Cheesy Fiesta Beans & Rice

Beans and Rice gets a flavor-packed makeover with a satisfying blend of fiesta flavors in a simple creamy tomato sauce! This dish reminds me of a "fully-loaded" version of Spanish Rice! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Let's bring it back to basics with beans and rice! Except this simple yet satisfying dish gets a flavor-packed makeover.

We combine black beans and brown rice with a medley of colorful vegetables. It is simmered in a creamy, cheesy, tomato sauce spiked with my homemade taco seasoning blend.

It reminds me of a "fully-loaded" version of Spanish Rice.

The cheesy flavor comes from nutritional yeast. But you could certainly add more, or increase the cheesiness with your favorite vegan shreds.

Plus there are lots of creative ways to re-purpose the leftovers.

Use it as a burrito filling, chip dip, taco salad, layer it in a baked enchilada casserole, etc.

This dish is also a great make-ahead meal for the week. Simply warm and enjoy!

For more inspiration, also browse all oil-free recipes.

Cheesy Fiesta Beans & Rice

Classic Beans & Rice gets a flavor-packed makeover with a satisfying blend of fiesta-style flavors in a simple creamy tomato sauce.

5 from 4 votes

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Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Main Dish, Side Dish

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Mexican-inspired, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 5 people (main dish)

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
• 1 small onion
• 1 orange bell pepper (or other color)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
• 15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 15 oz. can black beans
• 1 cup sweet corn (frozen, canned, or freshly cooked)
• 1 cup cherry/grape tomatoes (or roma, etc.)
• Salt to taste

Toppings (optional):

• Avocado, cilantro, fresh tomatoes, hot sauce, dairy-free cheese shreds, tortilla strips

Instructions

• Cook rice according to package instructions.*
• Meanwhile, make the taco seasoning and set aside.
• Finely dice onion and bell pepper.
• In a large skillet over med-high heat, sauté onion and bell pepper for 8-10 minutes. (For no-oil sauté method, I use 3 Tbsp. broth/water to sauté and add more as needed.)
• Meanwhile, mince garlic and dice tomatoes.
• When onion is translucent, add minced garlic and 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning. Cook 1-2 minutes.
• Reduce heat. Add tomato sauce, nutritional yeast, black beans (rinsed and drained), corn, and tomatoes. Stir and let simmer on med-low heat for a few minutes (or longer if the rice isn't finished cooking yet).
• When rice is cooked, add to skillet and stir well. Heat for 5 minutes to let flavors combine. Salt to taste.
• Serve with your favorite toppings. For an extra-cheesy version, add your favorite dairy-free shreds.

Notes

* Feel free to cook the brown rice in advance and store in fridge until ready. Brown rice typically takes about 40 minutes to cook, and the dish only takes about 20 minutes until you need to add the rice, so you can wait 20-25 minutes to begin the rest of the steps. (Otherwise it's totally fine to let the sauce gently simmer, stirring occasionally during that time until the rice is ready.)

You could also substitute quinoa for the rice as it only takes about 20 minutes to cook and the timing would work very well here.

This makes a fairly large batch so reduce/halve if desired.

The homemade taco seasoning recipe yields 3 Tbsp. although you will only need 2 Tbsp. for this recipe. I like to make a double or triple batch and store in a sealed glass jar to have on hand.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Calories: 309kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 12gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPotassium: 911mgFiber: 12gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1895IUVitamin C: 52mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 4mg

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If you are enjoying this fiesta beans and rice, also check out:

• Vegan Burrito Bowl with Creamy Chipotle Sauce

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