• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
RecipeTeacher
  • Home
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Contact
  • Resources
    • RecipeTeacher101
    • Air Fryer Quick Guide
    • Instant Pot and Pressure Cooker Quick Guide
    • Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners
    • Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners
    • Kitchen Essentials
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • RecipeTeacher101
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • RecipeTeacher101
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×

    You are here: Home » Instant Pot Recipes » Best Damn Instant Pot Spanish Rice

    Best Damn Instant Pot Spanish Rice

    Print Recipe
     
    Jump to Recipe
     
    Rate this Recipe

    Last Modified: August 29, 2021

    This restaurant style Spanish rice recipe uses all simple ingredients and cooks to perfection in your Instant Pot pressure cooker. With all the flavors you know and love, it’s the perfect compliment to your next Mexican style dinner fiesta!

    Recipe for Instant Pot Spanish rice.

    Most Mexican restaurants include a main dish, followed by 2 side dishes – refried beans and Spanish rice. Our Instant Pot Refried Beans has you covered for that recipe. And now we’re proud to offer a truly awesome and easy recipe for Instant Pot Spanish Rice.

    What is Spanish (Mexican) Rice?

    So basically, the names are interchangable. Some recipes call it Mexican rice, some call it Spanish rice.  While there are recipes for a more traditional rice as is made in Spain, for all intents and purposes, in the United States the names are really interchangeable with the two. The recipe consists of a long-grain white rice that’s been toasted and seasoned with tomato and various latin spices, the most common of which is cumin. Occasionally it will also contain any combination of peas, carrots and corn. The Instant Pot is so perfect for rice recipes and Spanish rice is no exception.

    What do I need to make this recipe?

    Long-grain white rice such as Jasmine or Basmati rice. Of course a package of good old long-grain white rice is perfectly fine.

    Seasonings include chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper

    Diced tomatoes with chiles, about ½ cup of canned is perfect. Or you can dice a couple of Roma or Campari tomatoes.

    White onion provides a wonderful flavor base by sauteing first in 2 teaspoons of olive oil.

    Chicken broth provides the liquid base.

    All the ingredients for Instant Pot Spanish rice.

    Toasting Rice and Spices

    After we sauté our onions, we’ll add in the rice and spices, which will get sauteed (toasted) for about 2 minutes. By toasting the rice and spices, we’re bringing a whole other level of flavor to the dish. Toasting white rice brings out a deeper, almost nutty flavor and this step also “blooms” the spices. It’s an important step that really adds that restaurant quality to the recipe. After we’ve toasted everything, pour about ¼ cup of broth into the pot and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon. This is called deglazing and all those little bits we scrape are loaded with even more flavor. This also prevents us from getting a burn notice while pressure cooking, so make sure to scrape up those cooked on bits!

    Toasting the rice and ingredients for Instant Pot Spanish Rice.

    Pressure Cook and Natural Release

    After we’ve secured the lid, we’ll pressure cook for 4 minutes, followed by a 10 minute natural release. It will take the Instant Pot a few minutes to come to pressure before the 4 minute countdown begins. After the 4 minutes are up, the timer will begin counting up. After 10 minutes, go ahead and release any remaining pressure.

    Remove Lid and Fluff

    Now that our rice has cooked to perfection, it’s time to remove the lid and give everything a stir with a wooden spoon or fork. The rice will smell amazing and become nice and fluffy and will be the perfect side dish for your dinner. If you want to add any peas, add some frozen peas at this point and simply stir them in.

    Recipe for Instant Pot Spanish Rice.

    Storage and Reheating

    Most rice dishes are best enjoyed at the time they are cooked. That’s just the nature of rice. If you do have leftovers however, store them in an airtight container as soon as possible. When reheating in a microwave, adding a tablespoon of water can help rehydrate any dried parts. Store in refrigerator no more than a couple of days.

    A plate of Instant Pot Spanish rice.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Best Damn Instant Pot Spanish Rice


    • Author: RecipeTeacher
    • Total Time: About 30 minutes
    • Yield: 4-6 servings
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    A restaurant quality Spanish rice recipe that cooks to perfection in your Instant Pot pressure cooker.


    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup white onion, diced
    • ½ teaspoon course salt
    • ½ teaspoon hot smoked paprika*
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 cup Jasmine or Basmati rice (long grain white rice)
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 2 teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ cup canned diced tomatoes with green chiles
    • 1 cup chicken broth

    Instructions

    1. Place the rice in a medium colander, and rinse under cold water until the water runs clear. Set aside.
    2. Place olive oil in the instant pot and set to “sauté” function.
    3. When the pot is hot, add the diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until onions start to become translucent.
    4. Add the rice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper and diced tomatoes to the instant pot and stir for 1 minute.
    5. Turn the instant pot off. Pour in the broth, and scrape up any brown bits from the with a wooden spoon.
    6. Secure lid and make sure the valve is set to sealing. Pressure cook (manual on some appliances) on high pressure for 4 minutes. Let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
    7. Press cancel, carefully remove lid, and stir/fluff with a wooden spoon or fork.

    Notes

    *If you don’t have hot smoked paprika, use ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and ⅛ teaspoon cayenne.

    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 4 min + 10 min release
    • Category: Side dish
    • Method: Instant Pot
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Did you make this recipe?

    Be sure to leave a comment and rating below. I appreciate your feedback!

    Also, tag @recipe_teacher on Instagram and hashtag it #recipeteacher

    Recipe for Instant Pot Spanish Rice

    1.3K shares
    • Facebook129
    • Email
    • Yummly

    Easy Recipes for Everyone!

    Subscribe to get the latest updates and videos

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Review & Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Chrystal

      September 29, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      Have you tried the recipe doubles or tripled? Would you adjust the cook time?

      Reply
      • RecipeTeacher

        September 29, 2021 at 9:28 pm

        No problem doubling or tripling the recipe. Time will be the same.

        Reply
    2. Bonnie Hibbard

      August 29, 2021 at 4:54 pm

      Hey there..Jason.
      I do not see any measurements for paprika in this IP spanish rice dish. I will add some but the right measurements would be good to have to add to this recipe.
      I really do love your recipes. My 1st try with my new IP was for the pork tenderloin and it was super. Tender and I loved it. Thank you.
      Now just need the correct amount of paprika for this.

      Reply
      • RecipeTeacher

        August 29, 2021 at 5:30 pm

        Hey Bonnie! Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve made the correction. It’s 1/2 teaspoon of smoked hot paprika. If you don’t have smoked hot paprika, use regular smoked paprika and add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jason of Recipeteacher.com

    Hi, I’m Jason and i’m here to help you make easy, delicious homemade recipes. My approach is to provide the easy-to-understand instructions, use simple ingredients, and have you make the best meals possible.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • recipe for air fryer pork chops
      Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Best Damn Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
    • Instant Pot pulled pork recipe
      Best Damn Instant Pot Pulled Pork
    • Instant Pot pressure cooker pork tenderloin recipe
      Best Damn Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
    • recipe for air fryer chicken breast
      Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Breast
    • Instant Pot pork chops recipe
      Best Damn Instant Pot Boneless Pork Chops
    • Chicken legs made in an air fryer
      Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Legs
    • Recipe for oven baked pork chops
      Oven Baked Bone-In Pork Chops
    • Recipe for air best damn air fryer salmon
      Best Damn Air Fryer Salmon
    • Recipe for air fryer brussels sprouts
      Best Damn Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

    Easy Recipes for Everyone!

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact & Correspondence

    • Contact
    • How to Leave a Review
    • Welcome to RecipeTeacher!
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 RecipeTeacher.com

    • Pinterest
    • 129Facebook
    • Email
    • Yummly
    1337 shares