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This Mexican Rice Casseroleis a family favorite dinner and is perfect for busy weeknights because it is made in the Instant Pot. You will love this one pot meatless meal!
This post is sponsored byUSA Pulses & Pulse Canada.
Who got an Instant Pot for Christmas andneeds Instant Pot recipes? If your hand is raised, it is your lucky day because we are sharing one of our very favorite Instant Pot meals. You are going to LOVE this Mexican Rice Casserole. It is made in thepressure cooker and is a huge hit with the entire family, including our boys. It is vegetarian, gluten-free and SO good!
And if you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, you are going to want one after you see this easy dinner recipe:)
How to Make Instant Pot Mexican Rice Casserole
- This Mexican Rice Casserole has all of our favorite ingredients in ONE pot! I love the Instant Pot because you can sauté right in the Instant Pot. This is a great one pot meal!
- We combine brown rice, black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, red bell pepper, garlic, onion, lime juice, lots of spices, and vegetable broth in the Instant Pot and let it do it’s magic.
- When the Instant Pot is done, we stir in corn, shredded cheese, cilantro, and green onion. The cheese melts into the rice and black beans creating the perfect cheesy rice and bean casserole!
- We serve the casserole in bowls and top with avocado slices. The boys like to eat their casserole with tortilla chips. They are all about dipping!
- This easy rice casserole reheats well, making great leftovers for lunch or dinner all week. It also freezes well. I love keeping a container in the freezer for busy weeknights. Defrost and heat up in the microwave!
We are always trying to add more pulses (delicious, protein-packed, sustainable foods such as dry peas, chickpeas, lentils and beans) to our recipes and this Mexican Rice Casserole hasTWO kinds of beans, black peans and pinto beans.Looking for simple ways to eat healthier in the New Year? Just add pulses! Sign up for the Half-Cup Habit, and see how easy it can be to add ½ cup serving of pulses to your diet just 3x per week for added nutrients.
Get out your Instant Pot and make this Mexican Rice Casserole. It is an easy dinner winner!It is packed with protein and a great easy, kid friendly meal! Our boys ask to have this casserole for dinner almost every single week.
Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Check out our favorites:
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- 4-Ingredient Chile Verde Chicken
- Cilantro Lime Rice
Instant Pot
Instant Pot Mexican Rice Casserole
This easy Mexican Casserole is made in the Instant Pot and a family favorite weeknight meal! The leftovers also freeze well.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 37 minutes mins
Total Time 47 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeds removed and chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 1 4 oz can diced green chiles
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- Juice of 1 large lime
- 1 cup long grain brown rice
- 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 green onions sliced
- 1 large avocado sliced
- Tortilla chips for serving, optional
Instructions
Put the olive oil in the Instant Pot and select Browning/Sauté. When the oil is hot, add the onion and red bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the diced tomatoes, green chiles, vegetable broth, lime juice, brown rice, black beans, pinto beans, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined. Lock the lid on the Instant Pot, select high pressure, and set to 22 minutes cook time.
After the 22 minutes, turn off the Instant Pot and let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, carefully turn the vent to a quick pressure release.
Stir in the corn, shredded cheese, cilantro, and green onions. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
Serve with sliced avocados and tortilla chips, if desired.
Have you tried this recipe?
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FAQs
Do I cook rice before adding to casserole? No. Please don't cook the rice first. You'll wind up with a casserole dish full of mush if you do.
Why is my rice not cooking in the casserole? ›
If the heat is too high, the water evaporates before the rice has a chance to fully cook. If you don't add enough water, the rice ends up dry and crunchy. And if you don't cook the rice long enough, it gets soft on the outside but doesn't cook through.
Why is my Mexican rice soggy? ›
When you cook the rice for a longer time in too much water, it causes the grains to split, which results in a gummy and soggy texture.
Can I use regular rice instead of minute rice in a casserole? ›
Although any type of rice is perfectly fine for use in casseroles or single-dish meals, different varieties cook at different speeds. Allowing them to bake in too little time can leave you with an unpleasantly liquid-filled dish; Determine which type of rice you'll be using, and adjust your cooking time to match.
Why is the rice in my casserole crunchy? ›
Maybe you took the lid off of the pot too early, letting the steam escape. Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with. Whatever the case, if your rice is looking dried out, or the texture is still hard or crunchy when all the liquid has been absorbed, add up to ½ cup water and return to a simmer with the lid on.
How do you thicken rice casserole? ›
Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.
Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.
How do you fix mushy rice in a casserole? ›
If the rice is too sticky or gummy, it means that it is overcooked. After draining the rice, pour a light stream of cool water over the sieve or colander. Gently unstick the grains of rice with your fingers. Bake the rice in the oven for 5 minutes to remove the excess water.
Why is my rice taking so long to cook? ›
The cooking time can vary depending on the brand of rice you're using, how heavy your lid is, and so on. That's right, a heavier lid holds in more liquid and thus increases the cooking time. Test to see if the rice done enough. If it isn't, you can cook it for another couple of minutes.
Can you eat slightly undercooked rice? ›
Many types of food need to be cooked to kill any pathogens like bacteria or parasites that may reside in and on the food. Rice is no exception. Like meat, rice needs to be cooked before consumption to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
Why do Mexicans fry their rice before cooking? ›
The method used to make Mexican rice involves lightly frying the uncooked rice in oil which helps it absorb more flavor from the seasoning and cook to a perfect consistency. In addition, a traditional blend of spices and diced vegetables and potatoes create unique flavor.
Mexican rice is prepared by rinsing and briefly soaking medium grained white rice and then toasting the rice in a heavy saucepan with fat, such as lard or cooking oil.
How much water for 2 cups of rice? ›
For tender grains of rice that easily separate, such as in a pilaf, use 2 cups of water for every 1 cup of rice. You can also use another liquid like stock in this 2:1 ratio. For slightly chewier, fluffy white rice, use 1 1/2 cups of water for every cup of rice, or a 1.5:1 ratio.
What can you substitute for rice in a casserole? ›
- Rice substitutes. Share on Pinterest Aisland/Getty Images. ...
- Barley. Barley is a popular grain that people can purchase as whole grain, pearled, flakes, or flour versions. ...
- Quinoa. Quinoa is an edible seed that people consume as a grain. ...
- Riced cauliflower. ...
- Riced broccoli. ...
- Shredded cabbage. ...
- Shirataki konjac rice. ...
- Couscous.
with each type of rice. Minute® White, Premium and Jasmine can be substituted for each other in recipes.
How much does 1 cup dry minute rice make? ›
The amount of uncooked rice that yields 1 cup of cooked rice can vary depending on the type and variety of rice. In general, the ratio is about 1:3, which means 1 cup of uncooked rice will yield approximately 3 cups of cooked rice.
How do you soften rice in a casserole? ›
After cooking for the recommended period of time, if the rice is still hard or chewy, add a little bit of water to create more steam (for every cup of uncooked rice used, add about 2 tablespoons of water). Cover the pot tightly and place over very low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Let rest before serving.
Can you put uncooked rice in the oven? ›
To make baked fried rice, just place uncooked rice, stock, soy sauce and a few other flavourings in a baking pan, give it a mix then shove it in the oven. Out comes fluffy, seasoned fried rice that's so good, you may never wok-toss fried rice ever again! (Well, maybe not. Nothing beats the real deal, after all.
How do you reheat rice in a casserole? ›
Spread rice in an even layer over the baking dish, gently breaking up any clumps. Splash with about 2 Tbsp water or broth per cup of rice. Use foil to cover the dish tightly. Bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through.
Should I pre cook rice? ›
Pre-cooking rice isn't so much about how to cook the rice, but how to store it. You follow the same cooking instructions as you would for immediate consumption, making sure to cook the rice to a fluffy texture and avoid a gummy outcome. Once the rice is cooked, store it properly so it's ready to use in dishes.
