Mastering Fluffy Mexican White Rice with Corn: Your Ultimate Arroz Blanco con Elote Recipe

Unlock the secrets to perfectly fluffy and flavorful **Mexican White Rice with Corn (Arroz Blanco con Elote)**. This classic Mexican side dish, featuring a delightful blend of sautéed onions, fragrant garlic, tender white rice, and sweet golden corn, is designed to be a culinary triumph every time. Get ready to elevate your Mexican meals with this essential, easy-to-follow recipe.

Growing up, my mom’s kitchen was the heart of our home, and many of my core cooking skills come directly from her. Among the countless culinary lessons, her method for making rice stands out as truly invaluable. It’s a technique that consistently yields rice that is flawlessly fluffy, never sticky or mushy, with each grain beautifully separated and bursting with flavor. Her approach is a testament to simple mastery, transforming humble ingredients into something extraordinary.

I’ve previously shared her highly acclaimed, foolproof method for Arroz Rojo (Mexican Red Rice), which has since become one of the most beloved and popular recipes on this site. Its consistent success speaks volumes about the reliability of her rice-cooking wisdom.

Now, it’s time to introduce you to another gem from my mom’s repertoire: Arroz Blanco con Elote, also known as Mexican White Rice with Corn or Arroz Blanco con Maiz. This exquisite side dish combines the aromatic essence of sautéed onions and garlic with delicate long-grain white rice and the sweet burst of golden corn kernels. The result is a beloved classic Mexican accompaniment that perfectly balances savory and subtly sweet notes, guaranteed to impress at any meal.

Why This Arroz Blanco con Elote Recipe Will Be Your New Favorite

• Effortless and Minimal Ingredients: You’ll be delighted by how much flavor can be created with such a short list of common pantry ingredients. This recipe focuses on fresh, simple components that come together harmoniously, making it accessible even for novice cooks.
• An Irresistible Flavorful Combination: The addition of naturally sweet corn kernels isn’t just for texture; it elevates the entire flavor profile. The corn provides a delightful sweetness that perfectly contrasts and complements the savory, aromatic rice base, creating a balanced and addictive side dish.
• Incredibly Versatile: This Mexican White Rice with Corn is a staple side for a reason. Its mild yet rich flavor makes it an ideal companion for a vast array of Mexican dishes, from spicy stews and enchiladas to simple grilled meats or vegetables. It’s also fantastic in burritos or as a base for rice bowls.
• Achieve Perfectly Fluffy Rice, Every Time: No more guessing or ending up with sticky, clumpy rice! This recipe meticulously breaks down the time-tested technique I learned from my mom. It’s a method specifically designed to ensure every single grain of rice is light, separate, and perfectly cooked – a true game-changer for your home cooking.
• A Taste of Traditional Mexican Heritage: This dish is deeply rooted in Mexico’s rich culinary traditions, especially with the prominent inclusion of corn. Corn (maíz or elote) has been a foundational food in the Mexican diet since ancient Mesoamerican times, holding immense cultural and nutritional significance. Enjoying this dish connects you directly to centuries of Mexican culinary history.

Craving more delicious and authentic rice recipes? Be sure to explore Arroz con Cilantro for a fresh, herbaceous twist, and the vibrant Arroz Verde Poblano for a richer, spicier experience.

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Arroz Blanco

• Long Grain White Rice: This is the absolute best choice for Mexican rice recipes, including this Arroz Blanco. Its slender, elongated grains are lower in starch compared to medium or short grain varieties, ensuring that they cook up separate, light, and fluffy rather than clumpy. It also possesses a delicate flavor that acts as a perfect canvas, beautifully absorbing the nuanced flavors of the other ingredients.
• Neutral Cooking Oil: Essential for sautéing both the aromatics and the rice itself. A neutral oil allows the true flavors of the other ingredients to shine without imparting its own strong taste. My top recommendations are a mild-tasting olive oil or avocado oil, both of which have high smoke points suitable for frying.
• Onion and Garlic: These are the foundational aromatics that build the savory depth of this dish. Diced white onion and minced garlic are gently sautéed until they become translucent and wonderfully fragrant. This step extracts their sweet, pungent essences, infusing the entire dish with a rich, inviting aroma and flavor.
• Whole Kernel Corn: You have several convenient options here. Canned whole kernel corn works wonderfully – just be sure to drain it thoroughly. If you have leftover cooked corn from corn on the cob, that’s an excellent choice too. Frozen corn is another viable option, but for best results, always remember to defrost it completely before adding it to the pot. Adding frozen corn directly can significantly drop the cooking temperature and introduce excess moisture, which could compromise the desired fluffy texture of the rice.
• Chicken Broth: This liquid component not only aids in cooking the rice but also adds a layer of savory richness. Opt for a low-sodium chicken broth. This allows you greater control over the overall salt content of your dish, letting you season to perfection without overdoing it.
• Hot Water: Alongside the chicken broth, hot water is used to cook the rice. Using hot water (rather than cold) is a simple but effective trick that helps maintain a consistent cooking temperature, ensuring the rice absorbs the flavors more efficiently and cooks evenly to a flawless texture.
• Salt: A crucial seasoning that brings all the flavors together and enhances the natural sweetness of the corn and the savory notes of the aromatics. We specifically recommend kosher salt for its clean taste and easy-to-control granularity.

Please refer to the recipe card below for precise quantities and measurements.

Simple Substitutions and Variations

While the recipe is perfect as is, you can easily make a few tweaks:

• For an even richer and more nutritious profile, chicken broth can be replaced with an equal amount of chicken bone broth.
• To make this Mexican White Rice with Corn suitable for all diets, simply swap the chicken broth for a good quality vegetable broth, instantly making it a delicious vegetarian or vegan option.
• Consider adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice after the rice is cooked for a bright, zesty finish.
• A sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro just before serving can add a lovely herbaceous note.

How to Make Foolproof Arroz Blanco con Elote (Step-by-Step)

1. Initiate the Sauté of the Rice

• Begin by heating your preferred neutral oil in a medium saucepan (a nonstick pan is highly recommended for best results) over medium heat.
• Once the oil is shimmering and hot, add the long-grain white rice.
• Sauté the rice for approximately 4 minutes, stirring frequently. You’ll observe the grains transforming from opaque to a beautiful translucent, milky-white color. This crucial step toasts the rice, preventing it from clumping and enhancing its nutty flavor.

2. Expertly Drain the Rice

• Position a fine mesh sieve over a heat-resistant bowl or container.
• Carefully pour the sautéed rice and any residual oil into the sieve. Allow the excess oil to drain completely from the rice. This step is key to achieving perfectly separated and fluffy grains, as too much oil can lead to a greasy or heavy texture.

3. Sauté the Flavorful Aromatics

• Return the same saucepan (without washing) to the stovetop. There will be just enough flavorful oil clinging to the pan to perfectly sauté your aromatics. Add the diced white onion and minced garlic.
• Sauté for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent, and the garlic releases its irresistible, fragrant aroma. This creates the essential flavor base for your rice.

4. Combine Ingredients for Initial Simmer

• Add the drained, sautéed rice back into the saucepan with the cooked aromatics. Incorporate the corn kernels, 1 cup of hot water, ½ cup of hot chicken broth, and the salt.
• **Important:** Use only a fork to gently stir all the ingredients together, just until they are combined. This is the one and only time you should stir the rice during the entire cooking process. Excessive stirring will agitate the rice grains, causing them to break apart and release starches, leading to a mushy and undesirable texture.
• Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan tightly with a lid, and let it cook.

5. First Water Addition and Check

• After 10-12 minutes of simmering, carefully lift the lid. Use your fork to gently create a small hole in the center of the rice, digging down until you reach the bottom of the pan. This allows you to check for any remaining liquid.
• If there is no visible water left at the bottom, promptly add ½ cup of additional hot water, then re-cover the pan.
• However, if you still see a small amount of liquid, wait for another minute or two, allowing the remaining water to fully evaporate before adding the fresh ½ cup of hot water. This staggered addition of liquid is fundamental to achieving the signature fluffy texture.

6. Second Water Addition and Final Cook

• Allow the rice to cook for another 5 minutes after the previous water addition. Then, make a small well in the center of the rice again with your fork.
• If the water has dried up, add the final ¼ to ½ cup of hot water, depending on how quickly your rice is absorbing liquid. Re-cover the pot.
• Once this last addition of water has completely evaporated (which should take approximately 2-3 minutes), take the saucepan off the heat. The rice should now be perfectly cooked and tender.

7. The Essential Resting Period

• This step is critical for ultimate fluffiness! Keep the pot covered and allow the rice to rest undisturbed for about 10 minutes off the heat. This resting period allows the steam to redistribute evenly, ensuring that every grain is tender and perfectly textured.
• After resting, gently fluff the rice with a fork. Be exceedingly careful not to over-mix or break up the individual rice pieces. Serve immediately and enjoy your perfectly fluffy Arroz Blanco con Elote!

How to Serve Your Delicious Arroz Blanco con Elote

This Mexican White Rice with Corn is a remarkably versatile and delightful side dish that perfectly complements a wide array of Mexican and Tex-Mex meals. Its mild, comforting flavor makes it an excellent accompaniment to richer, spicier main courses. Here are some ideal pairings:

• Enchiladas Rojas: The perfect balance to savory, saucy enchiladas.
• Chile Colorado with Pork: A wonderful counterpoint to the deep, robust flavors of chile colorado.
• Albóndigas in Chipotle Sauce: The rice soaks up the flavorful chipotle sauce beautifully.
• Bacon and Ground Beef Chiles Rellenos: A light and fluffy base for these decadent stuffed peppers.
• Chicken Enchiladas Suizas: A classic pairing for creamy, cheesy enchiladas.
• Gluten-Free Mole Poblano: Its simplicity allows the complex flavors of mole to shine.
• Any grilled or roasted meats, tacos, burritos, or as a flavorful base for a wholesome rice bowl.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Enjoying leftovers of this delicious rice is easy!

Store any leftover Mexican White Rice with Corn in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, it freezes beautifully for up to 6 months.

To reheat on the stovetop, simply add a tablespoon or two of water to a pan with the rice. Heat over medium-low heat, gently breaking up any clumps with a fork and stirring occasionally until it’s heated through and fluffy again. The added water helps rehydrate the grains and prevents drying.

You can also reheat in the microwave. Place the rice in a microwave-safe bowl, add a small splash of water, and cover it with a damp paper towel. Heat in short, 30-60 second intervals, stirring in between to ensure even heating and moisture distribution.

Expert Tips for Foolproof Fluffy Rice & Creative Variations

• Embrace the Staged Water Addition: This is arguably the most crucial tip for achieving perfectly fluffy rice! Unlike many recipes that call for adding all the liquid at once, our method involves adding smaller amounts of hot liquid at three distinct stages. This technique provides superior control over the rice’s consistency, allowing you to monitor its absorption and ensure it finishes light, separate, and never waterlogged or mushy. It’s the secret to that coveted fluffy texture.
• Resist the Urge to Over-Stir: I cannot emphasize this enough – minimize stirring! I have specifically outlined the only times you should stir the rice in the recipe instructions. Stirring too frequently or too vigorously will break down the rice grains, releasing excess starch and causing them to stick together, resulting in a gummy, undesirable texture. Gentleness is key here.
• Always Use a Fork for Stirring: When the recipe does call for stirring, use a fork instead of a spoon. A fork allows you to gently separate and lift the grains without crushing them, which further helps in preventing mushy rice and maintaining that ideal fluffy consistency.
• Stay Attentive – Watch Your Rice Closely: Since we are adding liquid in smaller increments, it’s important not to leave your rice unattended for long periods. As soon as the water dries up (which you’ll check by making a small well in the center), the rice can quickly begin to stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. A watchful eye ensures perfection.
• Season to Perfection with This Simple Trick: To guarantee your rice is perfectly seasoned, here’s a chef-approved tip: After you’ve added all the initial ingredients (rice, corn, the first measure of hot water, broth, and salt), take a small spoon and taste the liquid in the pot before covering. The liquid should taste just slightly saltier than you want the finished rice to be. If it doesn’t, add a tiny bit more salt, stir gently with a fork, and taste again until it’s just right.
• Experiment with Herbs and Spices: While this recipe is for white rice, you can add a pinch of cumin for a subtle earthy flavor, or a small amount of finely chopped serrano pepper for a hint of heat. Fresh cilantro stirred in at the end adds a bright, herbaceous note.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mexican White Rice with Corn

I truly hope you enjoy making and savoring this authentic Mexican White Rice with Corn! If you try this recipe, please take a moment to leave me a comment with a star rating below – your feedback means the world to me. Also, to stay connected and never miss a new recipe, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for exclusive updates and more deliciousness delivered straight to your inbox!

Recipe Card