Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. For more information on my Affiliate and Advertising Policy, please click Here. Are you looking for a one-pot delicious side dish for upcoming game-night? This Instant Pot Enchilada Rice Casserole is the perfect crowd-pleasing dish to make! Everyone will want the recipe when you tell them how quick and easy it is to make. The easiest recipe you will ever make. Just throw everything into an instant pot and you’re set! I love easy recipes for parties, potlucks or even for weeknight dinner. I prefer recipes that are mostly hands-off (Instant Pot has been great for that!). Enchilada Rice in Instant Pot is one of them. Add the ingredients to the Instant Pot, pressure cook, stir in some cheese at the end, and you have a rich, hearty dish ready in no time. If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, see the recipe card notes for a stovetop version.
Why I love this recipe?
Because it’s
One-potHealthy – Loaded with plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients.Easy – Requires only a handful of ingredients and less than 30 minutes.Delicious and fillingPerfect for busy weeknightsCrowd pleaserPerfect for game nightsPacked with flavors
This instant pot enchilada rice is my family’s new favorite one-pot meal. Do you guys like enchiladas? My family loves enchiladas. That too only homemade. We don’t like restaurants enchilada much. The reason is that they are way too cheesy for our liking and somehow we never liked their sauce. Our favorite types of enchilada are homemade Roasted veggie enchilada, Enchilada casserole made in instant pot with red sauce and enchilada casserole with a green sauce made in the oven. When we crave for enchiladas, but don’t have enough time, and want the flavors of an enchilada in an easy way, I make enchilada rice.
Ingredients required for this recipe –
Long grain white riceGreen enchilada sauceRed enchilada sauceBlack beansCornBell peppersJalapenosOnionGarlicOilCheeseTaco seasoningSaltWaterAvocado, cilantro, tortilla chips and lime for toppings
How to make Instant Pot Enchilada Rice? Step by step process –
Turn on the saute button in an instant pot. Once it displays hot, add the oil to the pot. Now add garlic, onion and bell peppers, saute for a minute, you don’t want them browned. Then add water to the pot. Make sure there’s nothing stuck at the bottom. Add all the remaining ingredients – corn, rice, beans, taco seasoning, salt, jalapenos, red sauce, and green sauce. Do not stir Close the pot with its lid. Press the manual/ pressure cook button and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, with the pressure valve in the sealing position. Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes and then quickly release the remaining pressure. Open the pot and add in the cheese and close the pot with a glass lid for a couple of minutes until the cheese melts. Stir the melted cheese with the rice. Top enchilada rice with cilantro, avocado, and serve with tortilla chips and lime wedges. Yum!
Some important tips and notes to consider while making this recipe –
- Red and green enchilada sauce – The most important ingredient to make Instant pot enchilada rice is – use good enchilada sauce! Because the flavors and aroma really depend on the sauce. For this recipe, I have used store-bought sauce. My favorite brand is Old El Pasos green and red enchilada sauce (Not sponsored, just love them).
- Rice – Choose long-grain white rice. I have used Basmati rice.
- Cheese – You can use any cheese of your liking and feel free to add as much cheese as you like.
- Black beans – Make sure to drain the beans well if you are using the canned variety.
- Substitutes for white rice – You can cook this recipe with brown rice or quinoa too.
For brown rice – Add one more cup of water and cook this for 22 minutes at high pressure with natural pressure release.For quinoa – just replace the rice with quinoa, everything else will remain the same.
- This can be made vegan too – Skip the regular cheese at the end and use vegan cheese. Or simply skip the cheese. It will be still so good!
- This rice freezes well – I would not stir in the cheese at the end if I want to freeze it. Let the enchilada rice cool down, place in an individual portion in an airtight container and freeze them. They stay fresh up to a month. Thaw them at room temperature for about an hour or two and heat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Stir in cheese at the time of re-heating your portion.
- Spice Level – This enchilada rice is medium spiced. To make it spicier, add more jalapenos, use hot enchilada sauce in place of the medium. Or to make it mild, skip the jalapenos and use mild enchilada sauce.
- Serving suggestions – Serve this with sour cream, tortilla chips, lime wedges, cilantro, and diced avocados. Or place in the middle of tortillas, add salsa, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, and some more cheese, and make a burrito. Yum!
- The texture of this rice – Unlike Mexican green rice(Arroz Verde), the rice granules in this enchilada rice recipe won’t be separated. At the same time, they will be saucy and even more appetizing. The enchilada sauce blends in so well with the rice to make it juicier. In short, this recipe would make your game day celebration or even a simple meal come alive.
- Do Not stir – Once onion, garlic and bell peppers are sautéed, add all ingredients one by one WITHOUT stirring.
- Stovetop version – To make this recipe on stovetop, follow instructions until sauteing the garlic, onion, and bell peppers on medium heat. Then add all ingredients – water, rice, black beans, corn, taco seasoning, salt, green, and red enchilada sauce, and stir. Cover the pot with a lid and cook on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until the rice is done. Remove lid and add in the cilantro and cheese. Mix until the cheese melts. Serve with avocado and chips!
Hungry for more One-pot Recipes?
Instant Pot Gnocchi Soup Vegetable barley Soup Goulash Quinoa Pilaf Stuffed pepper soup ★ Have you tried this recipe? We’ll love your feedback, Please click on the stars in the recipe card below to rate and leave your feedback in the comment box below. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for tasty and easy video recipes. Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? Check out our delicious Instant Pot Recipe board on Pinterest. Warm regards, Dhwani.
