Homemade Happy Hour

  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Etsy Store
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • My Book
  • Etsy Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cocktails
    • Mocktails
    • Recipes
    • My Book
    • Etsy Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Tomato Rice and Beans on the Stove Top

    Modified: Apr 29, 2025 · Published: May 4, 2021 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

    468 shares

    This post contains affiliate links (paid links). Advertisements displayed on this website do not reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.

    Skip to Recipe
    Tomato Rice and Beans

    An easy, flavorful one-pot dish, Tomato Rice and Beans is a delicious side dish to tacos or grilled chicken, as a filling for burritos and quesadillas, or as a main dish. This simple recipe, made with black beans and canned tomatoes, is also naturally vegetarian and vegan.

    Tomato Rice and Beans
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Tomato Rice and Beans
    • Recipe Tips for Tomato Rice and Beans
    • Can I Freeze Tomato Rice and Beans?
    • What to Serve with Tomato Rice and Beans
    • Drinks to Serve with Tomato Rice and Beans
    • Print the Recipe Card
    • Tomato Rice and Beans

    I used to buy boxes of Mexican Rice or Spanish rice, always to be disappointed. It never tasted as good as what I could get at a Mexican restaurant and was full of shelf-stabilizing ingredients I couldn’t pronounce.

    So I went through my pantry, and found that staple ingredients like rice, canned beans and canned tomatoes could join together to make something better than those boxed rice mixes. 

    This tomato rice and beans recipe skips the instant pot or other pressure cooker options in favor of the stove top and a good pot. It comes together in 30 minutes, making it one of my favorite easy solutions for dinner on a busy night.

    I love combining this dish with my easy bean dip and serving both as a side dish to these pineapple pork tacos. The tacos are made in the slow cooker, so dinner comes together really easily.

    Tomato Rice and Beans also makes a large quantity using low cost ingredients, so it’s also a great way to stretch your grocery budget.

    This recipe is also good for meal prep, as it freezes well and can be quickly thawed out for any time you need a delicious side dish or quick meal.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients for Tomato Rice and Beans - rice, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, olive oil, garlic, onion, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder.
    • Long-grain white rice or brown rice - My family prefers white rice in this recipe, but it's been tested with brown rice and that works as well.
    • Canned, diced tomatoes - I like petite diced tomatoes in this recipe because it gives me smaller pieces of tomato in the dish.
    • Canned black beans - Regular or low sodium works. Feel free to substitute pinto for black beans if that's what you prefer or have on hand.
    • Cilantro - I love the flavor of cilantro and what it brings to this recipe. If you think cilantro tastes like soap, just leave it out!
    • An onion - I use yellow onions because that's what I keep on hand, but white onion or Spanish onion works too.
    • Garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt - Pantry staple spices that pack a lot of flavor.
    • Olive oil - Whatever type of olive oil that you have on hand will work. You can substitute avocado oil or grape seed oil if you prefer.

    How to Make Tomato Rice and Beans

    Drain all liquid from the can of tomatoes into a measuring cup. Add enough water (or chicken broth or vegetable broth) to yield 2 cups of liquid.

    Pour the liquid into a medium pot. 

    Add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and salt. Stir to combine. 

    Pot full of spices, tomato liquid and water

    Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Add rice. Stir to combine. 

    Let mixture return to a boil, then reduce heat until the liquid is just simmering. 

    Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed into the rice. 

    Cooked tomato rice.

    While rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a high sided, large skillet over medium heat. 

    Add onion, cook 2-3 minutes. 

    Diced onion cooking in olive oil on the stove.

    Add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.

    Reduce heat to low and add the black beans and tomatoes to the pan. 

    Tomatoes and black beans in a skillet

    Warm the beans and tomatoes through. 

    Remove skillet from heat and wait for the rice to finish cooking. 

    Once rice is cooked, fluff the rice with a fork before adding it to the skillet with the beans, tomatoes, garlic and onions. 

    Tomatoes, beans and rice in a skillet

    Stir everything together to combine. Fold in the cilantro. 

    Serve warm.

    Tomato rice and beans in the skillet, all stirred together.

    Recipe Tips for Tomato Rice and Beans

    • Be sure to use canned black beans. Because this is a quick, stove top recipe, you need canned beans that are already cooked - either store-bought or homemade - not dry black beans.
    • Add some toppings! I love adding shredded cheese, diced green pepper or red bell pepper, and a big dollop of sour cream when serving Tomato Rice and Beans, especially if I'm using it as an easy dinner on a busy weeknight. Add some homemade tortilla chips or warm tortillas on the side for a delicious main course.
    • Up the veggie factor! Stir in a ½ cup of cooked sweet corn (or thawed, frozen corn) when adding in the black beans.

    Can I Freeze Tomato Rice and Beans?

    Yes! This recipe makes a large amount and freezes great! Make it completely - including the cilantro - and let it cool slightly. I freeze 1 ½ - 2 cup portions in ziptop bags. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for an hour in a sink of cold water, if you’re in a hurry. Reheat in the microwave.

    A bowl full of Tomato Rice and Beans.

    What to Serve with Tomato Rice and Beans

    Two of my favorite recipes to serve tomato rice and beans alongside are my slow cooker pork tacos and 5 minute bean dip.

    Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos
    Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos
    Easy Creamy Bean Dip
    Easy Creamy Bean Dip

    Drinks to Serve with Tomato Rice and Beans

    A refreshing tequila cocktail pairs well with tomato rice and beans. Try my Paloma for a soda-free grapefruit cocktail. Or shake up an elderflower margarita or spicy pineapple margarita for a delicious twist on a classic cocktail.

    (Not Quite a) Paloma
    (Not Quite a) Paloma
    Elderflower Margaritas
    Elderflower Margaritas

    Print the Recipe Card

    Tomato Rice and Beans

    Tomato Rice and Beans

    Katy McAvoy
    An easy, flavorful dish, Tomato Rice and Beans is a delicious side dish to tacos or grilled chicken, as a filling for burritos and quesadillas, or as a main dish. 
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
    • 15 oz diced tomatoes canned
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small onion chopped
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 15 oz black beans, canned drained and rinsed
    • ¼ cup cilantro, chopped optional

    Instructions
     

    • Drain all liquid from the can of tomatoes into a measuring cup. Add enough water or broth to yield 2 cups of liquid. 
    • Pour into a small pot. 
    • Add garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and salt. Stir to combine. 
    • Bring to a boil. Add rice. Stir to combine. 
    • Let mixture return to a boil, then reduce heat until the liquid is just simmering. 
    • Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed into the rice. 
    • While rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large, high sided skillet over medium heat. 
    • Add onion, cook 2-3 minutes. 
    • Add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the onion is translucent.
    • Reduce heat to low and add the black beans and tomatoes to the pan. 
    • Warm the beans and tomatoes through. 
    • Remove skillet from heat and wait for the rice to finish cooking. 
    • Once rice is cooked, fluff the rice with a fork before adding it to the skillet with the beans, tomatoes, garlic and onions. 
    • Stir everything together to combine. Fold in the cilantro. 
    • Serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 504mgPotassium: 347mgFiber: 5gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 553IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    I love when you share my recipes!

    468 shares

    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour. Since 2017, she's been crafting recipes for easy-to-make cocktails and delicious snacks while sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Katy McAvoy, mixologist and photographer

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that everyone deserves a delicious drink. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

    Search

    Buy Homemade Happy Hour, a Cocktail Book

    Most Searched Recipes

    • Glass filled with mocktail drink and garnished with a cherry and orange slice.
      Easy and Delicious Mocktail for Kids (Without Sugary Soda)
    • Non Alcoholic Piña Colada Mocktails
      Piña Colada Mocktail (Without a Blender)
    • Glasses filled with red drinks and fruit, with a pitcher of red drinks in the background.
      Easy Pitcher Drinks - Large Batch Cocktails and Mocktails for a Party
    • A glass of coconut margarita.
      Coconut Margarita Recipe (On the Rocks)
    • BBQ Meatballs in a bowl, garnished with parsley.
      Easy Stove Top Barbecue Meatballs (No Grape Jelly)
    • A glass of pineapple old fashioned garnished with a pineapple wedge.
      Pineapple Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe 
    • Raspberry Peach Martini being poured through a strainer into a cocktail glass.
      12 Easy Vodka Cocktails for Summer 
    • Pineapple Vodka Martini
      Bright and Refreshing Pineapple Martini with Citrus
    • A coupe glass of strawberry lemon drop martini cocktail with a white sugar rim and strawberry slice garnish.
      Strawberry Lemon Drop Martini Cocktail
    • A small hand holding on to a glass of unicorn drink lemonade.
      Unicorn Drink for Kids (Color-Changing Lemonade) 

    Footer

    Website

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    Sign up for weekly emails

    Contact

    Work with Me

    Contact Me

    As an Amazon Associate and Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Mitten Girl LLC. All rights reserved.

    Advertisements displayed on this website do not in any way reflect endorsements or recommendations made by Mitten Girl LLC.

    Mittengirl.com and Homemade Happy Hour are properties of Mitten Girl LLC.
    All photographs, text, and recipes on this site may not be copied to social media, or used for any commercial
    or AI purposes without the express written permission of the site owner.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required