Gluten-Free Crock Pot Spanish Rice Recipe

Last Updated on September 17, 2023 by Ellen Christian

This gluten free Spanish rice is of our favorite busy weeknight meals. Try this Crock Pot Spanish rice recipe today and see how easy it is.

Crock Pot Spanish Rice recipe

Finding a slow cooker recipe that doesn’t have gluten can be a challenge. Try this Asian sauce for beef stir fry. If you want a delicious dessert, try my Crock Pot flan recipe. 

This Spanish rice recipe is one of my favorite busy night meals. It’s inexpensive, healthy, and gluten-free which makes it a favorite of mine.  

This recipe is fairly versatile. So, you can change it up a bit depending on what you have in the refrigerator.  This is one of the easiest meals you can make.

Spanish rice has always been a huge favorite in our house. We prep for dinner like we would for a taco bar.

We keep the condiments separate. So, you will want to place little bowls with sour cream, olives, guacamole, shredded cheese, chopped onions, and extra salsa.

That way, everyone can add whatever toppings they want to their dish.

Gluten free Spanish rice

So, while the ingredients I chose are all gluten-free, you will want to read the ingredients you choose carefully. Sometimes, manufacturers will add gluten in very unexpected places.

But, if you choose whole foods, you should have no problem at all.

So, while I used ground beef, you could use ground chicken, turkey sausage, or pork instead.  If you’re looking for gluten-free vegetarian slow cooker recipes, you could leave the meat out entirely and make it vegetarian Spanish rice.

Instead of the tomato sauce, you could use diced tomatoes or chopped tomatoes with added water. If it were summer, I would add fresh chopped peppers and onions.

Gluten-free dairy-free Crock Pot recipes

I know that not everyone wants the added dairy in their meal. My daughter is lactose intolerant so if she’s going to be having dinner with us, cheese is definitely a challenge.

So, if you need this recipe to be dairy-free, you can substitute a soy-based “cheese” instead. You’ll need to experiment to find one that melts well for you.

But, I have had great luck with Daiya when making this allergy-friendly broccoli au gratin.

Instant Pot Spanish Rice recipe

I know that the Instant Pot is a hot kitchen appliance right now. So, while slow cooker recipes have to cook all day, Instant Pot recipes are done much more quickly.

If you want to make this recipe in the Instant Pot, you can do that as well. You simply need to saute the ground beef, add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot, seal it, and cook for 10 minutes.

Then, do a natural release for 5 minutes followed by a quick release. Fluff the rice with a fork and you are ready for dinner.

What should I serve with Spanish rice?

Because we add meat to this meal, we consider it to be a complete meal. If you don’t add meat to yours, you can serve it with whatever your favorite protein is.

And, you can also have a side salad to round out the meal. A few other ideas you might like include chips and guacamole or stuffed poblano peppers.

You may want to serve it with a spoonful or two of this Vitamix salsa recipe.

How to store leftovers

So, with my hungry family, we don’t often have leftovers. But, if you’re wondering how to store Crock Pot Spanish rice, just put it in a glass storage bowl with a tight-fitting lid.

It should stay good in the refrigerator for three to four days.

If you want to freeze this dish to enjoy in the future, just place the container in the freezer for up to six months.

You may need to add a little water or butter when you heat it up.

If you’re looking for a recipe book, you might want to check out The Gluten Free Cookbook for Slow Cookers or Paleo GF Slow Cooker Recipes. Or, check out the GF Instant Pot Cookbook.

Can I keep Spanish rice warm in a Crock Pot?

Yes, if your Crock Pot Spanish rice is done cooking and you want to keep it warm, you can. Just lower the temperature and stir it every 10 to 15 minutes to keep it from sticking.

Using a slow cooker is a great way to have a healthy meal on the table without a lot of prep at dinner time. So, if you’re new to using one, check out these tips for using your slow cooker effectively.

More rice recipes

• Wild rice with cranberries recipe