This easy salsa rice recipe is a fast and cheap favorite around here. I make it at least once a month, and you'll soon see why. In just 5 minutes or so, you can have a pot full of fluffy flavored rice, perfect for a side with any Mexican-inspired meal.
This side dish recipe is one we modify to be a full meal like in my Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice Bake or leave as a side dish for meals like 20 Minute Lazy Enchiladas. It's great in both instances and so quick to prep and make that it's less than 10 minutes from start to finish.
We grew up eating this salsa rice recipe as kids, and it's one that has stuck with me ever since. It's the only way my mom would make "Spanish rice," and to be honest, as an adult, I actually like this version better than the traditional Spanish rice recipes I've tried.
Why This Recipe Works
- 3 ingredients and 5 minutes. This Spanish rice with salsa is flavorful, fast, and requires hardly any effort, which wins me over every time.
- It's versatile. You can serve it up as a side dish or a main dish, and it's still full of possibilities and great pairings.
- It tastes great reheated. You know how white rice can often feel dry when reheating the leftovers? Thanks to the salsa, this rice stays perfect for days, making the leftovers something you'll look forward to!
🥘 Ingredients
White rice- You will need quick cook white minute rice for this recipe, not the long cooking kind! Quick cooking is already partly cooked/processed, so it has a much faster cook time. I've had great success with the Aldi brand, Walmart brand, and name-brand Minute rice.
Red salsa- Red salsa is my favorite, but I'm sure you can use green if desired. Use smooth salsa, chunky salsa, or whatever kind you have on hand or already enjoy. I personally prefer Picante Chunky Mild Salsa.
Water- You will need some water for the rice, but you will not need as much as usual because we're replacing some of it with salsa.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Easy salsa rice with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Add salsa and water to a medium sized pot and bring to a boil
Stir in rice, remove from heat and place a lid on.
Let sit for 5 minutes or until all water has been absorbed.
Fluff with a fork before serving.
🍴 Recipe Tips
Quick rice is often a 1:1 rice to water ratio because it's less absorbent than enriched long grain rice. You can double, triple, or halve this recipe as needed by just remembering to use take however much water is requested and use half salsa and half water in its place. So if you need 2 cups of rice and 2 cups of water, you'll actually need 2 cups of rice, 1 cup of water, and 1 cup of salsa.
Another good tip for making this Spanish rice recipe with salsa is that if I'm using the last bit of salsa in a jar, I like to take the water and pour it into the jar before closing the lid and shaking it around. Then use the water. This helps to get the remaining bits out of the jar and add a little more flavor to the dish.
💭 FAQs
You can keep this rice (or its leftovers) stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Yes. When I make salsa rice in the rice cooker, I use long grain white rice instead of instant, and I add about ⅓ cup of extra water per 1 cup of dry rice. The rice you get in the end will be a little stickier than if you had made the recipe the original way, but it still tastes great.
Absolutely! One of my favorite ways to serve this rice is by cooking it on the stove as directed, but after the rice has fully absorbed the liquid, I'll top it with some shredded cheese (usually cheddar or Colby Jack) and then place the lid on for another minute or two until it's melted.
More great side dish recipes to try
- Guacamole Without Cilantro
- Dill Pickle Potato Salad
- Creamy Orange Fluff Salad
- Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli
📖 Recipe
Easy Salsa Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups White Quick Cook 5 Minute Rice ($1.87)
- 1 cup Water ($0.00)
- 1 cup Salsa ($0.56)
Instructions
- Add salsa and water to a medium sized pot and bring to a boil
- Stir in rice, remove from heat and place a lid on.
- Let sit for 5 minutes or until all water has been absorbed.
- Fluff with a fork before serving.
Notes
Recipe Tips
- Quick rice is often a 1:1 rice to water ratio because it's less absorbent than enriched long grain rice.
- You can double, triple, or halve this recipe as needed by just remembering to use take however much water is requested and use half salsa and half water in its place.
- Breakdown Math: So if you need 2 cups of rice and 2 cups of water, you'll actually need 2 cups of rice, 1 cup of water, and 1 cup of salsa.
- Another good tip for making this Spanish rice recipe with salsa is that if I'm using the last bit of salsa in a jar, I like to take the water and pour it into the jar before closing the lid and shaking it around. Then use the water. This helps to get the remaining bits out of the jar and add a little more flavor into the dish.
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