Easy Mexican Rice Recipe: Joanna Gaines’ Homestyle Magic

Joanna Gaines’s Mexican rice tantalizes taste buds with its vibrant culinary profile.

Warm spices dance through each fragrant grain, transforming an ordinary side into something extraordinary.

Home cooks appreciate its straightforward preparation and bold flavor combinations.

Simple ingredients merge seamlessly, creating a robust accompaniment that elevates any main course.

Familiar yet distinctive, this rice recipe captures the essence of homestyle comfort with a southwestern twist.

Professional chefs and kitchen novices can master this delightful dish without complicated techniques.

You’ll appreciate how effortlessly these ingredients come together to create something truly memorable: savor every delicious bite.

What Goes into Mexican Rice by Joanna

• Long Grain White Rice: A classic choice for Mexican rice, providing a fluffy and light texture with perfect grains.
• Vegetable Oil: Essential for toasting rice and creating a golden, nutty flavor base.

• Garlic Salt, Ground Cumin: Signature spices that add depth and authentic Mexican flavor to the rice.
• Onion: Adds sweetness and aromatic complexity to the overall dish.

• Chicken Broth, Tomato Sauce: Creates moisture, enhances flavor, and helps cook the rice perfectly while adding rich color and taste.

Simple Steps for Perfect Mexican Rice

Step 1: Gather Ingredients

Collect all the necessary ingredients for a smooth cooking experience.

• Vegetable oil
• Uncooked long-grain white rice
• Garlic salt
• Ground cumin
• Medium onion, finely chopped
• Chicken broth
• Tomato sauce

Step 2: Toast The Rice

Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add rice, garlic salt, and cumin. Stir continuously until rice turns golden and slightly puffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 3: Sauté The Onion

Add chopped onion to the toasted rice. Cook and stir until onion becomes soft and translucent, approximately 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Add Liquid And Bring To Boil

Pour in chicken broth and tomato sauce. Stir gently to combine. Increase heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally.

Step 5: Simmer And Cook

Reduce heat to low. Cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Let the rice simmer for 20-25 minutes until liquid is completely absorbed and rice is tender.

Step 6: Fluff And Serve

Remove from heat. Let the rice rest for 5 minutes. Gently fluff with a fork to separate the grains. Serve hot as a delicious side dish.

Flavor-Boosting Tips for Mexican Rice

• Let Grains Settle Gently: Rest the cooked rice covered for 5 minutes to prevent breaking and allow perfect texture development.
• Taste Before Seasoning: Sample the rice mixture first to avoid over-salting, especially if using pre-seasoned broths or garlic salt.
• Steam Locks Moisture: Cover the pan while simmering to trap essential steam and ensure even, thorough rice cooking.
• Warm Liquid Matters: Heat chicken broth before adding to maintain consistent cooking temperature and promote uniform rice absorption.
• Golden Toasting Technique: Continuously stir rice in oil until it reaches a rich golden color, developing deep nutty flavors and creating light, fluffy grains.

Storing Joanna’s Rice Just Right

• Freeze: Pack cooled rice into labeled freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and maintain flavor integrity. Freeze flat for maximum space efficiency and up to 3 months of storage. Perfectly preserved rice awaits your next craving.
• Refrigerate: Transfer completely cooled rice into sealed glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Store in the refrigerator's main compartment, not the door, for consistent temperature. Consume within 4 days for optimal taste and texture. Fresh rice stays delicious when properly chilled.
• Reheat: Sprinkle a tablespoon of water over refrigerated or frozen rice before warming. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring gently between intervals to distribute heat evenly.

Spicy Twists on Mexican Rice

• Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Add diced fresh jalapeños during the onion cooking stage for an extra heat boost. The peppers will infuse the rice with a zesty, spicy flavor that complements the cumin perfectly.
• Cilantro Lime Infusion: Stir in fresh chopped cilantro and squeeze lime juice just before serving. This bright, fresh combination will elevate the rice with a tangy, herbaceous profile that brings a vibrant Mexican street food feel.
• Vegetable Medley Mix-In: Incorporate diced bell peppers, corn kernels, and black beans during the simmering process. These colorful vegetables will add nutrition, texture, and a more robust meal option that transforms the simple rice into a complete side dish.
• Cheesy Southwest Style: Sprinkle shredded pepper jack or queso fresco cheese over the rice after fluffing. The melted cheese creates a creamy, rich layer that adds depth and indulgence to the traditional Mexican rice recipe.

Wrap It Up with Joanna’s Rice Dish

Joanna Gaines’ Mexican rice embodies culinary comfort with southwestern charm.

Spices dance through each grain, creating authentic flavor profiles.

Homemade goodness radiates from this simple yet masterful recipe.

Warm aromas of cumin and garlic promise delightful dining experiences.

Kitchen adventurers can elevate weeknight meals with this straightforward technique.

Readers seeking delicious sides should dive deep into this Mexican rice magic – share this recipe, spread the love, spark culinary conversations, and connect through remarkable cooking.

Why Joanna Gaines’ Mexican Rice Is So Popular

• Elevate Your Side Dish: Transform ordinary rice into a mouthwatering Mexican-inspired accompaniment that bursts with rich, complex flavors and takes just 35 minutes to prepare.
• Layered Flavor Explosion: The strategic toasting of rice with garlic salt and cumin creates a nutty, aromatic base that develops deep, warm notes before liquid is even added, ensuring maximum taste in every single bite.
• Foolproof Cooking Method: Using simple stovetop techniques like toasting, sautéing, and simmering, this recipe guarantees perfectly cooked rice with a delightful golden color and tender texture, making it foolproof even for novice home cooks.
• Quick and Nutritious Companion: With just six straightforward steps and under an hour of total preparation time, this Mexican rice serves as a quick, satisfying side that adds nutritional value and exciting taste to any main course, proving that delicious meals don't require complicated processes.

Joanna Gaines Mexican Rice Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Joanna Gaines Mexican Rice delivers a soulful blend of comforting flavors from her signature Texas-style kitchen. Hearty grains dance with zesty spices, creating a simple side dish that brings Southwestern warmth to family dinners.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• ½ cup tomato sauce

Spices and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin

Cooking Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ¼ cup chopped onion

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Assemble a comprehensive array of ingredients, meticulously measuring each component to guarantee culinary precision.
2. Activate a capacious saucepan over medium flame, introducing vegetable oil with deliberate care. Incorporate uncooked rice, sprinkling garlic salt and ground cumin across the grains. Manipulate the mixture continuously, watching intently as the rice transforms into a golden, puffy texture with aromatic undertones.
3. Introduce finely diced onions into the oil-infused rice landscape. Sauté the onion fragments, stirring consistently until they soften and adopt a translucent, glassy appearance, releasing their sweet aromatics.
4. Pour chicken broth and tomato sauce into the pan, creating a harmonious liquid base. Elevate the temperature, encouraging the mixture to reach a vigorous boil while gently agitating to prevent ingredient separation.
5. Dramatically reduce heat to its lowest setting, seal the saucepan with a precise lid, and allow the rice to gently simmer. Maintain this tranquil cooking state for 20 to 25 minutes, permitting the liquid to be completely absorbed by the tender rice grains.
6. Delicately liberate the cooked rice using a fork, creating light, aerated pockets. Transfer the fragrant preparation to a serving vessel, presenting a warm, inviting side dish bursting with layered flavors.

Notes

• Golden Toasting Technique: Carefully stir rice in hot oil until it turns a warm, golden brown color, releasing a delightful nutty aroma that promises deeper flavor.
• Broth Temperature Matters: Heating chicken broth beforehand keeps the cooking rhythm smooth, helping rice absorb liquid evenly and preventing temperature shock.
• Steam Sealing Secret: Cover the pan tightly during simmering to lock in moisture, allowing rice grains to plump up and cook perfectly without losing precious liquid.
• Seasoning Smart Strategy: Taste the rice mixture before adding extra salt, considering the existing saltiness in chicken broth or garlic salt to prevent an overly salty disaster.
• Resting Ritual: After cooking, let the rice sit covered for 5 minutes, allowing grains to settle and become beautifully fluffy before gently separating with a fork.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 280 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 43 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg