This recipe for Spanish Rice and Beans comes together in 40 minutes, and is delicious on its own or as a side! This recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan.

A bowl of Spanish rice and beans with a spoon in it and a napkin on the side

Why You’ll Love This Spanish Rice and Beans Recipe

This recipe for Spanish Rice and Beans is easy to prep and can be whipped up in roughly 30 minutes or so. It’s a great kitchen staple that is popular in Latin America.

Rice and beans is very budget-friendly, and one serving is packed with 7 grams of protein. This dish is also packed full of flavour – the whole family will love it!

Spanish Red Beans and Rice Ingredients and Substitutions

Here are all the main ingredients that go into Spanish Rice and Beans and some substitutions you can use if there’s an ingredient you’d like to swap out.

  • Rice: I use a simple long-grain white rice for this recipe, but you could also use a short grain rice like Jasmine rice, or even brown rice if you prefer. If you do use brown rice, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly, since brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice.
  • Beans: Red kidney beans are what is used in this recipe, but any type of beans you love can be used in place. Make sure to use cooked beans (either from a can, or cook up your dry beans) before adding them to the recipe.
  • Spices: Salt, pepper and paprika to keep it simple. You can play around with the spices and add some chili powder, cumin, or cayenne pepper if you like!
  • Onion & garlic: These are SO important to flavour the rice! So make sure to use fresh onions and garlic for the best reslts.
  • Crushed tomatoes: from a can. You can also use tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chopped tomatoes etc. all of these will work.
  • Veggie stock: You can technically cook up the rice using water, though I do recommend a veggie stock because this will infuse the rice with flavour as it cooks and make it extra tasty!

How to Make Spanish Rice and Beans

  1. Start by sautéing the onions and garlic together in a pan, then add the spices and mix together before adding in the rice.
  • A pan with onions and garlic in it
  • A pan with onions, garlic and white rice in it

2. Next add the crushed tomatoes and mix everything together, then add the stock and beans and let the rice cook on low heat, covered for about 30 minutes. Fluff up the rice with a fork once it’s done.

  • A pan with crushed tomatoes, rice and onions in it
  • rice and beans in a pink pan

3. Once the rice is cooked, taste it and adjust any seasoning if needed. You can also top it off with any herbs you love!

a pan of spanish rice and beans topped with parsley

How to make Spanish Rice and Beans in an Instant Pot

Want to make this into an Instant Pot Spanish Rice and Beans? No problem, here’s how to do it:

  1. Put the Instant pot on sauté mode then sauté the garlic and onions.
  2. Then add the rest of the ingredients to the Instant Pot.
  3. Close the pot, set the valve to sealing and pressure cook for 20 minutes.
  4. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release.

Tips for making the perfect Vegetarian Spanish Rice

  • Use fresh onion and garlic in this recipe. These will help build up a lot of flavours in the rice and beans!
  • Use a good quality veggie stock. Since the rice will absorb the flavour from the stock, you want to start off with a really good-tasting stock!

What Goes Well with Spanish Rice?

Spanish Rice and Beans can be served in so many different ways!

You can serve it:

  • As a side with your favourite protein to accompany it.
  • In a burrito bowl.
  • As a stuffing inside Enchiladas.
  • Alongside your favourite tacos, quesadillas or even inside a burrito!

More rice recipes to try

  • Spanish rice and beans in a bowl with parsley on top and a spoon i it

If you tried this Spanish Rice and Beans or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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Spanish Rice and Beans

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Side
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: Spanish
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 1 cup cooked red kidney beans

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium-high heat, then add the onion and garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
  2. Next the spices and mix all together for 1 minute until evenly coated. 
  3. Add the rice, crushed tomatoes, vegetable stock and kidney beans and bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer on low for 30 minutes. 
  4. Once done, fluff the rice up with a fork. 

Notes

Use fresh onion and garlic in this recipe. These will help build up a lot of flavours in the rice and beans!

Use a good quality veggie stock. Since the rice will absorb the flavour from the stock, you want to start off with a really good-tasting stock!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 268
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 50g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 7g