We’ve got Cinco de Mayo coming up this weekend and I’ve already been in planning mode. Partly because I love any excuse to have a little fiesta and overdose on Mexican food. So that’s just fun to look forward to. Also though, because I’ll be getting back that day from my long weekend beach trip with my girls. (I’m leaving later this morning! Woo hoo!) I’ll probably be a little tired, and if we’re being honest, a little hungover. So having a plan in place beforehand makes it much more likely we’ll be able to celebrate in style. Recently I’ve shared Mexican coleslaw and cheesy Mexican stuffed chicken breasts. And today it’s confetti rice, which is also really festive and I think you are going to love it! So, there’s certainly nothing wrong at all with some simple steamed brown rice. It’s easy, warm, wholesome goodness in a side dish. We have it all the time. But sometimes, you just need to amp up the flavor and add in some color. Confetti rice delivers big time. This recipe is a slightly revised version of my Aunt’s green rice. It uses all green pepper, parsley and white rice. I of course like substituting brown rice for some whole grain wholesomeness. And using a mix of colors makes it even more fun. And that’s where the confetti part comes from. But of course, you could use just one color of bell pepper if that’s what you’ve got. Either way, this is a super easy side dish that cooks all in one pot. (You might also love this one-pot brown rice with veggies recipe.) And after the first few minutes of getting it going, it’s totally a hands-off recipe. Now, let’s talk some details about this dish. If you want to jump to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Easy Instructions:
Recipe Notes and Tips:
I use brown rice but you can make this with regular long grain white rice as well. Just reduce the cooking time, after you’ve put the lid on, to 18 minutes and check it then. If your rice isn’t quite done when you check it and the liquid is all absorbed, add another splash of broth or water, turn it down to low and give it another 5 minutes. You can skip adding the fresh parsley or cilantro at the end, if you don’t have any. I’ve made it without and it’s still super tasty. Like it cheesy? You can add 1-2 cups of shredded cheese to this at the end of the cooking time. We love cheddar but Monterey Jack or pepper Jack would be great too.
While the rice is a cookin’, you can move onto making some grilled chicken, roasted salmon, whatever you want to have as your main dish to complete dinner. My cheesy fiesta grilled chicken, 15-minute paprika chicken or easy BBQ salmon would all be good options. We also love using this confetti rice for taco night or in rice bowls. Add your protein of choice, some veggies, and top it all with cheese, salsa and Greek yogurt or sour cream. (That’s what I always do with any leftovers. So yummy!) Speaking of, leftovers, once cooled, can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave until hot. I hope you give this recipe a try to bring some fun and color to your rice side dish tonight. Enjoy! XO, Kathryn (This post was originally published in June 2015. It was updated with new photos and text in May 2019.) Rice: I use brown rice but you can make this with regular long grain white rice as well. Just reduce the cooking time, after you’ve put the lid on, to 18 minutes and check it then. Herbs: You can skip adding the fresh parsley or cilantro at the end, if you don’t have any. I’ve made it without and it’s still super tasty. Servings: This makes a lot - I love having leftovers for tacos or grain bowls - but you can also easily halve the recipe if you prefer. Leftovers: Once cooled, leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave until hot.
