Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice (GF)

When we go to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, one of my favorite parts of the meal is the rice. Today I am sharing a recipe for Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice. Packed with flavor, it is everything you want and so much more. It is so good you’ll swear you can hear the mariachi music playing!

I love how easy this is to make … sauté some aromatics together, add the rice and flavored liquids and simmer until tender. Add some corn and sliced green onions, and scoop onto plates to serve. Most of the work is hands-off and it all comes together in about 30 minutes for the win!

Many similar dishes are lacking in flavor and can be quite boring to eat. To combat that, I’ve increased the vegetables and used stock instead of water. A little fresh lime juice brightens the flavors and seasonings wake up your taste buds without adding a lot of heat.

You can add some cayenne or chipotle powder if you want a touch of heat in every bite. Or you could add some chopped green chiles if you like. That would make it taste more like a dish from Santa Fe, New Mexico, which is delicious!

If you want a vegetarian version, just swap out vegetarian stock for the chicken broth. It will blend with the tomato sauce beautifully and give you a dish where even non-vegetarians will be asking for seconds.

This is the perfect side dish to any Latin main course or you can serve it as part of a vegetarian meal. It complements so many different flavors that I know you will love having it as part of your dinner. 

And be sure to check out the latin recipes listed below my Mexican rice recipe card for incredible ideas for a full meal! The talent in this group of women is impressive and their offerings are tantalizing! I want to make them all! 

If you try this recipe, let me know! Please leave a star rating in the recipe card, comment below, and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it @theheritagecook on Instagram! Seeing your creations makes my day and I love hearing from you!

Ingredients needed for Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice:

• Vegetable or chicken stock, fresh lime juice, tomato sauce, onion, bell pepper, 
• Garlic, white rice, cumin, oregano, chili powder, corn, green onions, cheese

 

PRO Tip:

I like to use Lundberg Family Farms brand of rice, which comes in a wide variety of types and styles. They are consistently high quality and trustworthy for your best recipes.

 

How to make Easy Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice:

1. Whisk the liquid ingredients together
2. Sauté the onions, bell peppers, garlic, and rice
3. Add the liquids and seasonings; and stir well
4. Cover and cook until tender, add the corn, then remove from the heat and let rest, covered, to finish cooking
5. Fluff the rice, distributing the corn; sprinkle with cheese and green onions and serve

 

PRO Tip: Can I make this recipe with brown rice?

Yes, but the amount of liquid will be higher and cook time will be longer. Follow the cooking directions on the rice package for the best results.

 

Kitchen Tools I Use to Make This Recipe

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Universal lid (if your saucepan doesn’t have a lid)

 

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a progressive dinner party where each course is held at a different home. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.

This month’s theme is Latin American Cuisine hosted byTamara of Beyond Mere Sustenance. We have a great mix of recipes including appetizers, sides, entrees, and desserts. Come along and see all of the deliciousness we’ve put together for our celebration inspired dishes!

Enjoy today’s Easy Restaurant Style Mexican Rice below and be sure to check out the recipes from my fellow bloggers. You can create an entire meal with our Progressive Eats suggestions!

 

 

Gluten-Free Tips:

This recipe is gluten-free, but always watch the labels on any prepared foods and seasonings. I like McCormick and Penzey’s spices which are well marked and easy to find. If you have any questions about ingredients, contact the manufacturer.

You will get the best and most consistent results by using a digital kitchen scale and weighing your ingredients, especially when you are baking. Use grams, they are much more accurate than pounds and ounces.

All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.

 

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Welcome! The suggestions here are not intended as dietary advice or as a substitute for consulting a dietician, physician, or other medical professional. Please see the Disclaimers/Privacy Policy page for additional details. Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material from The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, please contact me. We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases without any additional cost to you. This page may contain affiliate links. The author makes no claims regarding the presence of food allergens and disclaims all liability in connection with the use of this site. This post was first shared in Aug 2019. The article was updated in 2025.