This Spanish rice is fragrant, delicious, and incredibly easy to make in a rice cooker. The saffron adds a beautiful golden colour. The paprika, smoked paprika, and orange zest give it an authentic Spanish flavour without any fuss.

As someone who’s just discovered the magic of rice cookers, I can tell you this appliance has completely changed how I prepare rice. The Instant Brands 12 cup rice cooker is lightweight, attractive, and does all the work for you. Everything gets cooked in one pan. Simply press a few buttons and let the appliance handle the rest.

This is a wonderful hands-off option that allows you to go about preparing the rest of your meal. Furthermore, this rice cooker pairs brilliantly with an Instant Pot if you’re cooking a slow-braised meat dish.

Key Takeaways

Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal effort
Uses one appliance for sautéing and cooking
Perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep
Saffron is optional but adds authentic colour
Works alongside other cooking methods for complete meals

Ingredients to make Spanish rice in a rice cooker

Why This Spanish Rice Recipe Works

Rice cookers maintain consistent temperature and moisture levels. This ensures perfectly cooked grains every single time. Additionally, the sauté function means you can toast your spices and soften your aromatics in the same pot. Consequently, you build deeper flavour without extra washing up.

The orange zest is my secret ingredient. It adds a subtle brightness that complements the smoky paprika beautifully. Meanwhile, the saffron creates that signature golden hue, though the dish remains delicious without it.

Vegetables for Spanish rice in a rice cooker recipe

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking Spanish Rice in a Rice Cooker

What is the ratio of water to rice in a rice cooker? Use 1 rice cooker cup of rice to 1.5 rice cooker cups of liquid. The measuring cup comes with your rice cooker. For this recipe, that’s 2 cups of rice to 3 cups of stock.

Do you need to rinse rice before putting it in a rice cooker? For Spanish rice, skip rinsing. You want the starch to help create a slightly sticky, flavourful texture. Rinsing would wash away the coating that helps the spices cling to each grain.

Can I make Spanish rice without a sauté function on my rice cooker? Yes. Cook the onions, pepper, garlic, and spices in a frying pan first. Then transfer everything to the rice cooker, add the rice and stock, and cook as normal.

How long does it take to cook rice in a rice cooker? White rice typically takes 20 to 25 minutes. However, this includes the sautéing time of approximately 8 minutes. Overall, expect about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Can you open a rice cooker while it’s cooking? No, keep the lid closed during cooking. Opening it releases steam and disrupts the cooking process. This can result in unevenly cooked rice.

Can you delay start a rice cooker? Yes. The Instant Brands rice cooker has a delay start function from 10 minutes up to 24 hours. This means you can prep everything in the morning and have fresh rice ready for dinner.

Spanish rice made in a rice cooker with peppers, paprika and onion recipe

Tips for Perfect Rice Cooker Spanish Rice

Choose the right rice Basmati rice works best for this recipe. It has a lovely fluffy texture and doesn’t clump together. Moreover, it absorbs the spices beautifully.

Don’t skip the sauté step . Toasting the spices in oil releases their essential oils. This creates a more complex, layered flavour. Similarly, softening the onions and peppers beforehand adds sweetness to the dish.

Use quality stock Good chicken stock makes a noticeable difference. Homemade is ideal, but a quality shop-bought version works perfectly well.

Let it rest After cooking, leave the lid closed for 5 minutes before opening. This allows the rice to finish steaming and results in fluffier grains.

Rice Cooker Spanish Rice Variations

Make it vegetarian. Simply swap chicken stock for vegetable stock. The flavour will be slightly lighter but still excellent.

Skip the saffron. Saffron is lovely but expensive. The rice remains delicious without it. The smoked paprika and orange zest provide plenty of flavour.

Add protein. Add your cooked prawns, chicken, or chorizo to the finished rice to turn it into a complete one-pot dinner.

Increase the heat. Add a finely chopped red chilli with the garlic for a spicy kick. Alternatively, sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or 1/2 tsp of dried chilli flakes with the other spices.

Spanish rice made in a rice cooker recipe

What to Serve with Spanish Rice

This Spanish rice pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, fish tacos, or a simple green salad. Additionally, it works beautifully alongside:

Slow-cooked lamb shanks
Pan-fried sea bass, yellow tail, or other fish of choice
Roasted Mediterranean vegetables
Grilled prawns with garlic butter or peri peri prawns
Spanish-style meatballs

Shop The Instant Pot 12 cup / 2.8L Rice Cooker & Steamer HERE

Prep Time:15

Cook Time:45

Ingredients

Pinch of saffron optional
475 ml chicken stock 3 rice cooker cups
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 red or yellow bell pepper diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves roughly chopped
260 grams basmati rice 2 rice cooker cups
Finely grated zest of half a small orange
Handful of fresh parsley chopped (for serving)

Instructions

Step 1: Infuse the saffron Add the saffron to hot chicken stock if using. Set aside to infuse while you prepare the vegetables.
Step 2: Sauté the aromatics Set your rice cooker to sauté mode. Allow it to preheat fully. Once hot, add the olive oil, onions, and bell pepper. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until softened.
Step 3: Add garlic and spices Stir in the garlic and cook for one minute. Next, add the salt, smoked paprika, paprika, oregano, and thyme. Cook for another minute to toast the spices and release their flavour.
Step 4: Combine rice and liquid Add the basmati rice and toss to coat in the oil and spices. Sprinkle in the orange zest. Pour in the chicken stock (with saffron if using). Stir once to combine.
Step 5: Cook the rice Set the rice cooker to the white rice setting. Close the lid. Do not lift it while cooking.
Step 6: Fluff and serve Once the timer sounds, open the cooker. Fluff the rice with the plastic paddle spoon. Fold through the chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

Storage Instructions Spanish Rice

Refrigerator storage: Transfer cooled rice to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure the rice cools completely before sealing the container to prevent condensation.

Freezer storage: Freeze Spanish rice in portion-sized containers for up to 3 months. Label with the date. Frozen rice maintains its flavour well but may lose a little texture.

Reheating instructions: Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water or stock. Cover and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each. Alternatively, reheat gently in a pan over low heat with a little liquid added.

Servings: 6

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*This recipe was created for Instant Pot to share as a reel. This blog post is not sponsored, but I love the appliance and recipe so much that I wanted to share it.