Southwestern Skillet Rice – our go-to side dish for all of our Mexican dishes. Rice loaded with cumin, chili powder, Rotel tomatoes, corn, black beans, onions, bell peppers, and garlic. I could make a meal out of this yummy rice! This is super easy to make and tastes fantastic! Ready in under 30 minutes. It goes great with everything – tacos, enchiladas, casseroles, and grilled chicken and steak!
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We are big fans of Mexican food at our house. We make it at least once a week. This Southwestern Skillet Rice has quickly become our go-to side dish. Rice loaded with Rotel, corn, black beans, onions, bell peppers, and garlic. I could make a meal out of this yummy rice! This is super easy to make and tastes fantastic! It goes great with everything – tacos, enchiladas, casseroles, and grilled chicken and steak!
How to Make Southwestern Rice in the Skillet
This rice is very easy to make. Start with cooking some onion and bell pepper in a skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Add rice, cumin, chili powder, Rotel tomatoes, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer until rice is cooked. Stir in corn and black beans. Top the rice with some crumbled queso fresco cheese and enjoy.
- Queso fresco is a soft Mexican cheese made with cow’s milk. I bought mine at Walmart. If you can’t find queso fresco, you can substitute feta cheese.
- Can substitute vegetable broth or water for the chicken broth if you want a vegetarian dish.
- Is Southwestern Skillet Rice spicy? There is a small kick to the rice from the Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles. Use a can of MILD Rotel tomatoes if you are sensitive to heat.
- Feel free to add cooked chicken, steak, or shrimp to the rice for an easy one-pot main dish.
- I garnished the rice with chopped cilantro.
What to Serve with Southwestern Skillet Rice
This rice makes a great side dish to all of your Mexican-style dishes. Fajitas, casseroles, grilled chicken, tacos, enchiladas – you name it! This also makes a great meatless main dish or base for a burrito bowl. YUM! Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this delicious rice:
Mexican Casserole
Easy 30-Minute Mexican Casserole – tortilla chips, taco meat, beans, tomatoes, and cheese – top with your favorite taco toppings!…
Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Air Fryer Chicken & Black Bean Taquitos – SO simple and they are seriously delicious! The whole family loved them!…
Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos (4-Ingredients)
Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Tacos – only 4 ingredients! Chicken slow-cooked in taco seasoning, diced tomatoes and green chiles, and…
Weeknight Enchiladas
Weeknight Beef Enchiladas – super easy beef enchiladas the whole family will enjoy! Only 5 ingredients – ground beef, tomato…
Southwestern Skillet Rice
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium green pepper, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies undrained
- 1 (14.5-oz) can chicken broth
- 2 cups frozen corn thawed
- 1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco, optional
Instructions:
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute pepper and onion 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute.
- Stir in rice, Rotel tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
- Stir in corn and black beans. Cover and cook 5 minutes, until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Top rice with crumbled queso freso and serve.
Notes:
- Queso fresco is a soft Mexican cheese made with cow’s milk. I bought mine at Walmart. If you can’t find queso fresco, you can substitute feta cheese
- Can substitute vegetable broth or water for the chicken broth if you want a vegetarian dish.
- Is Southwestern Skillet Rice spicy? There is a small kick to the rice from the Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles. Use a can of MILD Rotel tomatoes if you are sensitive to heat.
- Feel free to add cooked chicken, steak, or shrimp to the rice for an easy one-pot main dish.
- I garnished the rice with chopped cilantro.
Steph
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Does this recipe freeze well? There are only two of us Thank you!.
Can this be made with an instant pot?
I have beef broth in my pantry. Would this work? I’m new at using broths.
This was really tasty. We liked it alot. Served it with some Cajun Pork loin that was slow cooked.
Could you use Minute Rice instead? Maybe increase chicken broth?
I can not say what adjustments would need to be made with minute rice without further recipe testing.
Can you use brown rice instead? Maybe cooked brown rice. Rather not use white rice.