Description
This Spanish rice and beans recipe is hearty, flavorful, and budget-friendly. Made in one pot with simple pantry staples, it’s a vegetarian-friendly main, a delicious side, or a versatile filling for burritos and bowls.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Sauce Base:
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (or brown rice, adjust cook time)
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce (or pasta sauce)
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Beans and Vegetables:
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup frozen corn (optional)
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
- Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion and bell pepper for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
- Toast the Rice: Add uncooked rice and stir to coat. Toast for 1–2 minutes until lightly fragrant.
- Add Sauce and Simmer: Pour in tomato sauce, broth, black beans, corn, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat, and cook 18–20 minutes until rice is tender.
- Fluff and Garnish: Rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, adjust seasoning, garnish with cilantro and a squeeze of lime, and serve warm.
Notes
- Toast rice before adding liquid for nutty flavor and better texture.
- Use long-grain rice for fluffier results.
- Brown rice works too, but increase cooking time and liquid slightly.
- Add spinach, kale, or zucchini for more veggies.
- Store leftovers in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Spanish-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 1/5 of recipe
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Spanish Rice and Beans, Authentic Rice and Beans, Rice and Veggies Recipes, Healthy Bean Dinner Recipes, Rice One Pot Recipes