This Instant Pot Spanish rice recipe saves time with no chopping required, making preparation quick, easy, and hassle-free. The Instant Pot seals in the flavors while delivering perfectly fluffy rice—no stirring and no stove watching needed.
If you're looking for an easy and delicious side dish for Taco Tuesday, this Spanish rice recipe is for you. It's made with a blend of seasonings and spices, giving it a bold flavor with minimal prep work.
Thanks to the Instant Pot, it comes together quickly and consistently, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Pair it with your favorite vegan tacos, enchiladas, or burritos for a complete and satisfying meal.
It’s sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation.
Ingredients Needed
These are the ingredients needed to make this Spanish rice recipe. Nothing fancy!
Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
- White rice – I used jasmine rice, but feel free to use any white rice you have.
- Tomato sauce – This adds a tomato flavor to the rice.
- Oil – I used coconut oil for this recipe, but any neutral oil for sautéing will work.
- Herbs and seasonings – Since this recipe is minimal prep, salt, dried cilantro, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and paprika are used to enhance the flavor of the rice. I used pink Himalayan salt, but any type you have will work. The dried cilantro can be replaced with fresh, while the remaining seasonings are essential for bringing out the rice's full flavor potential.
How To Make Instant Pot Spanish Rice
This Spanish rice is super easy to prepare in the Instant Pot. In fact, it’s my favorite way to make rice!
To start, you’ll want to have everything close by. Gather and measure all the ingredients, then set them aside.
Stovetop instructions are included in the recipe card.
Add the oil to your Instant Pot, then press the sauté feature. Once the oil is melted, add the rice and sauté until it begins to brown (pictured above). Towards the end of sautéing, add in 1 teaspoon of onion powder.
Watch closely and stir frequently because the onion will brown quickly.
Press the cancel button on the Instant Pot, then mix in the tomato sauce, seasonings, and water.
Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to manual/pressure cook for 10 minutes, at high pressure. After cooking, allow it to release pressure naturally. Carefully open the lid. It should look similar to the image above.
Use a fork to "fluff" the rice before serving.
Note: Some of the greens and tomato sauce will have set on top. Give the rice a stir to mix everything back together. If the rice is a bit too sticky leave the lid open to allow the steam to continue to escape. Otherwise, it’s ready to eat!
Serving Ideas
To give your rice more flavor, use the Instant Pot's sauté feature to sauté diced bell peppers, onions, jalapeños, or minced garlic.
Drain a can of diced tomatoes and toss them in. Or dice a few fresh tomatoes.
Add frozen, canned, or fresh corn or peas before cooking, or beans for protein after the rice is cooked.
Chop fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or oregano.
Enjoy a Mexican-inspired vegan dinner tonight by pairing this Instant Pot Spanish rice with one of these recipes:
Frequently Asked Questions
White rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice are the best options for this recipe. I have not tested this recipe with brown rice, but it can be used, however, it will require a longer cook time and more liquid.
I’m usually in a hurry, so I often skip rinsing the rice. If you choose to rinse it, be sure to dry it thoroughly. Excess water can throw off the rice-to-liquid ratio.
We'd love to hear from you!
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See ya there!
Recipe
Instant Pot Spanish Rice
Ingredients
For the Rice
- 1 ½ cups jasmine rice, or basmati rice
- 2 Tablespoons refined coconut oil
- 2 ¼ cups water, for a drier rice use 1 and ¾ cups
- 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Seasonings
- 1 ¼ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Start by mixing the seasonings in a small bowl and gathering the remaining ingredients. You’ll want to have all the ingredients nearby.
- Add the oil to your Instant Pot and set it to sauté.
- Once the oil is heated, add in the rice and one teaspoon of onion granules. Sauté until the rice begins to brown, frequently stir the rice to keep it from burning.
- Once the rice has browned a bit, carefully mix in the remaining ingredients– seasonings, tomato sauce, and water.
- Now press manual on the Instant Pot and set it for 10 minutes on high pressure. Once the rice is fully cooked, allow the Instant-Pot to naturally release pressure.
- Carefully open the lid and give the rice a mix before serving.
Stove Top Instructions
- Start by mixing the seasonings in a small bowl and gathering the remaining ingredients. You’ll want to have everything within reach.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is heated, add in the rice and one teaspoon of onion granules. Sauté until the rice begins to brown, frequently stir the rice to keep it from burning.
- Once the rice has browned a bit carefully mix in the remaining ingredients– seasonings, tomato sauce, and water.
- Reduce the heat, cover and allow to simmer for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is fully absorbed.
- Once the liquid has been absorbed, carefully open the lid and give the rice a mix before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
**Nutritional info is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients I used and for convenience and as a courtesy only.**
More Vegan Mexican Recipes
This recipe was originally published in March of 2017. It has since been updated with new photos and more detailed information.
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Kasia
Do you think I could cook it on the delayed start setting? Prep everything early morning, then set the delayed start for 3h, so that it’s ready in time for lunch. Or would you recommend cooking it right away and just leaving it on the “keep warm” setting for a few hours? Which option would be better? Thank you.
Marlena Luna
I would cook the rice and then leave it on the keep-warm setting. Also, I suggest using 1 and 3/4 cups to 2 cups of water.
Tatiana
Wow! This rice is amazing! I made it in my IP and at first I thought it was too mushy, but after tasting it, it was perfect. Will definitely be my go-to rice. Thanks for sharing.
Where you get your protein
Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it after all, Tatiana.
Michelle
What do you mean by onion granules? Is that the dried diced onions or the ground onion powder? Thanks!
Where you get your protein
Hi Michelle! Onion granules are more of a "salt" consistency rather than a powder. But onion powder will work just the same! Enjoy! :)