Gluten Free Spanish Rice

This easy Gluten Free Spanish Rice recipe has a fluffy texture and authentic flavor, and comes together quickly with pantry staples (it's dairy free too).

This dairy free Spanish rice (some call it gluten free Mexican rice) goes great alongside tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and fajitas, and makes the perfect side for any Mexican-inspired meal.

Ingredient Notes

• long grain rice— for best results, we recommend to rinse under cold water
• grapeseed oil— or your favorite cooking oil
• tomato sauce
• kosher salt
• minced garlic— freshly minced is best
• gluten free chicken stock— always check your store-bought stock or make your own chicken stock. You can also use vegetable stock instead to make this a vegetarian recipe if you'd like
• cumin, chili powder, and black pepper— this is what gives this dairy free Spanish rice its authentic, earthy Mexican-restaurant flavor
• fresh cilantro— stir in at the end for the freshest flavor and color

Helpful Kitchen Utensils and Gadgets

• large saucepan— you'll use this pan to cook your rice in. Make sure it has a lid to cover it.
• spatula— for stirring
• measuring cups and spoons

How to Make Gluten Free Spanish Rice

1. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
2. Add the rice once the oil is hot and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden. This toasting step is what keeps the rice fluffy instead of mushy.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, salt, garlic, chicken stock, water, cumin, black pepper, and chili powder (everything except the cilantro). Bring to a simmer.
4. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring only occasionally, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
5. Stir in the fresh cilantro and remove from the heat. Serve as a side dish or use it to top your favorite tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.

Recipe Tips

• Rinse the long grain rice under cold water before cooking for the best texture.
• Don't skip toasting the rice in oil first — this is the biggest secret to fluffy, not mushy or sticky, Spanish rice.
• Stick to the rice-to-liquid ratio in the recipe card, and resist the urge to stir too often while it simmers.
• Wait to add the cilantro until you're ready to serve so it stays fresh and bright.
• Reheat leftovers on the stovetop rather than the microwave — microwaving can dry the rice out or leave parts crispy.

Recipe Variations

• Make it vegetarian by swapping the gluten free chicken stock for vegetable stock.
• Use your favorite cooking oil in place of grapeseed oil.
• Stir in a handful of frozen peas, diced bell pepper, or corn for extra color and texture.
• Doubling the recipe? Just make sure your pan is large enough, or use two pans, so the rice cooks evenly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which rice should I use?

We recommend using long grain rice for this recipe. It helps bring out the authentic Mexican rice texture that you're looking for. Other white rice varieties tend to work better for Asian dishes, which need a different texture.

What's the difference between Spanish rice and Mexican rice?

True Spanish rice is colored with saffron and uses short grain rice, similar to paella. What most of us call "Spanish rice" in the U.S. -- including this recipe -- is really Mexican rice: long grain rice cooked with tomato sauce, cumin, and chili powder for that classic Mexican-restaurant flavor.

Either way, this gluten free Spanish rice (or gluten free Mexican rice, if you want to get technical) is the version you grew up loving.

Why did my rice turn out mushy or sticky?

This almost always comes down to too much liquid, skipping the toasting step, or stirring too much while it cooks.

Toast the rice in oil until lightly golden before adding the liquid, stick to the ratio in the recipe card, and let it simmer mostly undisturbed for the fluffiest texture.

How many servings does this make?

When we make this for our family of 5, this makes 2 dinners worth of rice. Yup, you read that correctly! So, this Spanish rice recipe makes a generous 10 servings that can be used as a side dish or added into another Mexican dish to top it off.

Can I make it ahead?

We think this recipe is best enjoyed and served hot, so we recommend making it right before you want to use it.

You can reheat it later or enjoy it as leftovers, though it may not taste quite as fresh as when it's freshly made. Wait to add the cilantro until you're ready to serve it.

What should I serve with this mexican rice?

This dairy free Spanish rice goes great alongside tacos, enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, or as a scoop next to any Mexican-inspired meal. See our related recipes below for more ideas.

What else can I add to this recipe?

See our variations section above for ideas like frozen peas, diced bell pepper, or corn. A squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end is also a great way to brighten up the flavor.

Can I use brown rice instead?

You can, but keep in mind brown rice takes longer to cook and needs more liquid than long grain white rice. You'll likely need to increase the stock and simmer time, so keep an eye on it and add more liquid if the pan looks dry before the rice is tender.

How do I store this rice dish?

If saving some rice as leftovers, we recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long is it good for?

If you store this dish properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it should be good for about a week. We recommend reheating it on the stovetop to help bring the original texture back to life.

Reheating in the microwave can dry the rice out or leave pieces extra crispy with an odd texture, so the stovetop is our best recommendation.

Can I freeze this rice?

Yes. Let it cool completely, then freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop with a small splash of water or stock to help bring back the texture.

Can I double this recipe?

If you're planning to have leftovers or are having company over, you can double this recipe. Just make sure your pan is large enough, or make it in two batches.

More GF and DF Mexican Inspired Meals

• Crockpot Taco Soup— serve some of this rice with your taco soup that you had simmering in the slow cooker all day and you'll have the perfect meal for a chilly day.
• Fresh and Flavorful Quesadillas— these are always a hit in our house and can be easily customized to what everyone in your family likes and prefers. These are perfect to serve with a scoop of rice to really finish the dinner off.
• Easy Taco Skillet— who doesn't love a one pot meal, or really, a one skillet meal with Mexican flair.
• Taco Salad Shells— make your own allergen friendly taco shells that are perfect to put your mexican salad in.
• Burrito Bowl— This burrito bowl uses our favorite cilantro lime rice, but you could easily swap it for this Spanish rice and make a whole new flavored bowl.

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