I do a lot of complicated things in the kitchen sometimes. This, luckily for you, is NOT one of them. I’d been making homemade Chicken Rice-a-Roni for a while but still needed a substitute for boxed Mexican rice as a side with tacos. I came up with something so delicious and so easy, even kids can make it!
Katie’s Mexican Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 1 can kidney or black beans (or dry equivalent)
- 2 Tbs. taco seasoning
- Optional add-ins:
- 1 cup frozen corn
- chopped onion
- chopped green peppers
- colored peppers
- chili peppers
- *For me, adding chopped onions and peppers keeps it as easy as a box mix because they’re always already prepped in my freezer. I just froze a bunch of farmer’s market peppers for the winter!
Instructions
- Here’s the trick to make it really taste like the boxed mix: Saute the rice first either in a dry pan or in a tad bit of butter (or both, one after the other). Keep stirring CONstantly, just like it says on the Rice-a-Roni boxes! You’re shooting for browned, not blackened, of course, so keep a close eye.
- THEN add the water, tomato sauce and taco seasoning.
- This works whether you’re soaking (see below) or not, and totally changes the mouth-feel and taste of the finished dish, definitely for the better.
- Bring to a boil and turn heat to low, covered, for 45 minutes (no peeking!).
- Add the beans and optional add-ins and simmer 5 more minutes until heated through.
Notes
To soak rice: Follow this method to soak brown rice. Drain the rice, saute dry rice (it will take almost 10 minutes to fully dry out and brown), and add the water and tomato sauce. If a lot of water seems to evaporate hitting the hot pot, add a few extra tablespoons.
White rice works great, you just use the cook time for the rice (usually 15 mins. for short grain and 20 mins. for basmati).
This recipe makes at least twice as much as your basic boxed mix, so be ready for leftovers.
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What in the World Is Soaking Grains?
What does the recipe mean when it says “to soak rice?” See this post for a very quick explanation of why soaking grains is a good idea and this one for specifics on soaking rice.
RELATED: Cooking Rice In The Instant Pot & Pressure Cooking Beans Without Soaking
The holidays are a tough time for healthy eating, especially when kids really just want to bake fun foods!
(If they want to get into the kitchen at all!)
Maybe…just this once…we should do something I don’t normally recommend.
What if we give them what they want?
If you’re ready for your kids to gain baking independence without sacrificing all the healthy standards you value, join the Holiday Baking Challenge! Now on sale for just $19, you get professionally filmed videos of me and my kids teaching you to make baking favorites with healthier ingredients.
Find more healthy food and healthy you inspiration:
- How to Tone your Tummy in the Kitchen!
- Got Leftover Canned Pumpkin?
- 10 Basic Instant Pot Techniques
- Meal Planning Basics for the Boss of the House
- Packing a Lunch: Healthy Food To Go
I have a big bag of bulgur wheat I bought and don’t want to waste it. Can this be soaked and used instead of the rice?
Lara,
Worth a shot, although the texture and taste would be different – I bet it would still be good! 🙂 Katie
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How can I use tomato paste instead of tomato sauce? Can I use 4 oz. of tomato paste and mix it with 4 oz. of water? Do you know what the ratio might be?
Btw…I’ve been going through your website all day and planning my menu and shopping list for the week. Thank you for sharing with us all 🙂
Farhaana,
Very cool, hope you enjoy the recipes! For this one, I do think just making sure you have the right total amount of liquid – 8 oz. – will be key in success. Using paste w/some water instead of sauce will probably just result in richer tomato flavor. 🙂 Katie
I made this for the second time tonight. My husband loves the spanish rice, and this was more mexican, so tonight I made it spanish! I used a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (all out of jars 🙁 ) instead of the paste, cut out the beans (we had them on the side) and did the rest as above. My husband said that they were “almost” as good, but I think it’s because I went shy on my seasonings, and next time I will increase that, and they will be perfect. Yay! Thank you so much!
Brook,
That’s a great variation; thank you for sharing!
🙂 Katie
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Hi Katie,
Should the beans be drained and rinsed before adding them to the rice? The chili recipe I use says to drain and rinse the beans before adding them. I always hate to throw out all that good cooking water. It seems like it would have so many nutrients in it, but it would definitely affect the consistency.
Thanks!
Angie
Angie,
Yes, drained and rinsed! The only way to keep the water for this one is if you could determine a way to cook the beans and then add the rice at just the right amount. That would be a possible way to use the water, but might change the taste.
🙂 Katie
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Was strolling down memory lane and forgot to say thanks for linking to Slightly Indulgent Mondays!
I could actually eat this as is…it looks great. I just asked my husband if he likes mexican rice – he does. So I’m putting it in the to make file.
My mom never made Rice-A-Roni or anything like it…everything was always from scratch. I think the first time I had Rice-A-Roni was when I was in high school at a friends house. 🙂
Amy,
I was excited that I actually had something GF to share with you! 🙂 Katie
I love all mexican food and rice is always a wonderful thing!
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Sounds and looks wonderful!! I know we will enjoy the homemade mexican rice dish!
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This looks delicious! I haven’t tried soaking grains before, so that will be a new thing for me too. I just love the info you offer here on your site 🙂 Thanks.
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Katie, this looks so yum!
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THANK YOU for posting this. We have been gluten-free for 3 months and I have missed Rice-a-Roni mexican rice. This recipe is GF as long as you check the taco seasoning!
This looks excellent! My family loves spanish rice and I can’t wait to try this recipe!