Mexican Rice Casserole

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 12 servings
  • Total: 55 min
  • Prep: 15 min
  • Cook: 40 min
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 to 1 whole large onion, chopped

4 cups long grain rice

Two 14.5-ounce cans whole tomatoes

One 10-ounce can diced tomatoes and green chiles, such as Rotel

1 teaspoon cumin (or more to taste)

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

6 to 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (more if needed)

1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar

Fresh cilantro, chopped, for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven and add the garlic and onions. Cook, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add the rice. Stir constantly, making sure the rice doesn't burn. Cook over low heat, about 3 minutes.
  3. Next, add the whole tomatoes, diced tomatoes, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne and turmeric. Stir to combine and let cook, about 2 minutes. Finally, add the chicken broth and stir the mixture together. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then reduce heat to low. Cover, and simmer until the rice is not quite done, 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Top with the cheese, and then bake with the lid off until the cheese is melted and the rice fully cooked, about 15 minutes. Serve with chopped cilantro.

Let's Get Cooking!

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kristina s.

this is very good...and the spice level is good, too. I saw reviews that said not spicy enough and unless you prefer very spicy, the level here is just right....the rotel gives enough heat for sure. Easy to put together, I especially liked not having to break the tomatoes up but you can (don't need to, they break down with cooking) or petite cut would work well too....the cheddar on top is a delicious taste with the rice and cilantro is just perfect with it all. I used a generous amount of cheddar - I would say you get even prefer the extra cheese, it's good..I made this with Ree's black bean burgers and my family liked it very much!

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