Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Bowl of Mexican Rice with a large blue serving spoon and a tomato and lime in the background.

5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Mexican Rice is a quick and flavorful side dish that pairs well with any Mexican main dish, such as enchiladas, tacos, and burritos. It comes together easily in the Instant Pot so it's perfect for weeknights.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Instant Pot5

Total Time30

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Mexican

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Author: Nisha Kapur

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

2 tbsp avocado oil
4 cloves garlic chopped
3/4 cup white onion chopped
1 jalapeno seeded & chopped
1 cup tomatoes chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 cups white basmati rice or any long grain white rice washed, soaked & drained
1 1/4 cups water

Instructions

Rice Tip. - Wash rice several times and then soak for 15 minutes. Rinse well and drain rice. Set aside.
Saute Veggies. Press SAUTE mode on the Instant Pot. Add oil, and once hot, add garlic. Saute for 30-40 seconds. Next, add jalapenos that have been seeded. If you prefer very spicy, then keep the seeds in. Saute for a minute. Then add onions and season with a little salt. Saute for a couple of minutes until softened and translucent. Next, add tomatoes and season with a little salt. Saute for 2 minutes until softened.
Add Rice. Add tomato paste and cook down for a minute. Next – add rice. Click the OFF button on the Instant Pot. Stir the rice into the onion-tomato mixture for a minute. Add water. Be sure to deglaze the pot before covering it to avoid the burn sign. Then add spices – cumin powder, American chili powder, and salt.
Cover and High Pressure. Stir everything well. Cover the Instant Pot and set it to the Sealing position. High-pressure the rice for 5 minutes. Perform a quick release after 10 minutes. Once done, fluff the rice with a fork and serve hot. Garnish with cilantro or scallions if you wish.

Notes

White Basmati Rice: Wash rice several times and then soak for 15 minutes. Rinse well and drain the rice. Set aside. You may use any long grain white rice for this recipe.

Deglaze Instant Pot: Before coering the Instant Pot, make sure to deglaze the post to avoid any rice sticking. This will prevent the burn sign from displaying.

Nutrition