This black bean and rice skillet is an easy one-pot dinner recipe made with pantry staples! This gluten-free recipe is packed with flavor for a hearty vegetarian meal.

black bean skillet with limes, cilantro and peppers around it

This post is sponsored by my friends at Cabot Creamery.

With just a handful of ingredients and lots of flexibility, you can have this easy Mexican-inspired dinner recipe on the table in under 20 minutes!

Ingredients

Cooked black beans (canned works)
Cooked brown rice
Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
Canned diced tomatoes with green chiles (I use mild)
Red onion
Smoked paprika
Dried oregano
Avocado or other oil
Garnishes: fresh cilantro, jalapeno peppers, avocado, green onions

Wooden bowl filled with shredded cheese and a block of cheese and a grater in the background

Directions

This one-pot recipe is easy to make using cooked black beans, brown rice and canned tomatoes as the base. Simply saute onion and spices in the oil. Add the remaining ingredients before a quick broil in the oven for a bubbly, cheesy finish.

Skillet with black beans, tomatoes, rice and melted cheese

Once the skillet is out of the oven, I like to top with lots of colorful and flavorful toppings. Cilantro, sliced jalapenos, lime wedges, and avocado are some of my favorites.

Now before you get cooking, here are a few things to know…

Tips for success

Dice the onion well so it falls into the background of the dish and you’re not stuck eating huge pieces of onion. The recipe doesn’t cook long so the onions won’t have time to cook down much.

Bloom the spices. Though the tomatoes provide lots of flavor, the spices do too. Cooking the paprika and oregano in the oil will help amplify the flavor and infuse the seasonings throughout the dish.

Drain the tomatoes. Because the rice is cooked, you won’t need the additional liquid and it would result in a soggy skillet.

Which cheese works best?

I’m using Cabot’s Monterey Jack cheese. It’s incredibly creamy and melts beautifully into this skillet. But if you don’t have any, no worries.

Feel free to use sharp cheddar cheese or even pepper jack for more spice.

If you are not familiar, Cabot Creamery is a co-operative owned by farm families throughout New England & New York and 100% of profits go back to the farmers. All Cabot cheddars are naturally aged and 100% naturally lactose-free, which I love.

Substitutions

This recipe is quite forgiving. Use what’s in your pantry to make it your own!

The diced tomatoes add flavor and are critical for this dish. If you don’t have the ones with the green chiles, be sure to add jalapenos, swap in a can of (drained) fire-roasted tomatoes, or play around by adding in a dose of chile powder, garlic powder, and cumin with the other dried spices.

If you don’t have smoked paprika or oregano on hand, these can both be left out. Smoked paprika adds a lovely smokiness to the dish but you can easily use chili powder and a little cumin to get a similar effect.

Want other easy vegetarian meals?

Roasted Broccoli Walnut Pasta
Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Curry
Spicy Cauliflower Peanut Stir-Fry

Black Bean & Rice Skillet

Marisa Moore, RDN

This vegetarian one-pot pantry meal is packed with black beans, brown rice, tomatoes and peppers then topped with creamy, Monterey jack cheese. It's the perfect weeknight meal!

4.69 from 19 votes

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Tex-Mex

Servings

Calories 283 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
▢ ¼ cup diced red onion
▢ ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
▢ 1½ cups cooked black beans (or 1-15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained)
▢ 2 cups cooked brown rice
▢ 1 10-oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
▢ ½ cup shredded Cabot Monterey Jack cheese
▢ Optional: fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeno peppers, green onions to garnish

Instructions

Heat the oil in an oven-safe 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion and paprika about 3 minutes.
Add the black beans, rice, and tomatoes to the skillet. Stir until combined and heat through, about 3-5 minutes.
Set oven to broil. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese. Broil on high 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts or is starting to turn golden brown. Serve warm topped with your favorite garnishes like cilantro, jalapeno peppers, avocado and green onions.

Notes

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

Dice the onion well so it falls into the background of the dish and you’re not stuck eating huge pieces of onion. The recipe doesn’t cook long so it won’t have time to cook down much.

Be sure to drain the tomatoes. Because the rice is cooked, you won’t need the additional liquid and it could cause the skillet to be a bit soggy.

Nutrition

Calories: 283kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 12gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 78mgPotassium: 332mgFiber: 8gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 232IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 137mgIron: 2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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