Looking for an easy side dish? This 3 Ingredient Mexican Rice goes great with any Taco Tuesday and is quick to make!

I love taco night at our house!

This is one of the easiest ways for me to get in my vegetables. Lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers… it’s always included!

I sometimes have trouble coming up with side items for Mexican dishes, though. Mostly because whatever I make can be considered a full meal. And everything I see has a large list of ingredients.

One of the new recipes I discovered was Mexican rice! This is definitely not authentic Mexican rice, but it’s easy to make and I always have the ingredients on hand so I don’t have to rush to my local grocery store.

This 3 ingredient Mexican rice can be made in a rice cooker or the stovetop and is perfect for your next Taco Tuesday!

Scroll down to the bottom to get to the recipe card for this easy side dish, or keep reading for extra tips and tricks!

What kind of rice works best?

I typically use regular white rice because it tends to cook faster. I’ve also used brown rice though, and it still turns out good.

The standard rice-to-water ratio for a rice dish is one cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Brown rice might need a little extra, as it cooks longer.

To save time and energy in the kitchen, I use a rice cooker. White rice takes about 40 minutes, while brown rice takes around an hour and 15 minutes.

Ultimately, use your own personal preference! It’s an easy recipe either way!

Ingredients

Rice

Diced tomatoes

Taco seasoning

Water

Substitutions/Additions

My recipe is only 3 ingredients to just to keep things simple. But you can add plenty of different things:

Broth: Instead of water, you could use chicken broth or vegetable broth.

Lime juice: You can sprinkle some on at the end for extra flavor!

Spices: I used a pre-made taco seasoning, but feel free to use your own combination for a more flavorful rice: Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and chili powder are all good options.

Salt and black pepper

Fresh cilantro

How to make in a rice cooker

In a rice cooker, add the rinsed rice.

Add diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and water.

Use the “White Rice” function, which will cook for about 30 minutes.

When it’s finished, stir the rice and divide into 4 servings.

How to make on the stovetop

In a medium pot, bring water to a boil.

Stir in the rice, diced tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Cover pot and turn the heat down to simmer for 17-25 minutes. Check at 17 minutes, then every couple minutes afterward, until the water is fully absorbed.

How to store

Once the rice has come to room temperature, you can divide the rice into individual containers or store all of it in one large airtight container.

This will stay fresh in the fridge up to 5 days.

What to serve with this

This is awesome with just about any Mexican food! I’ve used it with many favorite Mexican recipes:

• Burrito bowls
• Enchiladas
• Ground beef tacos
• Salads
• Quesadillas

You can also serve it alongside black beans for an easy rice and beans main dish, and top with sour cream or pico de gallo. When I have zero desire to cook, rice and beans is my easy go-to.

Print out this simple recipe to use next time you make tacos! This 3 ingredient Spanish rice takes just minutes to put together!