Easy Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice (Gluten Free)

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 a few peas and cilantro (parsley if you don’t like cilantro), and scoop onto plates to serve. Most of the work is hands-off and it all comes together in about 30 minutes. 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.

If you want a vegetarian version, just swap out vegetarian stock for the chicken. 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 a vegetarian meal. It complements so many different flavors that I know you will love having it as part of your dinner. 

 

Gluten-Free Tips:

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

Can I make this recipe with brown rice?

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

 

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; stir well
4. Cover and cook until tender, add the peas, then remove from the heat and let rest to finish cooking
5. Fluff the rice, sprinkle with cilantro, and serve

 

Key Ingredients for this Recipe

• Chicken or vegetable stock
• Fresh lime juice
• Tomato sauce
• Onion, bell pepper, and garlic
• White rice
• Cumin, oregano, and chili powder
• Frozen peas
• Cilantro

 

Kitchen Tools I Use to Make This Recipe

• Saucepan
• Whisk
• Serving spoon

 

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 Late Summer 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!

 

 

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