Magic Green Rice (Arroz Verde)

Magic Green Rice (Arroz Verde) – This fun take on Mexican green rice is such a favorite! Perfect for burrito bowls, beans and rice, and more! (Gluten-Free)

I really, really love Tex-Mex food.

Living in the southwest, we have no shortage of Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, and I love getting to try as many of them as possible. And no matter how authentic or Tex-Mex-style the restaurant is, I always love the rice, beans (and salsa!) best.

Beans and rice is usually the measuring stick I use to grade restaurants. If the beans and rice are on point, I find that much of the rest of the menu will follow suit. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s often a delicious one. #beansandriceforever

Red Mexican-style rice is incredible, but every once in awhile, I’ll order green rice (arroz verde) at a restaurant and love it.

If you’ve never had green rice before, you’re in for a delicious savory treat. It’s got a fun color that comes from all the flavor-packed ingredients used to make it, it brings a slightly different flavor profile to the meal, and, it turns out, this Magic Green Rice is super easy to make at home.

Here’s what you need to get started…

HERE’S WHAT GOES INTO OUR ARROZ VERDE (GREEN RICE):

BASMATI RICE. I use basmati rice for most of my rice side dishes. It tends to cook reliably, has great texture, maintains its shape, and has a neutral flavor that welcomes all kinds of seasonings and spices.

ONION + GARLIC. The base of the green mixture that goes into our green rice starts with aromatics–some onion and garlic are the perfect flavors to start with!

CILANTRO. Then, for the actual green color, I add plenty of cilantro. Some recipes also invite you to toss in some parsley or spinach to play up the green even more. I generally prefer to stick with cilantro.

GREEN CHILES OR JALAPEÑO. For some warmth, I also add in some canned green chiles (for a mild version!) or a little jalapeño if I want to turn up the heat.

SALT. You’ll round things out with some salt, to taste. You can use as much or little as your tastebuds prefer!

BROTH OR WATER. Then, to help the green mixture blend and the rice cook, you’ll use some chicken broth or water. I prefer using chicken broth because it gives the rice even more flavor, but water is a great option for vegan and vegetarian folks. (I don’t recommend vegetable broth because it usually adds an orange/red color which messes up the green we’re going for in this recipe.)

LET’S MAKE IT A MEAL! TRY USING YOUR GREEN RICE LIKE THIS…

WITH BEANS! Rice and beans are my FAVORITE side dish pairing. Try pairing with:

• Instant Pot Black Beans
• Instant Pot Charro Beans (Pictured below)

AS A SIDE DISH. Use this magic green rice with beans as a side dish next to…

• The BEST Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw
• Sizzling Veggie Fajitas
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

IN BURRITOS OR BOWLS. Use this rice as a base for burrito bowls, then top it with goodies, or wrap up this rice with tasty fillings for an epic burrito.

• Chipotle Sweet Potato Burrito Bowls (Pictured above)
• Vegan Plantain Burrito Bowls with Black Beans and Mango Salsa
• Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos

WITH YOUR FAVORITE PROTEINS. 

• Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
• Slow Cooker Beef Carnitas
• Honey Lime Shrimp
• Slow Cooker Sweet & Spicy Pork

FAQ + TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE BEST GREEN RICE:

TURN UP THE HEAT! As written, this green rice is in the mild range. If you like a bit more kick, you can always turn the heat up with some jalapeño or a whole poblano chile instead of the green chiles. Different peppers will carry different levels of heat, so check your chile before adding a full one to the recipe!

CAN I USE VEGGIE BROTH INSTEAD? I love using veggie broth to flavor my rice, but I don’t recommend it here, simply because the orange/red color it imparts will muddy the green you’re looking for in green rice.

WHAT KIND OF RICE DO YOU USE FOR MEXICAN GREEN RICE? Long-grain white rice will be your best bet here. I prefer basmati or Texmati because of its texture and flavor, but you can try other varieties of long-grain rice if that’s what you have available!

CAN I USE BROWN RICE INSTEAD? I haven’t made this green rice recipe with brown rice yet, but I do think it would work, provided you adjust the water/broth and cooking times to match your specific variety of brown rice.

TURN IT INTO A MEAL! PAIR THIS RICE WITH…

• Chipotle Sweet Potato Burrito Bowls
• Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken
• Our Favorite Fresh Salsa
• My ULTIMATE Guide to Guacamole
• Instant Pot Black Beans
• Slow Cooker Beef Carnitas
• Instant Pot Charro Beans

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