Garcia's Colorful Veggie Rice

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-03 · Updated 2026-04-03

A vibrant side dish featuring a rainbow of vegetables and rice, cooked with lime and fresh cilantro for a burst of freshness. This mexican-inspired one pot ready in about 70 minutes pairs brown rice, water, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 250 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper
• 1/2 cup zucchini
• 1/2 cup carrots
• 1/4 cup onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 lime
• 2 tbsp cilantro
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse brown rice under cold water until the water runs clear. In a medium pot, combine rinsed rice, 2 cups water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes until rice is tender.
2. Step 2: While rice cooks, dice red and yellow bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots into 1/4-inch pieces. Finely chop onion and mince garlic. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 3 minutes until soft.
3. Step 3: Add carrots and cook for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Add bell peppers and zucchini, then stir in minced garlic. Cook for 7 minutes until vegetables are tender but still crisp.
4. Step 4: Once rice is done, fluff with a fork. Stir the cooked vegetables into the rice, then squeeze juice of one lime over the top. Mix well and sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving.