Easy Spanish Rice made in the Instant Pot
Authentic, delicious Spanish Rice made easily in the Instant Pot. We love Mexican-inspired dinners at our house and this Spanish Rice is a constant staple we all love! If you haven’t tried making Instant Pot Spanish Rice, give this recipe a try. You will love how easy it is! If you want to make it in the oven or on the stove-top, try my Oven Baked Spanish Rice or my Stove Top Spanish Rice.
We eat so much Spanish Rice at our house. With two giant boys and three other hungry kids, I’m always trying to add some kind of cheap-filler to our meals. That way, the big boys can fill one of their hollow legs with the inexpensive part of the meal. This Spanish Rice is so simple and super cost-effective to make. It has very simple ingredients that can actually be adapted if necessary.
For example: The recipe calls for chopped yellow onion, but in a pinch, dehydrated onion or even onion powder will work great as a substitute. Also, the recipe calls for tomato sauce, but in a pinch, I have used salsa and it has worked great. You can also use crushed tomatoes. Leaving out onion or tomato sauce altogether would not yield such an authentic Spanish Rice. Basically, you are going for flavor and texture but…you can get there a few different ways.
I also have posts for how to make Spanish Rice on the stove-top or in the oven. It’s quickest to use the stove-top or Instant Pot. When I am making a big meal and have most of my stove-top filled or I just want to be able to put something in the oven and forget about it, the oven option is awesome and turns out great. I use that method a lot!
We really do love Mexican food, I might even dare say it’s our family’s favorite cuisine. When we have people over for dinner, we almost always serve some kind of Mexican-themed meal. Here are some of our favorite recipes:
Our Favorite Mexican Dinner Recipes
- Best Ever Chicken Chimichangas
- Tex-Mex Shredded Pork
- Creamy Cilantro Verde Enchiladas
- Chicken and Black Bean Chilaquiles
- Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
Spanish Rice goes perfectly with any of those recipes. It is so simple to make I have some step-by-step pictures below to show you how to make it.
Step-by-Step Photos for How to Make Spanish Rice in the Instant Pot
Throw everything in, set it for 4 minutes on high pressure, let it sit for 10 minutes before you release the pressure and then you are good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions and Tips about How to Make Instant Pot Spanish Rice
How many People can this Recipe feed?
This recipe will feed between 6 and 8 people.
Can I make it ahead of time?
I don’t suggest making this one ahead of time…technically you can, but the oven-baked version works better for making ahead of time.
Can I leave out the onions?
I mentioned above that this recipe is really forgiving. I would suggest using onion powder in place of the actual onion, unless there is an allergy or something. The onion flavor really does make a difference.
Tips:
- In the picture, you can see butter…that can be subbed for oil.
- If you prefer, you can turn the Instant Pot to saute and add the rice, onion, and butter first. You saute it for a couple of minutes, and then add the chicken broth and tomato sauce. It gives it a little bit more authentic flavor, but for me, it doesn’t make a big enough difference for me to take the time, unless I’m just really in the mood to saute something.
More Rice Recipes You've Gotta Try!
- 2½ cups long-grain rice
- 3 cups chicken broth (I use water and chicken bullion)
- ½ cup tomato sauce *see notes above in post for substitutions
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, crushed (optional...sometimes I just add onion and it's still delicious)
- ⅓ cup butter or canola oil or vegetable oil.
- Place rice, butter, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, and chicken broth in the instant pot. Stir well.
- Put the lid on, seal it, and set it for 4 minutes at high pressure.
- When the Instant Pot is done cooking, let it sit for 10 minutes before releasing the pressure.
- Fluff the rice and serve.
Serve Spanish Rice with...
Can I triple this recipe and cook it for the same amount of time?
Hi, I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. Depending on how large your instant pot is. You never want to exceed the fill line and I prefer to error on the side of caution and try to say an inch away from the fill line. So if you can fit that much in your instant pot. Yes, otherwise stick to single or double batch.
This was perfect!! I used Better than Bullion in place of the chicken stock, and half butter/oil.
Awesome! So glad you liked it!
My kids LOVE this rice! It is a huge crowd pleaser and I love that it has basic ingredients that I always have on hand. Making it in the instant pot is my favorite because it is so easy.
Thanks to you I posted a version of how to make this in the instant pot! 🙂