts on the stovetop, or within the microwave till it’s good and scorching all through.
Freeze. You possibly can freeze leftover rice for as much as 1 month. Freeze the cooled rice hermetic and thaw it within the fridge earlier than you reheat it.

Extra Mexican-Impressed Recipes

Description

This foolproof On the spot Pot Mexican rice is a flavorful aspect dish made with pantry staples, together with fluffy rice, onion, garlic, and tomato paste.

1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups long-grain white rice
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons tomato paste
3 cups hen or vegetable broth
Kosher salt to style

Rinse the rice effectively with cool water.
Flip the moment pot to saute mode. Add the oil and rice to the pot. Stir continuously till golden, about 10 minutes.
Add the onions, carrots, and garlic and proceed to cook dinner for five extra minutes whereas stirring. Ensure to scrape off any bits that keep on with the underside of the moment pot.
Flip off the moment pot. Add the tomato paste and stir.
Pour within the broth. Place the lid on the pot and set to the sealed place.
Cook dinner on guide excessive stress for 3 minutes. As soon as the cooking time has elapsed, let the stress naturally launch for 10 minutes.
Launch the remaining stress. Season to style. Fluff the rice and serve.

Notes

If you happen to get the burn discover whereas cooking, flip off the cook dinner mode. Launch the stress valve and open the lid. Use a spatula to scrape the underside of the pot after which reseal and restart cooking. Typically the rice will get sticky if it isn’t rinsed effectively sufficient.
Don’t depart the cooked rice on heat mode as a result of it’ll get mushy.
Be at liberty so as to add different greens, like frozen peas on the similar time the broth is added to the pot.