Cheesy Spanish Rice (One Pot)

This Cheesy Spanish Rice is a flavorful gluten free side dish! It's made on the stove top with garlic, onions, peppers, corn and tomato sauce.

Spanish rice is a great side all-around side dish. It's prepared with long grain rice that's cooked in one pot on the stove top with Southwest spices, tomato sauce, and vegetables.

When it comes to side dishes, it's hard to beat Spanish rice (also known as Mexican rice). Spanish rice is a flavorful side that's great with chicken, beef, pork, or seafood and is often served with beans alongside tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas.

This version is homemade and prepared in one pot on the stove top. It's made with long grain rice that's sauteed along with garlic, onions, and bell peppers. Southwest spices like chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and cumin are added for flavor.

The addition of crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce) provides some tanginess and sweet corn is added for extra sweetness and texture. It's great garnished with fresh cilantro, avocado, and a lime wedge.

I love to add some shredded sharp cheddar or any variety of cheese that melts nicely for a bit of extra richness. It's a comforting and versatile side dish.

Jump to:

• How To Add Flavor To Spanish Rice
• Ingredients For Cheesy Spanish Rice
• What Type Of Rice Is Used In Spanish Rice?
• Which Pan Is Best For Spanish Rice?
• How To Make Spanish Rice
• How Long Does Mexican Rice Take To Cook?
• Which Cheese Is Best For Cheesy Rice?
• What To Serve With Spanish Rice
• How Long Does This Rice Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Cheesy Spanish Rice (One Pot)

How To Add Flavor To Spanish Rice

Rice is such a great ingredient because it's kind of a blank canvas in terms of flavor. You can add just about anything to rice and take it in so many different directions.

It's inexpensive, easy to find, and makes for a filling and satisfying side dish.

To add flavor to this Spanish rice, it's sauteed in olive oil along with minced garlic, onions, bell peppers, and Southwest spices. The aromatics provide the rice with a pungent flavor, the bell peppers add some sweetness and earthiness, and the spices give it that Southwest flair.

Sauteing the aromatics, vegetables, and spices in olive oil helps to bring out their natural sweetness and overall flavor. The rice is then cooked in one pot along with some vegetable broth and crushed tomatoes, which allows it to absorb all of that flavor.

Add some sharp cheddar or extra sharp cheddar gives the rice extra richness and overall sharpness.

Ingredients For Cheesy Spanish Rice

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 1 small Onion (any color) (or half a large onion, any color)
• 2 Bell Peppers (any color)
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 ½ cups Long Grain Rice
• 1 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Dried Oregano
• 1 tsp. Cumin Powder
• 2 ½ cups Low Sodium Vegetable Broth
• 1 cup Crushed Tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
• ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
• ½ tsp. Pepper
• 1 cup Frozen Sweet Corn
• 1 ¼ cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (or shredded cheese of choice)
• Cilantro, Avocado, Limes for garnish (optional)

What Type Of Rice Is Used In Spanish Rice?

When it comes to Spanish rice, it's best to use long grain white rice. It's not overly starchy or sticky and tends to become light and fluffy when cooked.

Long grain white rice is easy to find in the rice aisle of any grocery store.

Which Pan Is Best For Spanish Rice?

This Spanish rice is made in one pot, so it's important to choose one that fits all of the ingredients and has a lid.

I love to use a cast iron casserole braiser (I recommend one that is at least 3.8 quarts) so that it fits all of the ingredients nicely.

Cast iron distributes heat evenly, which helps all of the components of the dish to cook evenly and prevents it from burning. It's heavy duty and has a lid, which is essential.

You could also use a Dutch oven or any heavy-bottomed skillet with a lid.

How To Make Spanish Rice

The first step is to mince the garlic and onions and then to dice the bell peppers. Once all of the vegetables are ready, they are then sauteed on the stove top along with the rice and spices.

The liquids are then added to the rice and veggies along with some frozen corn. The whole thing is simmered with the lid on until the rice is fully cooked and the shredded cheese is added and folded into the dish at the end of the cooking process.

1. Mince 6 cloves of garlic and 1 small onion (any color). You can also use half a large onion (any color).
2. Dice 2 bell peppers (any color). Remove the seeds and membranes and discard.
3. Place a 3.8 quart cast iron braiser (or Dutch oven or large skillet) on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil.
4. Once the oil is heated, add the diced bell peppers and minced garlic. Sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add 1 ½ cups of long grain white rice to the pot and stir until combined.
6. Add 1 tsp. each of chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, and cumin powder along with ½ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper to the pot. Stir until completely combined and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant.

How Long Does Mexican Rice Take To Cook?

Once all the rice, vegetables, and spices are sauteed, it's time to add the liquid to the pan.

Both vegetable broth and crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce) are added to the pan along with some frozen corn.

All of the ingredients simmer together on a low heat until the rice is tender, but not mushy and has absorbed all of the liquid.

It takes about 15 minutes for the rice to cook on a simmer. Cooking times may vary slightly, depending on the type of cooking pot and brand of rice used.

1. Add 2 ½ cups of low sodium vegetable broth (or low sodium chicken broth) to the pot (use a liquid glass measuring cup to measure the broth).
2. Add 1 cup of crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce) to the pot (use a dry measuring cup to measure this).
3. Add 1 cup of frozen corn to the pot. Stir all of these ingredients together until combined.
4. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, place the lid on the pot, and cook for 15 minutes (do not stir the rice).
5. After 15 minutes, check the rice to see that it is tender, but not mushy and has absorbed all of the liquid.
6. Cook for a few additional minutes if needed.

Which Cheese Is Best For Cheesy Rice?

When it comes to the cheese, I recommend using sharp or extra sharp cheddar. The sharpness of the cheese compliments the smokiness, sweetness, and tanginess of the rice.

You can use pre-shredded cheese or shred it yourself.

Feel free to use Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Colby, Fontina, white cheddar, or any variety of cheese that melts nicely in place of the sharp cheddar if you prefer.

1. Once the rice is cooked, sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top and carefully fold it into the rice.
2. Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning as needed.

What To Serve With Spanish Rice

I love to serve this Cheesy Spanish Rice with some extra shredded cheese along with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and some sliced avocado.

The cilantro and lime juice help to brighten the whole thing up and add some extra color and flavor.

You can also add some hot sauce, guacamole or roasted poblano avocado sauce, cashew cilantro sauce, or salsa to the top of the rice.

Spanish Rice is a great side dish to serve with any type of Mexican or Tex Mex dish - It's perfect served with some pinto beans, refried beans, or black beans alongside tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas.

It can also be stuffed into a burrito or used in a burrito bowl, served with grilled chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp, or topped with a fried egg.

Here are some dishes that go great with Spanish rice:

• Chipotle Chicken Tacos
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos
• Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
• Slow Cooker Barbacoa Tacos
• Cheesy Ground Beef Enchiladas
• Veggie Enchilada Casserole

How Long Does This Rice Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover Spanish rice may be stored for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Be sure to allow the rice to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this dish.

It's best served right away or within a few days.

Love Southwest flavors? Check out these recipes!

• Southwest Turkey Stuffed Peppers
• Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
• Southwest Black Bean Corn Salad
• Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers
• Mexican Shrimp Rice Bowls
• Southwest Pasta Salad

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