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Instant Pot Fiesta Rice

4.50 from 4 votes
Total: 20 minutes
Serves 4

If you are a rice lover and want to gratify your rice-loving soul, this unbeatably flavorsome and exotically aromatic Instant Pot Fiesta Rice is just for you! The goodness of rice and veggies combine to form this blissful creation you cannot get enough of. 

To sum up, this delicious and wholesome Mexican Fiesta Rice is a complete powerhouse – a jamboree of hues and a fest of flavors in one bowl!

Instant Pot Mexican Rice in a bowl with avocado

What is Instant Pot Fiesta Rice

Mexican Fiesta Rice is a colorful dish containing red bell peppers, black beans, corn kernels, onions, garlic, and long-grained rice as base ingredients. Taco seasoning adds authentic Mexican flavors, which are purely satisfying.

High on nutrition and flavors, this recipe is easy to prepare, with the instant pot being a breeze! 

Fiesta Rice is cooked in an instant pot in this recipe. I can assure you that it makes this recipe superbly enjoyable and heavenly delicious, with nutritional levels on the higher side.

Try this 20 minutes recipe that is healthy, glamorous, and lip-smacking delicious, and enjoy watching it become your next family favorite!

Instant Pot Cooking

The Instant pot is a real game changer and offers the comfort of hands-free cooking. You can utilize your saved time on something that needs your attention.

In addition to that, when cooked with the convenience of the Instant Pot

  • Weeknight night meals are easy and mess-free!
  • No extensive cleaning is required either. 
  • And not to mention, every bite of this irresistible recipe is a flavorful fiesta.
  • Is a complete crowd-pleaser!

Try it for your next house party/ get-together, and notice how easily it grabs compliments. This Mexican Fiesta Rice is a manifestation of pure ambrosial indulgence! 

Mexican Fiesta Rice in a bowl

Reasons You’ll ♡ Instant Pot Fiesta Rice

Instant Pot Fiesta Rice is an excellent option for weekend dinners and can turn out to be a family favorite. You will love this super delicious recipe because it’s a —

  • Quick and easy rice recipe
  • Packed with flavors
  • Healthy one-pot meal option
  • Looks great with colorful veggies
  • Vegan and Gluten-free recipe
  • Makes a budget-friendly yet wholesome meal!

What’s best about this Mexican rice is that it prepares quickly with a few common ingredients in the pantry and is packed with the goodness of vitamins and minerals from the choicest ingredients. 

Instant Pot Fiesta Rice Ingredient list

Instant Pot Mexican rice Ingredient List

Rice — Basmati rice is the star ingredient for this recipe. You can use any long-grained basmati rice that is flavorful and aromatic and cooks to be the best recipe.

Black Beans — High in iron, magnesium, folate, and minerals, black beans add nutrition to this Fiesta rice recipe. Rinse and drain them well before using them for this recipe.

Corn — Corn kernels are added to the recipe for a delectable crunch and nutrition. Corns are a source of natural antioxidants and fiber, making this recipe a delicious and wholesome meal. You can use frozen or fresh corns, which would work equally well.

Bell peppers — Red bell peppers are added for nutrition, color, and crunch, making the recipe a magical indulgence! Feel free to add any color bell peppers of your liking.

Vegetable stock — This adds nutrition as well as flavor to the recipe.

Onions — They are known for their unique pungency, which elevates the overall flavor of the recipe. It is added here for the same reason.

Garlic — It adds a sweet zest to the recipe.

Tomatoes — Add a lovely tang to the rice.

Cumin — Cumin powder adds an earthy flavor and distinct aroma to the rice and brings depth to the recipe.

Taco seasoning — A mix of salt, spices, onion powder, garlic powder, etc., elevates the recipe’s overall flavors.

Cooked rice in Instant pot

Recipe Tips and Variations

Rinse and drain — This recipe uses store-bought black beans and corn. I recommend you rinse and drain the black beans and the corn before adding them to the rice.

Choice of bell peppers — I have used red bell peppers for this recipe, but you can substitute them with any other color bell peppers as per your liking.

Spicy spin — Add jalapeno peppers to add an extra spicy punch to this delicious recipe of Mexican fiesta rice, and enjoy the fiery deliciousness.

Versatile recipe — Instant Pot Fiesta Rice is a versatile recipe giving you the liberty to add other vegetables (green bell peppers, mushrooms) that you want and enjoy this recipe in accord with your taste buds.

Flavorful addition — If you want an additional dose of flavors, you can add 3 tablespoons of salsa to the uncooked rice and gorge on the fiery and smoky flavors that salsa adds to this recipe.

Select any rice — You can make this recipe using any rice of your preference. This recipe is prepared using basmati rice, but you may substitute it with brown rice or Jasmine rice as well. However, the cooking time for each type of rice will vary.

Rice and water ratio — As a thumb rule, keep the water and rice ratio as 1:1 ( for Instant pot). This will make the best-cooked rice with proper texture and separate grains that look tempting. Extra water will make the rice sticky and unappetizing; therefore, avoid adding more.

Scalable recipe — This amazingly delicious recipe of Fiesta Rice is scalable to meet your serving requirements. You can double or triple this recipe as given in the recipe card and serve a crowd to delight them.

Mexican rice in IP

INSTANT POT FIESTA RICE MAKES A GREAT LEFTOVER TOO!

The leftover Fiesta rice can be turned into blissfully delicious delights with some thoughtful creations. Let’s see how you can recreate a new recipe out of this fiesta rice —

  • Stuffing the leftover vegan fiesta rice in the bell peppers and baking them will create a yummy recipe your family will drool over!
  • When filled in burritos or tacos, the fiesta rice makes a delicious treat to woo your guests!
  • Fiesta rice-filled tortilla wraps form a great grab-and-go delight when in a rush!
  • Fajitas taste great with fiesta rice, and you cannot ask for anything better than this!
  • Try a combo of fiesta rice with fried beans; you will love this for a lifetime!

There are endless creative options to devour this heavenly recipe of Mexican Fiesta Rice. All you need is to switch to your creative mode!

Can I Cook Mexican Fiesta Rice on the stovetop?

Absolutely! Mexican Fiesta rice cooks amazingly perfectly over a cooktop as well.

All you need to do is to double the water quantity and follow the recipe directions below on the recipe card. 

Instant Pot Fiesta Rice with lemon wedge

Let me know what you think!

This recipe of Instant Pot Fiesta Rice is any rice lover’s dream! You can make this Mexican dish any time of the day; it will be perfect to delight your heart for brunches, lunches, or dinners!

If you are drooling over the vibrant pictures of this flavorful rice dish, why not just grab the ingredients and dive into the preparation?

This dish is sure to become your next go-to recipe!

Should you make this Instant Pot Mexican Rice, please let me know your thoughts by sharing your comment below. And don’t forget to share it with your family and friends.

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Update: This recipe was originally posted in 2017 and has been updated to improve the reader experience.

FOLLOW STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THE BEST INSTANT POT FIESTA RICE

Instant Pot Fiesta Rice

4.50 from 4 votes
If you are a rice lover and want to gratify your rice-loving soul, this unbeatably flavorsome and exotically aromatic Instant Pot Fiesta Rice is just for you! The goodness of rice and veggies combine to form this blissful creation you cannot get enough of. 
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Calories: 298 kcal
Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS 

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Sort through the rice to remove all the pebbles and gritty things. Rinse and rub rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. Drain and set it aside.
    How to make instant Pot fiesta Rice - Ruchiskitchen
  • Start the Instant Pot in ‘SAUTE’ mode. Once it displays hot, add oil to the insert. Now add onion and garlic to it.
  • Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent.
  • Add tomatoes and cook until soft. Instead of chopped tomatoes, you can add tomato puree too.
  • Stir in the black beans, corn, and spices.
  • Pour vegetable stock/water into the insert. 
  • Add rinsed rice and stir to combine.
  • Finally, add red bell peppers and gently stir them. Seal the lid of the Instant Pot with the vent in the sealing position. Cancel the saute mode. Select the ‘PRESSURE COOK OR MANUAL’ mode. Cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.
  • Once the Instant Pot beeps, wait for 10 minutes, then do the QPR (quick pressure release). As the safety pin drops down, open the lid. Allow the steam to escape. Then gently fluff the rice with a fork.
  • Serve hot with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.

MEXICAN FIESTA RICE OVER COOKTOP

  • Rinse and rub rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. Drain and set it aside.
  • Add oil to a heavy-bottomed pan. Now add onion and garlic to it. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
  • Stir in the black beans, corn, and spices.
  • Add rinsed rice and stir to combine.
  • Add 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rinsed rice. (Ratio 2:1). Now, cook the rice on medium heat for 18- 20 minutes until the water has evaporated completely. After 20 minutes, take the rice off the flame.
  • Allow the rice to sit covered for about 5 to 7 minutes, then remove the lid. Your Mexican Fiesta rice is ready to be relished. Fluff them with a fork and serve them with pride!

VIDEO

RECIPE NOTES

 
Frequently Asked Questions
 
What other rice can I use for this fiesta recipe?
This super delicious recipe of Instant Pot Mexican style Fiesta Rice is cooked with basmati long grain rice. You can use any other rice which delights you. Brown rice or Jasmine rice can also be great for cooking this delicious recipe.
However, while cooking, you need to follow each type of rice’s cooking time.
 
Cooking time for brown rice – Let the brown rice pressure cook for 15 minutes at high pressure. Then, release the natural pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a quick pressure release (turn the sealing knob to the venting position)
Cooking time for Jasmine rice/ long grain rice – Pressure cook the Jasmine rice for 6 minutes at high pressure. Then release the natural pressure for 10 mins, followed by a quick pressure release (turn the sealing knob to the venting position)
 
Can I store the Fiesta Rice?
Yes, you can store the leftover fiesta rice packed in an air-tight container in a fridge for 3 days.
 

NUTRITION

Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 129mg | Potassium: 403mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1416IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided above is approximate. Variations may exist due to the ingredients/brands used. These numbers should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietician.
Author: Ruchi
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Gluten-free, Vegetarian

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Comments

  1. sonal says:

    super duper delicious. I love mexican flavors and this cant go wrong.

  2. Gayatri says:

    All your recipes are amazing n look colourful too! I am new to ur blog but now a regular visitor..

    • Ruchi says:

      Welcome to the blog Gayatri!
      Thanks for your kind words. Glad to know that you liked my work. 🙂

  3. Gloria says:

    This would be great for our Mexican themed dinner parties. What a delicious rice dish. I know it would be a hit with the dinner guests.

  4. Renee Gardner says:

    I just got my instant pot last week and can’t decide which recipe to try first. This fiesta rice looks delicious!

  5. Pam Greer says:

    I am always looking for the perfect side dish to go with tacos and this is it!! The best part is that I can make it in the Instant Pot!

  6. Dominique | Perchance to Cook says:

    How flavorful is this rice?! I love how easy it is to make in the instant pot and then you have a fiesta in your mouth! YuM!

  7. Amy says:

    An instapot is definitely at the top of my list for Christmas! I’ll be making this ASAP when Christmas Day comes! This recipe looks so yummy!

  8. Saima says:

    I cannot have a meal without rice and your fiesta rice looks so yum! It should be the perfect combination with some corn soup as you said. Will try it soon!

  9. Tatiana says:

    I love quick cooking dishes, under 30 minutes sound just perfect. Colors are so vibrant and festive looking!

  10. This looks awesome! I live making rice dishes in the instant pot because it just goes so fast and the clean up is easy. This looks like a delicious and easy side dish perfect for a weekday!

  11. This looks like it is so flavorful and using the Instant Pot is always such a great way to make rice!

  12. Georgie says:

    This look so colourful and gorgeous! I don’t own an instant pot but I love what you’ve got going here! Such a great way to spice up rice!

  13. Marisa Franca says:

    Here is another reason to get an Instant Pot! I love the colorful veggies in the rice. It would make a perfect side for our Mexican night. I especially love the jalapeños.

  14. Natalie says:

    This looks really beautiful, colorful and delicious. My husband is a huge fan of rice meals like this one. I’m gonna make him this. I bet he will be delighted.

  15. MrsG says:

    WOWSERS Ruchi! You are a genius! This was delicious beyond belief! I didn’t have any taco seasoning so I googled the ingredients for that and made it from scratch. Do you know how I persuade my kids to eat their dinner these days? I tell them it’s a “Ruchi Rcipe”! Keep your great work Ruchi! Would love to see a lasagne recipe some day!

  16. mohan kumar says:

    Great recipe loved by all, so simple to make and tasty.