Pinto Beans and Rice

Using only two pantry staples, this popular potluck dish and quick weeknight side is the easiest pinto beans and rice recipe you’ll ever make. Thirty minutes of baking follows 10 minutes of prep and bam, it’s done.

Think pinto beans are blah? Think again! These beans are high in fiber and a good source of protein. There are so many ways to dress up pinto beans and rice! Switching out seasonings and infusing a little bit of Latin love in them to serve with tacos or maybe go Italian with oregano, rosemary and thyme.

This pinto beans and rice recipe is one of our favorite recipes using pinto beans. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to throw together!

Ingredients for Pinto Beans and Rice

• Onion: Yellow onions are common and accessible. Also, its texture and flavor don’t wither under high heat.
• Vegetable Oil: This type of oil is best because it can withstand high heat, up to 450°F.
• Ketchup: Yes, the same kind of ketchup you dip fries in.
• Brown Sugar: Adding just a little bit of brown sugar mellows out the savory flavors in our pinto beans and rice recipe without it getting too sweet.
• Mustard: You can use French (yellow) or Dijon mustard, although Dijon’s spicy flavor is preferred.
• Liquid Smoke: Sold in a jar at grocery retailers, this water-soluble liquid flavoring adds a wood-smoke accent.
• Long Grain Rice: Skip short-grain rice in favor of this drier-style rice that is less sticky.
• Pinto Beans: These tan-colored beans are higher in carbs, fiber and calories than black beans.

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven.

Your oven should be preheated to 350°F.

Step 2: Chop and sauté the onion.

Chop a large onion into small pieces. Do not mince them, but cut them into 1/2-inch pieces. Then in a large skillet add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and the chopped onions. Sauté until the onion is tender, remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

Step 3: Add the other ingredients.

Stir the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, salt and pepper into the skillet. Mix well and only add liquid smoke if desired. It is an optional ingredient.

Step 4: Rinse and drain beans and combine

Use cold water to rinse the beans lightly. Add the uncooked rice and beans to other ingredients already in the skillet.

Editor’s Tip: Use a stainless-steel colander to drain the beans. The openings are only slightly smaller than the beans and nearly all the water drains out easily.

Step 5: Transfer to a baking dish and bake

Move the mixed ingredients to a greased 1-1/2 quart baking dish. Bake the beans and rice uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes or until the pinto beans and rice are heated through.

Editor’s Tip: If you can, use a glass baking dish. Metal, when removed from the oven, cools down faster than glass and if you plan to serve this dish right away you’ll want to keep it warm, of course!

Pinto Beans and Rice Variations

• Add South-of-the-border accents: Cumin and chili powder make pinto beans and rice more Mexican-inspired and are the perfect side to tacos or another Mexican entrée.
• Make these Italian: Adding oregano and garlic gives you an Italian rice dish to pair with chicken or another meat.
• Create a soup: Keeping this recipe as-is but adding four cups of vegetable broth turns this into a fiber-rich soup.

How to Store Pinto Beans and Rice

While we think your household will chow down on this recipe, you may have leftovers. Simply cover and place them in the fridge, in a separate container or the baking dish itself. Cooked beans last in the fridge between three and five days.

Can you Freeze Pinto Beans and Rice?

It’s totally fine to freeze leftover cooked rice and beans and there’s not much you need to do to prep. Frozen rice lasts for up to a month if stored in an airtight container or reusable freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy, remove the rice from its container or bag, place it in a microwave-safe dish and reheat.

Pinto Beans and Rice Tips

Do I really need to rinse the pinto beans?

You don’t want to skip this step! Rinsing the beans removes up to 41% of sodium and makes this dish healthier. according to The Bean Institute. Thankfully, the flavor profile does not change.

Can I make the pinto beans and rice recipe ahead of time?

This is a great recipe to make the day prior.  Let it cool in the baking dish before you store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When it’s time to eat, simply microwave and enjoy. Avoid the temptation of breaking the dish in the oven as you want to keep the rice as fluffy as possible. Cooking it twice at oven temperature can make it hard.

What does liquid smoke add to the recipe?

This shortcut adds the flavor of wood-smoked beans to the recipe minus the time it would take to smoke them on a grill.