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Home » Side Dishes » Black Beans and Rice Recipe

June 6, 2019 By Sara 19 Comments

Black Beans and Rice Recipe

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Black Beans and Rice Recipe | Cuban Black Beans | Beans and Rice #beans #rice #blackbeans #sidedish #glutenfree #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This black beans and rice recipe is cilantro lime rice and black beans, all cooked together to make a savory and flavorful side dish. Black beans and rice are perfect when paired with grilled meats or served alongside Mexican or Cuban food.

Rice is the ultimate easy side dish, whether it’s Mexican rice, rice pilaf or black beans and rice, it’s sure to be a big hit!

Black Beans and Rice Recipe | Cuban Black Beans | Beans and Rice #beans #rice #blackbeans #sidedish #glutenfree #dinner #dinneratthezoo Black Beans and Rice Recipe | Cuban Black Beans | Beans and Rice #beans #rice #blackbeans #sidedish #glutenfree #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Black beans and rice in a pot topped with cilantro sprigs.

My local Cuban restaurant serves up the best version of black beans and rice, and this is my take on the classic dish. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, and is packed with plenty of bold flavors. You can serve this as a side dish, wrap it up in a burrito for a fabulous Mexican style meal, or eat it as a meatless main course.

How do you make black beans and rice?

This dish starts with garlic and onions, which are sauteed in a little olive oil until tender. The rice goes into the pot next, along with chicken broth. Once the rice is cooked through, canned black beans are stirred into the mix. The final step is a generous amount of lime juice and chopped cilantro. Fluff your rice with a fork, then serve and enjoy!

Onions, garlic, white rice and spices in a pot.

Tips for black beans and rice

  • I recommend using a long grain white rice for this dish. I typically use standard long grain rice or basmati rice. Short grain rice tends to be stickier which doesn’t work as well in this preparation.
  • I use canned black beans for this recipe because it cuts the prep time down to just 10 minutes. If you prefer, you can cook your own black beans from dried beans.
  • Make sure to drain and rinse your black beans before you add them to the rice.
  • You can make this dish vegan by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  • I know that there are many people who don’t enjoy cilantro. You can substitute green onions for cilantro if you prefer.
  • Fresh lime juice is necessary for this recipe; don’t use the stuff that comes in a bottle.
  • This dish makes for great leftovers! You can store your beans in the rice in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the mixture in the microwave or over low heat on the stove top.

Cooked rice and black beans in a pot.

Beans and rice variations

This is a basic recipe for beans and rice, you can add a variety of other ingredients to make your own flavor combination.

  • Vegetables: Try adding vegetables such as diced tomato, corn kernels, red bell pepper, green chiles or diced zucchini.
  • Beans: You can use pinto beans instead of black beans.
  • Cheese: Try adding a sprinkle of cotija, cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Spices: You can add other seasonings to the mix such as chili powder, crushed chili flakes or ground coriander.

Rice and beans mixed together in a red pot.

I make this beans and rice almost every week, my kids adore it! It’s one of those staple recipes that goes well with so many different cuisines.

A plate of black beans and rice with grilled pork and Mexican corn.

More great side dish recipes

  • Mexican Caesar Salad
  • Grilled Vegetables
  • Mexican Corn Salad
  • Tropical Fruit Salad
  • Mexican Coleslaw
Black beans and rice in a pot topped with cilantro sprigs.
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5 from 15 votes

Black Beans and Rice

This black beans and rice recipe is cilantro lime rice and black beans, all cooked together to make a savory and flavorful side dish. Black beans and rice are perfect when paired with grilled meats or served alongside Mexican or Cuban food.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Cuban
Keyword beans and rice, black beans and rice
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 153kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice uncooked
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 15 ounce cans black beans rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1/3 cup cilantro leaves chopped
  • cilantro sprigs and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender.
  • Add the rice and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the cumin, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring the pot to a boil.
  • Cover the pot and turn the heat down to low. Simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
  • Stir the beans into the rice. Cover the pot and let sit off the heat for 3-5 minutes or until beans are warmed through.
  • Stir in the lime juice and cilantro. Fluff the rice with a fork. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
  • Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime wedges, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 325mg | Potassium: 129mg | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 8.4mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.6mg

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Side Dishes Tagged With: Black Beans, Mexican Food, Rice

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Comments

  1. Maureen says

    January 25, 2021 at 7:25 am

    5 stars
    Tried this last night. I am gluten-free, dairy-free, corn-free and this recipe was great with those restrictions.

    Simple ingredients, easy to make and very delicious! It is a keeper in my recipe box!

    Reply
  2. Gwen says

    October 13, 2020 at 1:23 pm

    5 stars
    This was wonderful! My new favorite black bean and rice recipe. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Mary says

    October 12, 2020 at 4:29 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves this recipe! To make a main dish, I added cooked andouille sausage (cut into wedges) and it’s awesome!

    Thanks,
    Mary

    Reply
  4. Jody says

    May 27, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely wonderful! I make it in my Instant Pot and it is super quick and easy. It’s our go to when we have burritos or tacos for dinner.

    Reply
  5. Christy says

    April 8, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    5 stars
    I added chicken and topped it with cheese and it was wonderful! A full meal!

    Reply
  6. T.M. says

    February 11, 2020 at 9:52 am

    Can brown rice be substituted?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 12, 2020 at 1:17 pm

      Yes but you’ll want to adjust the cooking time to 40 minutes for the rice!

      Reply
  7. Cristina Rendon says

    September 15, 2019 at 9:51 am

    5 stars
    Very tasty dish and easy prep.
    Thank you

    Reply
  8. Deb says

    September 9, 2019 at 1:27 pm

    5 stars
    Really great side dish that my family loves! I take the leftovers the next day for lunch!

    Reply
  9. Carolyn says

    September 6, 2019 at 4:13 pm

    5 stars
    So yummy!! And Thank you for explaining cutting against the grain. I never really understood that but your diagram was awesome and made my meat fantastic!!!

    Reply
  10. Beth Pierce says

    June 10, 2019 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    Enjoyed this recipe last night with our fajita dinner and it was the perfect combo! Making this again tomorrow! Delicious!

    Reply
  11. Mindi says

    June 10, 2019 at 11:57 am

    Oh my gosh this looks amazing! What are the other foods on the plate picture? Chicken? Do you have recipes for the whole meal?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 10, 2019 at 12:10 pm

      This is the meat! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/tacos-al-pastor/ The corn recipe is coming very soon!

      Reply
  12. Secolari says

    June 9, 2019 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    Such a classic combination, especially in Caribbean or Southern cooking. Thanks, Sara for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Patty at Spoonabilities says

    June 7, 2019 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love black beans and rice — one of my favorites!

    Reply
  14. Shinta says

    June 7, 2019 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    I love one-pot rice meals and haven’t tried beans and rice together yet. Such a simple, excellent idea!

    Reply
  15. Krissy Allori says

    June 7, 2019 at 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    This looks great! I’m looking forward to trying it.

    Reply
  16. Suzy says

    June 7, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    5 stars
    I love the short cut by using canned black beans! Definitely helps cut down on cooking time!

    Reply
  17. Mary says

    June 7, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    5 stars
    We make black beans and rice all the time! This version is great!

    Reply

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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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