Easy Black Beans and Rice

Easy Black Beans and Rice is a delicious and simple recipe. Featuring bell peppers, onion, garlic, spices, and a splash of Tabasco, this dish is full of flavor and comes together in only 30 minutes!

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 21, 2022
Elise Bauer
Side view of a bowl of black beans and rice with a wooden spoon and a striped linen.
Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Black beans and rice is such a classic combination. There are dozens of ways to make it; this one is an easy recipe that cooks up quickly and tastes great.

Keep It Simple With Canned Beans

If you are really serious about your beans, you'll start with dry black beans and then cook them for an hour or two first. But then, that wouldn't be quick and easy. So we'll save that approach for another recipe. (A compromise? Cook the beans in a pressure cooker.)

This recipe is better for a "the chicken is on the grill, what am I going to serve it with?" side dish, and uses canned black beans.

A bowl of black bean rice on a striped linen.
Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Add More Flavor

By the way, my pal David recommends mixing some chopped canned green olives, the ones with pimentos in them, for giving an additional boost to basic black beans and rice.

0:52

Watch This Black Bean and Rice Recipe

What Kind of Rice To Use

Long-grain white rice is best for this recipe, since the grains will be fluffy and not stick together. You can use Basmati rice in place of regular long-grain for a more aromatic flavor. You can even substitute long-grain brown rice for a healthier option, but be sure to cook the rice at least 15 minutes longer.

Best not to use short-grain rice, though, since those grains have more starch and will stick together.

More Easy Recipes With Canned Beans:

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

Easy Black Beans and Rice

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 1/2 green bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced (for added flavor, you can substitute roasted red bell peppers or some chopped pimentos)

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 (16-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar

  • A few dashes of Tabasco or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 heaping tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Lime wedges and cilantro for garnish, optional

Method

  1. Cook the rice:

    Cook rice according to package instructions. White long-grain rice usually takes 15 minutes to cook once the water is simmering, and 10 minutes to sit and steam.

  2. Sauté the onions, bell peppers, and garlic:

    Heat oil in a large skillet on medium high. Sauté onions and bell peppers for 3 to 4 minutes, until just beginning to soften, Then, add garlic and sauté a minute more.

    Cooking a black beans and rice recipe in a skillet on the stove.
    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  3. Add the beans, Tabasco, and vinegar, then simmer:

    Add the black beans, vinegar, and Tabasco or cayenne. Add vinegar, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 5 more minutes.

    Black beans added to the rice and bell peppers to make a black beans and rice recipe.
    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
  4. Stir in the rice and oregano:

    Stir in the rice and oregano. Salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side, if you wish.

    Black beans and rice cooking on the stove.
    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
297 Calories
3g Fat
56g Carbs
12g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 297
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 632mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 56g 20%
Dietary Fiber 11g 40%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 52mg 259%
Calcium 68mg 5%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 587mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.