• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Life Jolie logo
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    The Life Jolie » Main/Entree » Spanish Rice

    Spanish Rice

    Published: Aug 15, 2016 · Modified: Jul 6, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    One thing I love about my family's Marinara Sauce is that here are plenty of variations for using it. While I will always have an extreme love in my heart for pasta, sometimes, pasta isn't the answer (Gasp!!). I know. I just said the unthinkable. But it's true. Marinara Sauce happens to be a delicious options for other vehicles of ingestion. One such vehicle is Spanish Rice.

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    The term Spanish Rice can sometimes be a source of confusion. This is because it means different things to different people. In my family this means a simple but delicious meal of marinara sauce, rice and ground beef. It's not one of those meals you break your back making. It's pretty fast to make. It's super satisfying. It's full of delicious flavor and it's relatively healthy. The recipe is actually more of an Italian Spanish rice. Random, I know. Either way, it's the perfect weeknight meal with a green salad (and if you're feeling fancy, a glass of red wine!).

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    With back-to-school time looming in a all-to-near future (or starting now in certain states) I couldn't think of a better time to share this family recipe. Because although I don't have any school age kids, my girls are both in daycare and J and I both work full time. So it sure does feel like back to school time in our busy home.

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    Isn't Adulting such a time suck?? I mean, I love the sense of pride we feel supporting ourselves and paying our bills. But it can be so hard getting and quality time with our girls between trying to get a healthy dinner on the table, cleaning up from dinner, bathing the girls and going about our bedtime routine. Something's gotta give, but we shouldn't have to sacrifice great food.

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    In the beginning, I wondered how these superwoman Moms did it. Especially as kids get older and you add activities and real school into the mix. But I'm beginning to learn that it's these super-simple, potentially life-saving recipes that not only taste amazing but are so easy to put together in a pinch. Bottom Line: Make this for your family. It will be an instant hit, the leftover reheat perfectly and it freezes really well!

    Some of my other favorite weeknight recipes include:

    Skillet Lasagna

    Stuffed Peppers Rice Skillet

    Pasta Pomodoro

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!

    Spanish Rice

    Jessy Freimann
    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main dish, quick
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6 -8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1-1 ½ lbs. of ground beef
    • 2-3 cups of marinara sauce minus the basil
    • 2-3 cups of instant rice
    • Romano cheese for sprinkling
    • Crushed red pepper for sprinkling if you're feeling spicy!

    Instructions
     

    • In a saute pan, cook the beef over medium heat until fully browned. Drain well.
    • Mix the marinara sauce in with the beef and simmer for 10 minutes.
    • While the beef and sauce simmer, cook your rice.
    • Once the rice is cooked, mix it into the sauce and beef mixture. You want it to have a nice, wet texture without being soupy.
    • Sprinkle with Romano cheese and crushed red pepper and enjoy!

    Notes

    Some people feel that the rice sucks up all of the sauce. If this is a concern for you, you can always serve the rice on the side and add it to the sauce and beef mixture when serving.
    This reheats and freezes very well.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    You can find a full index of my recipes here.

    Don't forget to follow The Life Jolie on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration

    Linked up at

    This easy Spanish Rice recipe has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. It's a really quick recipe which makes it perfect to make on a weeknight and is great for back-to-school. Delicious tomato sauce combines so well with ground beef and rice- the whole family will love this homemade, healthy meal!
    « Greek Couscous Salad
    BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza »
    • Share
    • Flipboard
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Karly says

      August 15, 2016 at 9:16 pm

      This is a new Taco Tuesday staple side! I love all of the rich flavor you've got goin on here! Can't wait to try!
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        August 16, 2016 at 9:10 am

        Thank you, Karly- my sister's boyfriend loves to crack jokes about our "Italian Spanish Rice" but I think it's tasty on it's own or along side a variety of different foods! I hope you love it :)
        Reply
    2. CJ Huang @ Morsels of Life says

      August 18, 2016 at 7:06 am

      This looks like the type of meal that would reheat perfectly and freezes really well - my favorite kind. :) Sounds like a great alternative use for marinara!
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        August 18, 2016 at 8:36 am

        Thank you- it really does reheat and freeze beautifully!
        Reply
    3. ERLENE A says

      August 21, 2016 at 8:54 pm

      Sounds delicious. We don't usually add in meat, but I like that this makes it a little heartier. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned.
      Reply
      • Jessy says

        August 21, 2016 at 11:56 pm

        Thank you! I hope you love it!
        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessy in a kitchen holding a white casserole pan and smiling.
    Hi, I'm Jessy!

    Welcome to The Life Jolie! I share simple, delicious recipes and ingredient prep tips to make your weeknight cooking a breeze!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Fall Apart Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    • Roasted Spatchcock Glazed Turkey with Bourbon
    • Baked Brie Phyllo Cups
    • Candied Pecans

    Popular Recipes

    • How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Kitchen
    • Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
    • Very Best Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
    • Cheese Sauce for Broccoli Recipe
    • Reader Request: Copycat Cheesecake Factory Thai Lettuce Wraps
    • Greek Yogurt Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy + Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Video Production

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright 2014-2021 - Jolie Ventures, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.