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One-Pot Black Beans and Rice: Weeknight Dinner Lingo

A close-up of a bowl filled with fluffy white rice mixed with dark black beans and topped with fresh cilantro.
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This is the translation for a classic, comforting meal. You get fluffy rice and seasoned black beans cooked together in one pot, cutting down on cleanup time. It is budget-friendly and works well for meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the minced garlic, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir constantly for 1 minute until the spices smell fragrant. This blooms the flavor.
  3. Stir in the rinsed black beans, uncooked rice, vegetable broth, and the bay leaf. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, stir everything once, cover the pot tightly with a lid, and reduce the heat to low.
  5. Simmer for 18 to 20 minutes without lifting the lid. Do not stir during this time; this lets the rice steam properly.
  6. Remove the pot from the heat and let it stand, still covered, for 10 minutes. This finishes the steaming process.
  7. Remove the bay leaf. Fluff the rice and beans gently with a fork. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Serve hot, garnished with fresh cilantro if you are using it.

Notes

  • For a heartier meal, brown 1/2 pound of smoked sausage (like andouille or kielbasa) before you start cooking the onions and set it aside. Add it back in with the broth in Step 3.
  • If you want a Cuban style flavor, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar when you fluff the rice in Step 6.
  • This recipe is naturally vegetarian and vegan. If you use vegetable broth, it remains plant based.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/one-pot-black-beans-and-rice-recipe/