With only four simple ingredients, this cheesy Mexican rice is a filling side dish your family will love, plus it is quick and easy to prepare!
The secret to this easy version of Mexican rice is to replicate the traditional flavors with salsa instead. Salsa is very flavorful, and it eliminates almost all of the cooking and prep work. Cheese is added at the end to make the rice irresistibly creamy and delicious!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Long-grain white rice - Substituting different rice will change the cooking times.
- Chicken broth - Water can be substituted, but it will have less flavor. Tomato sauce can also be added for a richer flavor.
- Salsa
- Shredded Cheddar cheese - You can substitute your favorite taco cheese.
One easy way to customize this recipe is to transform it into an entree by adding chicken. This would be perfect for using up leftover chicken breasts (grilled chicken breast would be particularly flavorful). Just cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks and add it to the rice to warm when the rice is almost done cooking.
How to make it
To make this cheesy Mexican rice recipe, add the uncooked rice, broth, and salsa to a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Reduce to low heat and gently simmer for 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice.
Tip: If you simmer too quickly, the liquid can cook out before the rice is tender. If that happens just add a splash of water or chicken broth, recover the saucepan, and continue to simmer.
Once the rice is tender, stir in the shredded cheese and serve immediately.
Storing & Reheating Leftovers
Leftover Mexican rice can be refrigerated for up to one week when stored in an airtight container. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through.
Cheesy Mexican Rice
Equipment
- Small saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice (uncooked)
- 1 ¾ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add rice, chicken broth, and salsa to a small saucepan. Cover and gently simmer on low for approximately 20 minutes, or until liquid has absorbed into the rice, and rice is tender.
- Stir in cheese and serve.
Notes
Nutritional Information
This recipe was originally published on November 11, 2019.
John C Bauer
Just as written, this dish is both flavorful and easy to prepare. However, the photographs are misleading because the salsa makes the rice much redder than depicted.