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This Mexican Rice Casseroleis a family favorite dinner and is perfect for busy weeknights because it is made in the Instant Pot. You will love this one pot meatless meal!
This post is sponsored byUSA Pulses & Pulse Canada.
Who got an Instant Pot for Christmas andneeds Instant Pot recipes? If your hand is raised, it is your lucky day because we are sharing one of our very favorite Instant Pot meals. You are going to LOVE this Mexican Rice Casserole. It is made in thepressure cooker and is a huge hit with the entire family, including our boys. It is vegetarian, gluten-free and SO good!
And if you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, you are going to want one after you see this easy dinner recipe:)
How to Make Instant Pot Mexican Rice Casserole
- This Mexican Rice Casserole has all of our favorite ingredients in ONE pot! I love the Instant Pot because you can sauté right in the Instant Pot. This is a great one pot meal!
- We combine brown rice, black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, red bell pepper, garlic, onion, lime juice, lots of spices, and vegetable broth in the Instant Pot and let it do it’s magic.
- When the Instant Pot is done, we stir in corn, shredded cheese, cilantro, and green onion. The cheese melts into the rice and black beans creating the perfect cheesy rice and bean casserole!
- We serve the casserole in bowls and top with avocado slices. The boys like to eat their casserole with tortilla chips. They are all about dipping!
- This easy rice casserole reheats well, making great leftovers for lunch or dinner all week. It also freezes well. I love keeping a container in the freezer for busy weeknights. Defrost and heat up in the microwave!
We are always trying to add more pulses (delicious, protein-packed, sustainable foods such as dry peas, chickpeas, lentils and beans) to our recipes and this Mexican Rice Casserole hasTWO kinds of beans, black peans and pinto beans.Looking for simple ways to eat healthier in the New Year? Just add pulses! Sign up for the Half-Cup Habit, and see how easy it can be to add ½ cup serving of pulses to your diet just 3x per week for added nutrients.
Get out your Instant Pot and make this Mexican Rice Casserole. It is an easy dinner winner!It is packed with protein and a great easy, kid friendly meal! Our boys ask to have this casserole for dinner almost every single week.
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Check out our favorites:
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- 4-Ingredient Chile Verde Chicken
- Cilantro Lime Rice
Instant Pot
Instant Pot Mexican Rice Casserole
This easy Mexican Casserole is made in the Instant Pot and a family favorite weeknight meal! The leftovers also freeze well.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 37 minutes mins
Total Time 47 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeds removed and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 4 oz can diced green chiles
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 large lime
- 1 cup long grain brown rice
- 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 large avocado sliced
- Tortilla chips for serving, optional
Instructions
Put the olive oil in the Instant Pot and select Browning/Sauté. When the oil is hot, add the onion and red bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes, green chiles, vegetable broth, lime juice, brown rice, black beans, pinto beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined. Lock the lid on the Instant Pot, select high pressure, and set to 22 minutes cook time.
After the 22 minutes, turn off the Instant Pot and let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, carefully turn the vent to a quick pressure release.
Stir in the corn, shredded cheese, cilantro, and green onions. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
Serve with sliced avocados and tortilla chips, if desired.
Have you tried this recipe?
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FAQs
Why does Mexican restaurant rice taste better? The method used to make Mexican rice involves lightly frying the uncooked rice in oil which helps it absorb more flavor from the seasoning and cook to a perfect consistency. In addition, a traditional blend of spices and diced vegetables and potatoes create unique flavor.
What is the difference between Mexican style rice and Spanish rice? ›
Spanish rice has a firmer texture and stronger aroma compared to Mexican rice, it gets its sweet yet savory flavor as well as its golden color from saffron. As it is more absorbent, Spanish rice is also better suited for dishes that need to be slow cooked.
How do you keep Mexican rice from getting mushy? ›
You are putting in too much water. rinse the rice until the rinse water is not cloudy. Then add enough water to cover the rice with a 1/2 inch of water. I add a pinch of salt and a splash of olive oil.
Why does my Mexican rice always come out hard? ›
If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don't add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy. And if you don't cook the rice long enough, it gets soft on the outside but doesn't cook through.
What kind of rice do most Mexican restaurants use? ›
Any kind of long grain rice works well for making Mexican rice. You can use generic “long grain rice”, or basmati, or jasmine, anything like that.
How do I make rice taste like a restaurant? ›
Use Fresh Herbs and Chicken Stock
Next, add chicken stock instead of salted water and let the rice boil on high heat for two minutes. Then, lower the heat and allow the rice to steam. “The rice will smell so fragrant from the thyme and garlic, with the thyme enhancing the flavor to another level,” he says.
What is healthier, white rice or Mexican rice? ›
If you're worried about your blood sugar, you may be excited to hear that Mexican rice is higher in fiber than plain white rice. A ½ cup serving of plain white rice has about 0.3 g of fiber, while a ½ cup serving of Mexican rice has 1.5 g of fiber (5).
How many cups of water for 2 cups of rice? ›
For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.
What is Mexican rice called in Mexico? ›
The dish is most commonly referred to as arroz rojo in Mexico (and the direct translation "red rice" is sometimes used in English).
Why do you brown Mexican rice before cooking? ›
How to Make Mexican Brown Rice. First, we'll lightly toast the brown rice in oil for extra flavor and separation. Then, we'll bring the rice to a boil with rich, tomato-y broth (you can use ripe tomatoes or canned). Then, we'll bake it in the oven for perfectly fluffy Mexican rice with amazing flavor.
Long Grain White Rice: Washing the rice is crucial to remove the outer starch, allowing the rice to cook fluffy. If you'd like to use Brown Rice, increase liquid by ½ cup and cook for 40 minutes, following the same resting instructions.
Do Mexicans rinse rice? ›
It may seem stupid- but rinsing the rice to remove the starch is very important if you want fluffy rice. It will only take two minutes of your time but it makes the difference.
How to fix crunchy Mexican rice? ›
Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on. Be patient. Don't raise the temperature to rush the rice—that'll just put you right back where you started.
How to fix undercooked rice in a casserole? ›
After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest before serving.
How do you keep Mexican rice from sticking together? ›
The first thing you should do is sauté the rice in the cooking oil before boiling. This will help seal the starch in the grains and prevent the rice from sticking.
Is Mexican rice better than white rice? ›
Mexican rice is much healthier and more nutritious than regular rice. It is rich in fiber, nutrients, and protein. Like other fruits and vegetables high in fiber, Mexican rice is a good source of dietary fiber.
Why does takeaway rice taste better? ›
In fact, the use of classic Chinese sauces is exactly what makes takeout fried rice so incredibly moreish. Key amongst these is soy sauce. By adding soy sauce during cooking chefs are adding both salt and umami to the fried rice which, unsurprisingly, greatly improves the dish's overall flavor.
Why do Mexican restaurants put rice in salt? ›
Rice comes into play because it absorbs moisture even faster than salt. You're familiar with the lifesaver of putting your water-damaged phone in a bag of uncooked rice? It's the same concept. By adding just a few grains of rice to your salt shaker, restaurants can guarantee that your salt will pour with ease.
Why does Mexican food taste better? ›
Mexican food is so appealing because it is a mash-up of several cultures. Its unique combination of spices, flavours, and brilliant colours makes for a stunning appearance. Many classic Mexican foods retain their pre-Hispanic roots, making them distinctive.
