Mexican White Rice (Arroz Blanco)

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This delicious Mexican White Rice is lightly seasoned and cooked in chicken broth. Arroz Blanco is perfect for serving with any Mexican inspired main dish.

When I’m struggling with what to put on the table for our family dinner, I often turn to Mexican food. Dinners like our Mexican chicken and rice or Mexican chicken marinade are easy to prepare, but also taste amazing.

If you’re needing a quick dinner, marinate steak or chicken and prepare this Mexican White Rice. Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes and you’ll LOVE the flavor!

mexican rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon

Why you’ll love this Mexican White Rice:

  • A side dish ready in 25 minutes.
  • Simple flavored white rice.
  • It’s the perfect base to just about any main dish.

What is arroz blanco?

Arroz blanco literally means “white rice”. This arroz blanco is a Mexican white rice. Although sometimes arroz blanco is simply steamed rice, our recipe is simply flavored with onions, garlic, lime and cilantro to give it a Mexican flair.

Ingredients

There are a few key ingredients that make this Mexican white rice amazing:

  • Rice. White long grain rice is best.
  • Onion & Garlic. I may be simple, but these are two non-negotiable seasonings. They make everything taste good.
  • Chicken broth. The salted kind is best. If using sodium free broth I recommend adding salt.
  • Lime. This gives the rice a fresh taste.
  • Cilantro. This is used as a garnish but I love to sprinkle the rice with lots of fresh snipped cilantro.

How to Make Mexican White Rice in 4 Steps

  • In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 4 minutes until slightly translucent.
onion sauteed in a skillet
  1. Add the rice to the onions and toast for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
rice in a skillet
  1. Add the broth and lime juice. Let it come to boil over high heat. Once it has boiled for 1 minute, reduce heat to low and cover with a lid.
lime juice in simmering rice
  1. Simmer for 20 minutes without stirring. Turn off the stove and let sit for 5 minutes. Then fluff rice with a fork and sprinkle with lime zest and cilantro before serving.
about tastes of lizzy t

Make it a meal.

Wondering what to serve with Mexican rice recipes? Try one of these meats:

You may also love arroz primavera, which is a white rice with carrots, peas, green beans and other spring veggies.

mexican white rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon
mexican white rice in a skillet with a wooden spoon

Mexican White Rice (Arroz Blanco)

4.80 from 5 votes
This delicious Mexican white rice is lightly seasoned and cooked in chicken broth. Arroz blanco is perfect for serving with any Mexican main dish.
Servings 6
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

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Ingredients
 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • ½ cup white onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups white long grain rice
  • 4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • 1 lime juiced and zested
  • cilantro

Instructions
 

  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook and stir for 4 minutes until slightly translucent.
  • Add the rice to the onions and toast for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Pour the broth and lime juice into the rice mixture. Let it come to boil over medium-high heat. Once it has boiled for 1 minute, reduce heat to low and cover the pan with a lid.
  • Let the rice cook and simmer for 20 minutes without stirring. Turn off the stove and let the pan sit for 5 minutes so that all the liquid is absorbed. Fluff rice with a fork and sprinkle with lime zest and cilantro before serving.

Notes

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6 people, with 1 serving being about 1 cup of rice. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**i

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 578mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Calories 284
Keyword easy rice recipe, easy side dish

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use brown rice?

Yes! Use brown or white rice. Long grain or medium grain rice works well. Do not use jasmine rice or precooked rice.

How do you store this rice?

Store in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

About JulieJulie Clark

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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4.80 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)
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Lauren Lentine
1 year ago

The directions say to add lemon juice in step 3 and lime zest in step 5, but lemon juice is not listed as one of the ingredients – is this meant to be lime in both steps?

Kelly
2 years ago

Hi! Question! Do you rinse the rice ?