Beans and rice are a classic combination doing almost the impossible. Better together, they offer carbohydrates and protein to keep you satisfied and full for a long time. They offer all the nine essential amino acids crucial for the health of a human being. Together, they also do it super affordable. They are the least expensive sources of fiber, low in their fat content but still amazingly filling. On that note, here are five must-know recipes below that pair beans and rice with other ingredients to make a delicious and well-rounded meal.
Do them right, and your regular beans and rice will taste fresh and new all over again!
Crock-Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe
This crockpot red beans and rice recipe is filled with flavor and is the most leisurely meal you can make. Just toss all the ingredients in a crockpot; go about the day and enjoy it at the dinner table.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
Dried red beans: 1 lb bag
- Water: 7 cups
- Chopped celery stalks: 3
- Chopped g
- reen bell pepper: 1
- Chopped medium onion: 1
- Smoked sausage: 1 ½ pound, slice it into bite-sized pieces
- Minced or chopped garlic cloves: 3
- Chicken broth: 2 cans
- Rice
Instructions
- Rinse the red beans thoroughly and put them into the crockpot.
- Now add water along with chopped vegetables, garlic, and broth.
- Add sausage
- Cook on high for 7 hours
- Cook rice, and when the red beans are ready, put the desired quantity of rice at the bottom of a bowl and cover it with red beans. You can also put rice on top.
Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burrito
Easy and quick, this vegan rice and bean burrito recipe is the perfect dinner idea. This is a basic recipe including many Mexican spices, with cilantro-lime rice being the secret ingredient and one of the best ways of using leftover rice. You can even customize this recipe to almost anything you have at hand. The burritos are pretty filling and work as a completely balanced meal.
- Preparation Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Cooked rice: 2 cups
- Juiced limes: 2
- Chopped fresh cilantro: 2 tablespoons
- Minced garlic cloves: 3 to 4
- Diced medium onion: ½
- Hot sauce: 1 tablespoon or as per taste
- Vegetable oil or olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Chili powder: 1 tablespoon
- Pinto beans or black beans: 1 can (drained)
- Ground cumin: ½ teaspoon
- Salt to taste, optional
- Large tortillas: 4 of 10 inches each
Instructions
- Take a large microwave-safe container and toss fresh chopped cilantro and cooked rice together with a bit of lime juice. Heat the blend in a microwave or on the stove until hot. Give the mixture a good quick stir.
- Now take a large skillet and pour in vegetable oil. Sauté the onion for at least 5 minutes or until soft. Next, add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Reduce heat to medium-low; add black beans and season with hot sauce, chili powder, and cumin. Add a bit of salt if needed.
- Let the beans cook for another 5 minutes.
- Now spoon the black bean and cilantro-lime rice blend onto lightly warmed tortillas along with unique toppings if you want.
- Start wrapping the burritos by folding the short ends and one long side over the filling. Push gently to ensure a tight fold before rolling the remainder of the burrito.
- Cut into halves and serve instantly.
Latin American-Style Red Beans and Rice
With only 10 minutes for preparation, this Latin American-Style red beans and rice dish is not just tasty but easy too. It is a smart-health option that uses sodium-free tomato sauce and offers a rich flavor with adobo seasoning- a Puerto Rican-inspired dry spice mixture.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Cooked red kidney beans: 1 ½ cups
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Chicken broth: ½ cup
- No-sodium tomato sauce: 1 ½ cups
- Dried oregano: ½ teaspoon
- Dried thyme: 1 pinch
- Dried basil: ½ teaspoon
- Ground black pepper: as per taste
- Adobo seasoning: 2 teaspoons
- Water: 4 cups
- Uncooked white rice: 2 cups
Instructions
- Take a large saucepan and put in olive oil.
- Add red kidney beans, chicken broth, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, pepper, thyme, and adobo. Mix all the ingredients and simmer on low heat.
- Take another container and boil 4 cups of water. Add rice and keep stirring correctly. Let the rice cook for 20 minutes.
- Serve beans on rice.
Meatless Rice Casserole with Beans Recipe
This is an easy, vegan recipe and one good way of using leftover rice. Also, you can make it quickly with all the ingredients handy. Just get a can of baked beans, put in some spices, and start with the baking.
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- Vegetarian baked beans: 1 can
- Cooked rice: 1 ½ cups
- Chopped red onion: ½ cup
- Thinly sliced celery: ½ cup
- Shredded carrot: ½ cup
- Ground cinnamon: ¼ teaspoon
- Ground ginger: 1/8 teaspoon
- Garlic powder: ¼ teaspoon
Instructions
- Take a 2-quart casserole and grease it lightly with olive oil.
- Mix all the ingredients well along with the vegetarian baked beans.
- Bake at 350-degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
Quick Black Beans and Rice
This quick black beans and rice recipe is probably the most perfectly balanced and nutritious meal you can have. Add your favorite salsa to the dish, and you will take its taste to the next level.
- Preparation Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil: 1 tablespoon
- Dried oregano: 1 teaspoon
- Chopped onion: 1
- Undrained black beans: 1 can
- Stewed tomatoes: 1 can
- Garlic powder: ½ teaspoon
- Uncooked brown rice: 1 ½ cups
Instructions
- Take a large saucepan and pour oil in it for heating. Now add onion and cook it until it is tender. Next, add tomatoes, beans, garlic powder, and oregano.
- Bring all the ingredients to a boil and then stir in the rice.
- Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan from heat and stand for 5 minutes before serving hot.
The Bottom Line
All the recipes above work great if you use them for leftover lunches or dinners. You can quickly get some tortillas and stuff them with the filling. And yes, regardless of where you stay, always add local flavors to these straightforward dishes.