Best 7 Healthy Red Beans And Rice Recipes

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Red beans and rice is a hearty, classic Southern dish that is easy to make and packed with flavor. It is also a great way to use up leftover red beans. This versatile dish can be served as a main course or a side dish, and it can be made with a variety of different ingredients. Some common variations include adding sausage, chicken, or vegetables. No matter how you choose to make it, red beans and rice is a delicious and satisfying meal.

This article features three different recipes for red beans and rice. The first recipe is a classic red beans and rice recipe that is made with dried red beans and includes instructions for using a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, or stovetop. The second recipe is a vegetarian red beans and rice recipe that uses canned red beans and includes instructions for using a slow cooker or stovetop. The third recipe is a red beans and rice casserole recipe that is made with canned red beans and includes instructions for using a slow cooker or oven. All three recipes are easy to follow and result in a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

CHARLESTON RED RICE



Charleston Red Rice image

This classic Red Rice is a Lowcountry side dish of long grain white rice that's baked with bacon, onion, garlic and tomato!

Provided by Blair Lonergan

Categories     Side Dish

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 strips bacon, chopped
¼ cup salted butter
1 onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
2 cups water
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish; set aside.
  • In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 7-8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the drippings in the pan. Melt butter in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until the onion softens, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, kosher salt, sugar and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute.
  • Add the bacon, water and rice. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced slightly, about 8-10 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet as you stir.
  • Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Cover and bake until the rice is tender, about 40-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
  • Fluff the rice, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 /6 of the recipe, Calories 261 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 12 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 28 mg, Sodium 952 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g

THE BEST BAKED RICE AND BEANS



The Best Baked Rice and Beans image

Due to certain worldwide events, I've been getting lots of requests for easy, hearty recipes that can be made using basic dry and canned goods. This incredibly delicious Spanish-style baked rice and beans is all that and more. You'll also see a fantastic, foolproof way of making perfect rice, every time. Garnish with Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, and chopped cilantro, if you like.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Rice     Beans and Rice Recipes

Time 1h20m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 cups basmati rice
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ cup olive oil
1 (16 ounce) jar tomato salsa
2 cups chicken broth
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Pour white rice into a casserole dish and season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and oregano. Pour in olive oil and stir until rice is thoroughly coated with oil. Add salsa, chicken broth, and kidney beans; stir until evenly combined. Cover very tightly with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until rice is tender, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Remove foil, taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, and fluff with a fork. Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 422.2 calories, Carbohydrate 76.1 g, Cholesterol 1.5 mg, Fat 8.6 g, Fiber 8.3 g, Protein 12.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 1344.2 mg, Sugar 2.3 g

MEXICAN RICE AND BEANS



Mexican Rice and Beans image

Spicy, delicious Mexican rice and beans.

Provided by Afzal Najam

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Rice     Beans and Rice Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 small poblano pepper, diced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup basmati rice
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups vegetable broth
1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Steps:

  • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, poblano pepper, and garlic; saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add rice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is completely coated in oil, about 2 minutes. Season with paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Add vegetable broth and pinto beans. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let stand for at least 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 347.7 calories, Carbohydrate 59.2 g, Fat 8.8 g, Fiber 6.9 g, Protein 9.8 g, SaturatedFat 1.3 g, Sodium 624.3 mg, Sugar 3.9 g

AUTHENTIC NEW ORLEANS RED BEANS AND RICE



Authentic New Orleans Red Beans and Rice image

Just like mom makes. I recommend cooking the day before you want to eat it. It is a time-consuming recipe and the taste gets even better after 24 hours in the refrigerator. For extra spice, add a splash of hot sauce.

Provided by Matt

Categories     Side Dish     Rice Side Dish Recipes

Time 5h30m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 tablespoon shortening, or as needed
1 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
8 cups water
1 pound dried red beans
1 smoked ham hock
1 pound smoked sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon Creole seasoning (such as Tony Chachere's®)
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried sage
1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®), or to taste
3 cups cooked white rice

Steps:

  • Melt shortening in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion, garlic, and bell pepper in hot shortening until tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Combine water, red beans, and ham hock in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir onion mixture into the water; add smoked sausage and celery to the boiling water; return to a boil. Stir bay leaves, Creole seasoning, thyme, and sage into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 5 hours.
  • Remove and discard ham hock and bay leaves; stir in hot pepper sauce and serve over white rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 465.1 calories, Carbohydrate 44.1 g, Cholesterol 44.5 mg, Fat 20.5 g, Fiber 12.1 g, Protein 25.9 g, SaturatedFat 7 g, Sodium 861.3 mg, Sugar 2.9 g

RED BEANS AND RICE



Red Beans and Rice image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 4h40m

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound dried red beans (soaked overnight)
1 large yellow onion, diced
1 1/2 celery stalks, diced
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or minced
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup olive oil
3 to 4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 cups cooked rice

Steps:

  • Drain the beans, discarding the water, and set them aside in a pot.
  • Place the onion, celery, garlic and bay leaves in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over them and let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  • Pour the olive oil and vegetables over the beans and let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Add enough of the water to cover the beans and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer, add the salt and pepper, cover, and cook until the beans are tender, about 3 to 4 hours. Remove the bay leaves and serve the hot beans over the rice.

RED BEANS AND RICE



Red Beans and Rice image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time P1DT3h45m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 pound dried red kidney beans
8 cups vegetable or chicken stock, plus more as needed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 pounds seasoning meats, such as tasso, ham ends, ham bone or pickled pork, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup liquid smoke
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons granulated garlic
1 tablespoon granulated onion
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional
2 to 3 dried bay leaves
Kosher salt
8 ounces pecan- or hickory-smoked andouille sausage, sliced on the bias
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
Louisiana-style hot sauce, for serving
Yellow or Creole mustard, for serving

Steps:

  • Put the beans in a large bowl and add enough stock to cover by about 1 inch. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours. (Water is not recommended for soaking the beans as it adds nothing to the flavor and does not soften the beans quite as well as stock does.)
  • Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil to a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the celery and bell peppers, and cook until softened, slightly brown and giving off a pleasant aroma, about 3 minutes. Then add the seasoning meats and chopped garlic, and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Divide in half and reserve.
  • Remove the beans from the refrigerator (they will have expanded nicely and their skins should be bursting by now). Add the beans and soaking liquid to a large stockpot, and add additional stock to cover the beans by several inches.
  • Set the stockpot on the stove, bring it to a slight boil and reduce to a heavy simmer. Stirring vigorously, add the liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, granulated onion, black pepper, brown sugar if using, bay leaves and half of the seasoning meat mixture. Simmer for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. (To get "New Orleans cream-style" beans, which are preferable, you can continue to simmer until the beans break down, about 1 hour more.) Season with salt, remove from the heat and let cool in the stockpot to room temperature. Refrigerate overnight. (The beans can be eaten after seasoning with salt, but refrigerating them overnight improves the flavor of the dish.)
  • Remove the stockpot from the refrigerator and gently reheat on the stove, stirring in 1/2 cup stock to loosen up the coagulated bean mixture. When the beans reach a boil, reduce to a heavy simmer, stirring frequently as to not let the beans at the bottom of the pot burn. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
  • Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Add the andouille sausage and cook until brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side.
  • Bring 3 cups water to a boil in a small stockpot. Add the rice, bring it back to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Cover the stockpot, remove from the heat and let steam for 15 minutes. Remove the lid and transfer the rice to a small baking sheet to cool slightly.
  • Reheat the remaining seasoning meat mixture. Divide the seasoning meat mixture, beans and andouille sausage among bowls, top with a scoop of rice, and sprinkle with the green onions and parsley. Serve with hot sauce and mustard.

HEARTY RED BEANS AND RICE



Hearty Red Beans and Rice image

I take this dish to many potlucks and never fail to bring home an empty pot. I learned about the mouthwatering combination of meats, beans and seasonings while working for the Navy in New Orleans. If you want to get a head start, cover the beans with the water and let them soak overnight. Drain them the next day and continue with the recipe as directed. -Kathy Jacques, Summerfield, Florida

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Side Dishes

Time 2h15m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 pound dried kidney beans
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 quart water
1/2 pound fully cooked ham, diced
1/2 pound fully cooked smoked sausage, diced
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Hot cooked rice

Steps:

  • Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 1 to 4 hours or until softened. , Drain beans, discarding liquid. Add the garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute ham and sausage until lightly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon to bean mixture. Saute onion and celery in drippings until tender. Add minced garlic cloves; cook 1 minute longer. Add to bean mixture. Stir in tomato sauce and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until beans are tender. , Discard bay leaves. Measure 2 cups beans; mash and return to the bean mixture. Stir in the parsley, salt and pepper. Serve over rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 276 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 1149mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 8g fiber), Protein 18g protein.

Tips:

  • Soak the beans overnight: This will help to reduce the cooking time and make the beans more digestible. If you don't have time to soak the beans overnight, you can quick-soak them by boiling them for 1 minute, then letting them sit for 1 hour.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This will add flavor and nutrients to the dish. Some good options include onions, celery, carrots, bell peppers, and corn.
  • Season the dish well: Red beans and rice is a flavorful dish, so don't be afraid to use plenty of spices. Some good options include garlic, onion powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
  • Cook the rice separately: This will help to prevent the rice from becoming mushy.
  • Serve with your favorite toppings: Some good options include hot sauce, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

Conclusion:

Red beans and rice is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover beans. With a few simple tips, you can make a pot of red beans and rice that your family will love.

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