Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Mexican Rice

Pressure cooker Mexican rice is a great side dish made in your Crockpot Express, Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot. Tender Spanish rice everyone will love with dinner. 

If you haven’t tried pressure cooker Mexican rice yet it is easy to throw together as an Instant Pot recipe and full of flavor. You don’t have to have this brand though, any electric pressure cooker will work. (affiliate links present)

Ninja Foodi Mexican Rice

It’s on our list of easy Ninja Foodi recipes too. It doesn’t really matter what brand of machine you have. We have a Crockpot Express as well and that works too. You are going to use the high pressure function and those all have that function to use. Most have the rice button too which automatically sets to 12 minutes.

Serve it with air fryer flautas or with chicken on the side. Any way you serve it up it’s just wonderful.

When it comes to great Mexican food you don’t always have to go to a restaurant to get it. It’s actually kind of fun to learn to make things on your own like the Instant Pot refried beans we made recently too.

How to make restaurant style Mexican rice in Instant Pot

We make Instant Pot white rice all the time! BUT it is sure nice to mix things up a bit. This one offers a wallop of flavor with the same grains used than the “normal” bowl at the Chinese restaurant. Served with shredded beef or tacos it is a must in our house not just on Tuesdays.

Instant Pot Mexican Rice Recipe Ingredients

1. Long grain white rice
   1. I haven’t made this with brown rice yet
2. Tomato sauce
3. Chicken broth
   1. Or water but broth has a lot more flavor
4. Onion and garlic powder
5. Salt and pepper
6. Cumin

Optional add ins would be 1/2 cup of diced onion and a can of diced chiles are great as well. Like I said, if you don t have an Instant Pot you can use any brand. We have a Mealthy we use too. Many times we use a few to make an entire meal. 

Is there a difference between Spanish rice and Mexican rice?

Not really. The only main difference is that Spanish rice typically uses saffron vs. cumin which is added here.  Main ingredients are basically the same. Of course everyone has their own tweaks they make and you’re free to call this whatever you’d like. 😉 

Is Mexican rice healthy?

Yes!! It is a healthy low-fat side dish for sure. Added to our list of cheap Instant Pot recipes it costs very little too. You can adjust the heat as you like making it hot if that is a must for you or keep it mild as directed below.

How long does it take to cook pressure cooker Mexican rice?

7 minutes with a 10 minute natural release. The reason why I love making it this way is that it is totally hands off. All you need to do is pay attention to the beep once it is done. Then watch the timing on the screen as it needs some time for a natural release to fluff up. On the stove you’d need to gently stir a few times so it doesn’t burn but just cook long enough for rice to be tender.

Use the onions, tomato sauce and broth instead of water to make it have a lot of flavor. If you make homemade pressure cooker pinto beans you could fold some of these in at the end too.

What can you add to pressure cooker rice to make it taste better?

1. Add all ingredients except onions and rice
2. Stir together well, then add onions and stir again
3. Sprinkle in uncooked rice and submerge into liquid, do not stir
4. Close lid and steam valve to sealed position
5. Set to high pressure cook for 7 minutes
   1. short cooking time I know
6. Allow to naturally release steam for 10 minutes when done
7. Lift lid and fluff rice with a fork
8. Serve with Instant Pot Mexican pizza

Can you double a pressure cooker recipe?

I prefer to make 2 batches, I think it comes out better. Would only work in an 8 quart pot. Remember to never fill past 3/4 full max mark on inside of pot. Some things are ok, like taco meat but this can get mushy if it doesn’t have enough room to really get fluffy.

Now if you wanted to make spicy mexican rice you could do that. The best bet is to add red pepper flakes in at the beginning with the liquids so it can dissolve and really permeate the grains. Beware that a little goes a really long way with this. Start small like 1/8 tsp and see what you think of that. Add more next time if it is not.

What goes good with Spanish rice?

Done in just about 15 minutes it’s perfect way faster than making it on the stove top and popular for pot lucks or pairing with Instant Pot tacos!

• Of course we love steaming tamales in Instant Pot.
• Instant Pot Mexican chicken and rice is a great duo.
• You can alter our pressure cooker chicken taco bowls to include this rice instead of white rice.

Then if you’re looking for more, our pressure cooker Mexican casserole is great too. Something new is in town!!