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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Published: Aug 27, 2021 Modified: Oct 17, 2023 by Nicole Durham This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Salsa Rice

    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    a white bowl filled with salsa rice and garnished with sliced limes and cilantro.

    This recipe combines the convenience of fast-cooking rice with the zesty kick of salsa, creating a delightful side dish for 20 Minute Enchiladas or as a main course in my Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice Bake.

    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 best.

    Jump to:
    • 🍯 Why This Recipe Works
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 FAQs
    • ❤️ More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    🍯 Why This Recipe Works

    1. 3 ingredients and 5 minutes. This Spanish rice with salsa is flavorful, fast, and requires hardly any effort, which wins me over every time.
    2. 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.
    3. 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

    ingredients needed for salsa rice.

    Ingredient Notes:

    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.

    For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.

    🔪 Instructions

    red salsa and water in a pot.

    Step 1: Add salsa and water to a medium sized pot and bring to a boil

    red salsa and water in a pot with white rice.

    Step 2: Stir in rice, remove from heat and place a lid on.

    cooked salsa rice in a pot.

    Step 3: Let sit for 5 minutes or until all water has been absorbed.

    fluffed salsa rice in a pot.

    Step 4: 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

    How long is salsa rice good for?

    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.

    Can I make salsa rice in a rice cooker?

    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.

    Can I add cheese to my rice?

    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.

    a close up of salsa rice in a white bowl with lime slices and cilantro.

    ❤️ More Delicious Side Dish Recipes

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      Guacamole Without Cilantro
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      Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

    If you tried this Easy Salsa Rice, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!

    📖 Recipe

    salsa rice in a white bowl with lime wedges and cilantro.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Easy Salsa Rice

    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.
    Prep Time 2 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 7 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 151kcal
    Cost Recipe $2.43 / Serving $0.41
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Medium-sized pot
    • Measuring Cups
    • Serving spoon

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups White Quick Cook 5 Minute Rice ($1.87)
    • 1 cup Water ($0.00)
    • 1 cup Salsa ($0.56)
    US Customary - Metric

    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.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.7g | Protein: 3.1g | Fat: 0.9g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 481.6mg | Potassium: 234.2mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 2.8g | Vitamin A: 8.8IU | Vitamin C: 9.8mg | Calcium: 11.2mg | Iron: 0.7mg
    Author NicoleDurham
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Tried this recipe?Mention @BeeyondCereal on Instagram and hashtag it #BeeyondCereal
    Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used. To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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