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.
Spanish rice with salsa
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 be honest, as an adult, I actually like this version better than the traditional Spanish rice recipes I’ve tried. It’s flavorful, fast, and requires hardly any effort, which wins me over every time.
Salsa rice ingredients
- Quick cook white minute rice
- Red salsa
- Water
What you’ll need to make this recipe
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- Medium sized pot
- Measuring cups
- Serving spoon
Tips for making spanish rice recipe with salsa
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.
If 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.
How to make easy salsa rice
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.
More great recipes to try
- Vegan Dinner Rolls
- Copycat Texas Roadhouse Butter
- No Bake Oreo Icebox Cake
- Guacamole Without Cilantro
- Meatloaf with Ritz Crackers
- Marbled Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Salsa Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups quick cook rice
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup salsa
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.
