Do you have a pantry full of beans and rice and not sure what to do with them? We’re here to help! We’ve gathered our favorite easy bean and rice recipes that utilize ingredients you likely have on hand right now (or that can be modified easily)!
Flavorful, easy-to-make 6-ingredient black beans cooked in 1 pot and that don’t require soaking! A foolproof way to cook black beans from scratch. Perfect for tacos, nachos, enchiladas, taco salads, and more!
Easy-to-make, comforting black bean soup made with simple ingredients in 1 pot! A 30-minute meal or side that’s customizable and incredibly satisfying.
Flavorful 30-minute burrito bowls made with seasoned cauliflower rice, black beans, grilled peppers and onions, and guacamole! Hearty, plant-based fun.
Easy, grillable veggie burgers with just 10 ingredients (give or take a spice)! Flavorful, hearty, and perfect for summertime grilling. Hearty enough to please meat-eaters and vegans alike!
Black Bean Buddha Bowl with Gingery Lemon Tahini Sauce
Incredibly comforting black bean Buddha bowl with steamed kale, brown rice, and gingery lemon tahini sauce! Nourishing ingredients, BIG flavor, a hearty plant-based meal.
An easy, healthy take on falafel with wholesome black beans, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, and garlic. Baked instead of fried, smoky flavor, and entirely vegan and gluten-free!
Simple, 5-ingredient sweet potato black bean chili that comes together in less than 1 hour! Easy, delicious, super healthy, and so satisfying! Throw in whatever spices you have to amp up the flavor.
Black bean brownies (vegan and gluten-free) that require just 1 bowl and about 30 minutes to prepare! Healthy, easy, and delicious — the best kind of dessert.
Saucy, smoky BBQ pinto beans simmered in 1 pot in a rich sauce of spices, tomato paste, mustard, and coconut sugar. A healthier take on this classic dish!
Flavorful, filling, 30-minute Buddha bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, onion, kale, crispy chickpeas, and an AMAZING tahini-maple sauce! A healthy, satisfying plant-based meal.
1-Pot Chickpea Tomato Peanut Stew (West African-Inspired)
A thick, creamy, dairy-free soup inspired by African Peanut Stew. This simple version is made with chickpeas, tomatoes, and peanut butter all in 1 pot!
30 minute, 1-pot chana masala with green chili, cilantro, and garam masala. Easy to make, extremely flavorful, and satisfying. A healthy, plant-based meal.
A creamy, dreamy, vibrant sauce that looks like liquid gold. Made with simple ingredients like chickpeas, lemon, garlic, and nutritional yeast, it’s perfect for adding to bowl meals, salads, roasted vegetables, and more! Just 10 minutes and 1 blender required!
6-ingredient hummus that comes together in 5 minutes and is magically transformed into the best hummus thanks to the MICROWAVE! Trust me. It’s the best hummus I’ve ever made at home!
Creamy Peanut Butter Banana Chickpea Shake with just 5 ingredients, 5 minutes, and 1 blender required. A satisfying, plant-based treat with plenty of fiber and protein!
An incredibly satisfying, healthy, nutrient-rich Buddha bowl with steamed kale, from-scratch chickpeas, quinoa, and 3-ingredient tahini sauce! Just 7 ingredients required for this delicious plant-based meal.
30-minute Chickpea Sunflower Sandwich with smashed chickpeas and roasted sunflower seeds in a simple dressing. Sandwiched between two slices of bread and topped with my secret garlic sauce, this is healthy lunch perfection.
Simple, 30-minute baked sweet potatoes topped with roasted chickpeas, a simple garlic-herb sauce, and a parsley-tomato salad. Delicious, fresh, healthy, and naturally vegan and gluten-free.
1-pot goodness in the form of curried lentil soup! Rich with flavor, fiber, and protein and incredibly comforting. The perfect 30-minute healthy meal or side!
Hearty red lentil chili made in 1 pot with simple ingredients! A smoky, flavorful, protein- and fiber-rich plant-based meal perfect for cold nights and feeding a crowd.
Creamy, Indian-inspired 1-pot curried cauliflower soup with carrots, ginger, and red lentils! Subtly spiced, quick and easy to make, and perfect for meal prep!
Simple, 30-minute spicy red pasta sauce with red lentils for added protein and fiber. Serve over gluten-free pasta for a delicious and hearty plant-based meal!
Super delicious and hearty mushroom lentil stew gravy over mashed potatoes! Entirely vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free. A delicious and easy-to-make 10-ingredient meal or side!
An easy, everyday recipe for lentil soup with potatoes, carrots, kale, and simple herbs and seasonings. The perfect plant-based main or side that requires just 10 ingredients, 1 pot, and about 30 minutes to make.
Hearty, comforting curry lentil soup with potatoes and kale! Big curry flavor in this 1-pot soup that comes together in less than 45 minutes. The perfect satisfying, healthy, plant-based meal.
A hearty, 10-ingredient Vegan Shepherd's Pie that's loaded with veggies and savory lentils and topped with fluffy mashed potatoes. So flavorful and satisfying that you won't miss the meat!
Incredible vegan lentil “meatloaf” with wholesome, whole-food ingredients like lentils, nuts, sweet potato, and mushrooms! Just 10 ingredients required for this flavorful, comforting entrée.
Hearty, flavorful Vegan Sloppy Joes made with fresh, simple ingredients, naturally sweetened, and they require just 30 minutes! Savory, smoky, perfectly sweet — a delicious plant-based meal!
These flavorful, creamy refried lentils are infused with smoky spices and chilis and made in 1 pot in less than 30 minutes! Say hello to the perfect side for Mexican night.
Flavorful, 30-minute Moroccan-spiced lentils with paprika, peppers, tomato, and fresh herbs. A healthy plant-based side or addition to bowls and salads!
Creamy lentil green curry prepared in 1 pot! Easy, quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful. Serve with rice of choice for a hearty, wholesome, plant-based meal.
Easy, 10-ingredient vegan fried rice that’s loaded with vegetables, crispy baked tofu, and tons of flavor! A healthy, satisfying plant-based side dish or entrée.
An Indonesian-inspired bowl made with brown rice, vegetables, and spicy peanut sauce. Incredibly customizable and perfect for a simple, basic yet hearty meal. Just 30 minutes required!
Fluffy, fast white rice infused with green broth made from herbs and peppers! Just 7 ingredients and simple methods required + fluffy rice cooking tips!
A healthier take on risotto without oil or butter, replacing cheese with vegan parmesan cheese. Includes plenty of fresh vegetables for fiber and nutrients. An easy 30-minute, 8-ingredient recipe perfect as an entrée or a side.
Hi! These look amazing! Do you think I could use navy beans in any of these recipes? I discovered I have a few bags of these in my cupboard and have no idea why or what to do with them!
Hi Jackie, We think they would work in some of them! For example, the Stuffed Poblano Peppers and Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers. We think they would sub best in recipes that call for black beans or pinto beans. Or they would also work well in our minestrone. Hope that helps!
Is there a way to print out the entire list of recipes at once or do I need to click on each one individually?
Thanks for such a great listing at one place!
Hi Christine!
I’ve only used kidney beans in chili or 3 bean salad. I’ve only used black beans with a rice bowl. So I’m a novice when it comes to beans. Which bean recipe will be the closest to Heinz pork n beans in tomato sauce? I thought I should start with the familiar. Which beans should I use for such a recipe? Thx so much. Now to find those beans you’ll suggest. ☺️
Marcia:
Any white bean would work. I usually use “navy” beans (which are white), great northern, or cannellini when I make baked beans or white bean chili.
Hope that helps.
-Michelle
Everyone is posting these wonderful rice and bean recipes, but if you live in the Chicagoland metropolitan area, there is no rice nor any beans, of any kind, anywhere. *sigh*
*Hoarding*
I suppose the hoarding of beans explains the hoarding of toilet paper though, lol.
The recipes are making my mouth water!
Oh, well. Maybe in a couple of months, if I’m still alive…
What a reality.
I’ve been receiving your emails for a while now but have never taken the time until now to say just how much I appreciate them and how inspiring I find them. They are helping me immensity in becoming a healthier eater. Such a big thank you for your kindness in allowing these to be available to us all
All of your recipes are amazing…they always work, they are always delicious and LOVED by me/husband/15yo daughter…and easily made by any one of us. thank you.
Thank you for all these wonderful rice and bean ideas. Being “sheltered in place” means coming up with meals that keep you home. I always have several types of rice and lots of dried beans in my pantry. This means I don’t have to go out to make a fabulous meal. Perfect timing!!!
Just a quick note to say how much I appreciate your generosity in sharing your recipes. I’ve made the black bean brownies a couple of times now and they are ab-fab!!! My doctor’s office enjoyed the first batch, disappeared darn quick I’ll say!
Judy says
Hi Dana,
Loving the recipes so far. Do you happen these bean n rice recipes published as an e-book? Let me be the first to place my order if you haven’t yet.
Hi Judy, we don’t, unfortunately!
virginia says
I want to cook without oil. Can I substitute applesauce or something else for the oil in the black bean brownies recipe?
Virginia
Hi Virginia, we haven’t tried that, but another reader mentioned doing so with success. Let us know if you try it!
Jackie says
Hi! These look amazing! Do you think I could use navy beans in any of these recipes? I discovered I have a few bags of these in my cupboard and have no idea why or what to do with them!
Hi Jackie, We think they would work in some of them! For example, the Stuffed Poblano Peppers and Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers. We think they would sub best in recipes that call for black beans or pinto beans. Or they would also work well in our minestrone. Hope that helps!
Lee says
Is there a way to print out the entire list of recipes at once or do I need to click on each one individually?
Thanks for such a great listing at one place!
You can print the page, I suppose. But there’s no option to print all of the recipes at once!
Marcia says
Hi Christine!
I’ve only used kidney beans in chili or 3 bean salad. I’ve only used black beans with a rice bowl. So I’m a novice when it comes to beans. Which bean recipe will be the closest to Heinz pork n beans in tomato sauce? I thought I should start with the familiar. Which beans should I use for such a recipe? Thx so much. Now to find those beans you’ll suggest. ☺️
Michelle G says
Marcia:
Any white bean would work. I usually use “navy” beans (which are white), great northern, or cannellini when I make baked beans or white bean chili.
Hope that helps.
-Michelle
Marcia says
Thank you Christine.
ReaderRita says
Everyone is posting these wonderful rice and bean recipes, but if you live in the Chicagoland metropolitan area, there is no rice nor any beans, of any kind, anywhere. *sigh*
*Hoarding*
I suppose the hoarding of beans explains the hoarding of toilet paper though, lol.
The recipes are making my mouth water!
Oh, well. Maybe in a couple of months, if I’m still alive…
What a reality.
Sorry to hear that! Hopefully they’ll come back in stock soon.
ReaderRita says
Thanks! I hope so! I hope that you and yours and all your readers out there stay healthy!
Christine says
I’ve been receiving your emails for a while now but have never taken the time until now to say just how much I appreciate them and how inspiring I find them. They are helping me immensity in becoming a healthier eater. Such a big thank you for your kindness in allowing these to be available to us all
So kind! Thanks, Christine!
Elissa says
These look so amazing my mouth is watering. About to have family pow wow to choose which one for tomorrow’s dinner!!!
Sooo excited-Thank you
xoxo!
carmel reilly says
All of your recipes are amazing…they always work, they are always delicious and LOVED by me/husband/15yo daughter…and easily made by any one of us. thank you.
SO kind! xoxo
Ellie says
Thank you for all these wonderful rice and bean ideas. Being “sheltered in place” means coming up with meals that keep you home. I always have several types of rice and lots of dried beans in my pantry. This means I don’t have to go out to make a fabulous meal. Perfect timing!!!
Lovely! Hope you enjoy the recipes, Ellie!
Jessica says
Thank you so much!!!! These are amazing for feeling inspired when we are running low on options but want something tasty and healthy
xoxo!
Cat says
Thank you. I love the way this is organized. I can work with what I have the most of and make to get to every thing in the pantry. Perfecto!
xoxo!
Nicole says
I’m so excited to try as many of these as possible!
Thank you so much for being a beacon of light (and healthy recipes) during this time of uncertainty.
xx & <3
So kind! Hope you love them, Nicole!
Pat Lawson says
Just a quick note to say how much I appreciate your generosity in sharing your recipes. I’ve made the black bean brownies a couple of times now and they are ab-fab!!! My doctor’s office enjoyed the first batch, disappeared darn quick I’ll say!
So kind! xoxo