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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Published: Aug 27, 2021 by Nicole This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Salsa Rice

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    promotional graphic for 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.

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

    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

    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!
    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment Needed
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 🍴 Recipe Tips
    • 💭 FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    ingredients needed for salsa rice

    🥘 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

    BeeyondCereal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    • Medium-sized pot
    • Measuring Cups
    • Serving spoon

    🔪 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

    salsa and water in a pot

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

    rice added to salsa water in a pot

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

    cooked rice and salsa water in a pot

    Fluff with a fork before serving.

    fluffed salsa rice in a pot

    🍴 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 great side dish recipes to try

    • Vegan Dinner Rolls
    • Roasted Frozen Cauliflower
    • Guacamole Without Cilantro
    • Dill Pickle Potato Salad
    • Creamy Orange Fluff Salad
    • Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

    📖 Recipe

    an upclose arial iew of 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 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 7 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
    To view how this recipe was calculated you can visit my Pricing Disclosure Page for more information.

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    I'm Nicole and I am the owner and recipe developer here at Beeyond Cereal. I love saving money and one of the best places to trim expenses is in the kitchen. With this site, we are serving up tasty and frugal homemade dishes that the whole family will enjoy.

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