Instant Pot Mexican Brown Rice is the perfect side dish for your favorite Mexican dishes. Serve this easy recipe with tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and more!

White bowl of Mexican rice in front of Instant Pot

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My family eats a lot of Mexican food. We have some form of it at least once a week – tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, taco salads – not only because we love it, but also because it’s usually a quick and easy dinner on busy days. This easy Mexican rice is a perfect accompaniment to those meals.

One of the easiest things to cook in my Instant Pot is rice. It turns out perfect every time. And this is also the easiest way I’ve made Mexican rice.

If you want a stove top rice recipe, be sure to check out my Spanish Rice and Beans recipe!

You’ll love Instant Pot Mexican Rice recipe because it’s

Made with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry;
A delicious side for your Mexican dishes;
A quick and easy one pot dish;
Oil free, high fiber, and healthy!

Is Mexican rice the same as Spanish rice?

The terms Mexican rice and Spanish rice are often interchanged, but there are a couple of differences between the two. Spanish rice contains saffron, which gives it a yellow color. The grains of rice in Spanish rice are also more separate.

Mexican rice is a more moist rice, and is typically flavored with tomato stock and cumin. Because the tomato stock that is used in authentic Mexican rice contain chicken stock, I am using vegetable broth along with tomatoes in my Mexican rice recipe.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mexican Rice Recipe

Wooden cutting board with ingredients for Mexican rice

Long grain brown rice
Yellow onion
Garlic
Vegetable broth
Cumin
Chili Powder
Crushed tomatoes

Why make this in an Instant Pot?

While you can certainly make your Mexican rice on the stove, it is so much easier to make it in a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot has a saute function, making it easy to saute your onions and toast your rice.

And cooking in the Instant Pot means you can prepare your rice without heating up your kitchen in the summer, or watching over a pot on the stove.

How to make Mexican rice in the pressure cooker

Step 1: Rinse the rice in cool water 3 times. Drain and set aside. Rinsing is necessary to remove excess starch that makes the rice sticky.

Step 2: Press the Sauté button on the Instant Pot. Add the onion and cook until it is soft, adding a small amount of water if the onion begins to stick. When the onion is soft, add the garlic and sauté for one more minute.

Step 3: Stir in the rice and cook for a few more minutes, to toast the rice.

Step 4: Pour in the vegetable broth and spices and stir, making sure the bottom of the pan is deglazed.

Cooked rice in Instant Pot before stirring

Step 5: Add the tomatoes, but do not stir.

Step 6: Press the “Stop” button to turn off the saute function. Place the lid on the pressure cooker and make sure the knob is turned to “seal”. Press the “Manual” button and reduce the time to 22 minutes. After the rice has cooked at pressure for 22 minutes, allow the pressure to come down naturally. A natural pressure release allows time for the rice to absorb excess liquid.

Step 7: When the pressure has fully come down, open the pressure cooker and allow the rice to sit for 10 minutes. Then stir the tomato into the rice. Serve warm.

Can I substitute white rice?

Yes. You can make this recipe with long grain white rice. If using white rice, reduce the cooking time to 3 minutes.

How can I avoid the burn notice?

Sometimes when you’re cooking in an Instant Pot, the food will scald on the bottom and the pot will not come to pressure. This usually is due to one of three things:

There are burnt pieces of food on the bottom surface of the pot from sauteing ingredients. Be sure to completely deglaze the pan before adding the rest of the ingredients and cooking at pressure.
There is not enough cooking liquid in the pot, or the liquid is not thin enough. To avoid this in this recipe, be sure to place the tomatoes on the top of the other ingredients, and do not stir them in until after cooking.
The sealing ring is not in the proper position. Be sure to check that the sealing ring is properly aligned before placing the lid on the pot.

What toppings go well on this rice?

White bowl of Mexican rice in front of bowl of black beans and Instant Pot

If desired, top this rice with chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, or vegan cheese. Peas, corn, or carrots are also delicious add ins for this recipe.

What to eat with Instant Pot Mexican Rice?

This rice is a perfect side for any of your Mexican dishes – enchiladas, burritos, tacos, fajitas, and more. It’s also delicious as a filling for many of these dishes

How to store Mexican rice

Store leftover rice in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The rice can be reheated by sprinkling a little water over the rice and reheating it in the microwave.

For longer storage, place the rice in an air tight freezer container or Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To defrost frozen cooked rice, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

You’ll also love these other Mexican recipes:

Other Instant Pot Recipes:

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