Spanish Rice
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This Spanish Rice recipe is a one-pot meal that is full of flavor, is hearty, satisfying, and takes just minutes to make! It’s also a great dish to double up and have as convenient leftovers the next day. It also freezes well.
My mom is a phenomenal cook. Growing up she would regularly make dishes from all around the world and it’s no wonder I’ve acquired the same passion for international cuisine. She would make authentic dishes from various regions of the world and then incorporate those flavors and styles into her own recipes.
Among our favorite dishes were some of her very quick and simple ones that she’d make on busy weeknights. Her Spanish Steaks are one example – super easy to make but thoroughly mouth-watering and a dish we always looked forward to. The aroma the floods the house as these are cooking is simply heavenly!
Another one we really loved was a simple dish she called “Spanish Rice.” This one-pot meal is full of flavor, hearty and satisfying, and takes just minutes to make. It’s also a great dish to double up and have as convenient leftovers the next day. This Spanish Rice is a nostalgic dish for me because it’s one of the very first dishes I helped my mom make. As a 4 and 5 year old I’d sit up on the kitchen counter, eager to help, and my mom would give me the task of browning the ground beef and stir in the remaining ingredients. It gave me a sense of achievement to see the finished dish come together and inspired my future appetite for cooking.
Easy and delicious, this Spanish Rice is sure to become part of your busy weeknight meal rotation!
Spanish Rice Recipe
Let’s get started!
Brown the ground beef in a stock pot until most of the pink is gone. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the bell peppers and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Stir in the spices and add the rice.
Add the V8 juice and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes.
Serve as a main dish with salad.
Enjoy!
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Spanish Rice
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 14 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- best homemade chili powder (highly recommended)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups rice
- 1 46 ounce bottle V8 100% Vegetable Juice (about 5 1/2 cups)
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a stock pot until most of the pink is gone. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the bell peppers and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Stir in the spices and the rice.
- Add the V8 juice and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
Looks like a great recipe. Just wondering what kind of rice you use.
Hi Mel, the amount of liquid and cooking time are both calculated for white rice. You can use any kind of white rice you like, I used long-grain rice this time.
This sounds almost exactly like what my mom served in the 60’s & 70’s, except that she started with already-cooked rice (she’d cleverly made extra for a previous meal), used only canned tomatoes and not V-8, and I’m sure that she didn’t use that variety of herbs & spices. I’d wondered about the name – “Spanish Rice” – thinking that it wasn’t really Spanish. Now I know!
Just made this and the time and recipe was right on the money. I just put in a little more rice (to my preference) but it was very simple and quick to make. Another go-to meal.
Wonderful, Steveo, thank you!
I used white rice – I just don’t think I brought it to a rolling boil prior to reducing the heat. Long day and I was hungry :)
My pudding steamer is ready!
I made this tonight for the first time and I can say it will be in frequent rotation for quick week night meals. Super easy to put together although i had to cook a bit longer than 20 minutes it was fabulous.
Wonderful, Kim, thank you! It sounds like you used brown rice? That usually takes at least 30 minutes. By the way, I have not forgotten about the treacle pudding or mulligatawny :) They’re still on my list to make!
How many millilitres are there in an American cup?
Hi Michael, I just Googled it and it’s 237 ml.
I love a good rice dish! This looks so good!
My Hubby is a huge fan of Spanish rice! This looks crazy delicious!