Rice Cooker Rice and Beans
You can make delicious rice and beans in a rice cooker, which is perfect for an easy hands-off dinner. Add all the ingredients to your rice cooker and hit start! Dinner is ready in no time.
You may have wondered, “Can you cook rice and beans together in a rice cooker?” and the answer is yes! I love this method because everything cooks at once and all I have to do is press start! I don’t have a fancy rice cooker but it turns out perfectly every time. You can also play around with the seasonings for different flavors. These rice cooker rice and beans are also a great base for burritos, tacos, or burrito bowls. I like adding lots of vegetables and toppings for a filling meal!
How to Make Rice and Beans in the Rice Cooker
All you need to do is add 1 cup of white rice, 2 cups of water, 1 15oz can of drained black beans, and seasonings. Give everything a stir and then turn the rice cooker on. Mine cooked for about 25 minutes but you can just use the white rice setting, as the cooking time will depend on your rice cooker.
The Best Seasonings for Rice and Beans
I liked using cumin and a bay leaf. This is great for a simple flavor that will pair well with salsa, guacamole, hot sauce, and any other toppings I feel like adding. For more flavor, you can use vegetable broth instead of water. I also love adding finely chopped cilantro, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and salt. But you really can season these to taste.
Can I use dried beans?
For this recipe, you need to use canned beans or cooked beans. The rice cooker won’t cook long enough to cook dried beans. But if you don’t want to use canned beans, you can cook the beans first and keep them in the fridge. Then when you’re ready to make your rice cooker rice and beans you can just add them in.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use brown rice? Yes, you’ll just need to adjust the cooking time for brown rice. For more brown rice ideas, try my Mexican Brown Rice recipe.
- How do I lower the sodium? Be sure to rinse the black beans well before adding them to the pot. This helps remove any sodium from the beans. You can also add additional seasoning to add flavor rather than using additional salt.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftover rice and beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, microwave at 50% power for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through,
- What kind of rice cooker do you have? I have an older rice cooker that is pretty basic. (It’s similar to this one.) It only has two settings: cook and keep warm. The sensor in the bottom determines how much moisture is left in the rice cooker, so it can tell how long to cook the rice.
- What should I serve this with? Try adding a tasty sauce to turn this into a simple meal! Add a little avocado, some canned corn, and drizzle on this burrito sauce!
More Rice Cooker Recipes
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Rice Cooker Rice and Beans
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Rice Cooker
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Description
You can make delicious rice and beans in a rice cooker, which is perfect for an easy hands-off dinner. Just add all the ingredients to your rice cooker and hit start! Dinner is ready in no time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a rice cooker, add the uncooked rice, water, black beans, and seasonings. Stir and cover.
- Cook on the white rice setting. (It should take about 25 minutes depending on your rice cooker.)
- Once the rice is cooked, discard the bay leaf, fluff with a fork and add additional seasonings to taste.
Notes
If you plan to eat this as a meal, I recommend using vegetable broth for added flavor. If you wanted to use this as a filling in burritos or tacos, you may want to use water so that you can control the saltiness of the final dish.
No flavor 😞 But I added some olive oil and red wine vinegar to each serving and it helped.
Such a convenient and delicious recipe! Love how easy it is to make rice and beans in a rice cooker. Thanks for sharing!” 🍚🌱
This was so easy, and it turned out well… except I used water, as no stock on hand, and it was far too bland for my family. I did add some salt, but “season to taste” is the bane of ADHDers everywhere.
Will have to try it with some stock, next time. 😊
The vegetable stock really makes a difference in terms of flavor! (And I tend to like things salty but I know everyone’s palate is different! so I try not to be too prescriptive!)
I tried making rice and beans in my rice cooker using your recipe, and it turned out fantastic! The rice was perfectly fluffy, and the beans were flavorful and tender. I appreciate how easy and straightforward the recipe was. This will definitely become a go-to dish for busy weeknight dinners.
Rice and beans are such a delicious combination, one of my favorites! Thanks for another yummy recipe!
You have just elevated my rice to a whole new level! Thank you so much for sharing this, I will be making this weekly I’m sure!
It’s always a delight to discover new and convenient ways to prepare delicious meals. This recipe is a fantastic solution for those seeking a simple yet flavorful dish.
What an easy and delicious way to make rice and beans. I never would have thought of adding the beans into the rice cooker
The rice and beans were so easy to make in the rice cooker and they came out perfectly well. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
This is an incredibly easy way to make rice, which I hate making on the stove because it always burns. I use the rice and beans as a stuffing for a vegetarian burrito, with some salsa and it makes a great dinner.