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    Home » Gluten-Free » 30 Minute Black Beans and Lime Rice

    30 Minute Black Beans and Lime Rice

    Published: May 5, 2016 · Updated: Aug 17, 2024 by Marlena Luna · This post may contain affiliate links. · 27 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin SaveSaved!
    a close up of black beans and lime rice.

    Black Beans and Lime Rice makes a quick, 30-minute dinner or side.   Black beans are seasoned to perfection while the brown rice gets a generous dose of freshly squeezed lime juice. Top with fresh chopped cilantro and diced avocado for an easy meal.  Gluten-free and great for meal prep!

    A dinner bowl of black beans and lime rice with lime wedges.

     

    This simple yet delicious bowl of black beans and lime rice delivers a 'gotta have it' flavor.  Black beans, corn, and onion are simmered in a seasoned broth then mixed with homemade lime rice.

    This tasty Mexican-inspired dish will have you coming back for more.

     

    A single serving of black beans and lime rice.

     

    Tips for the black beans

    Sometimes canned black beans can be split and lead to one of my biggest pet peeves, "hollow bean skins”.  (It’s how I refer to this problem)  This happens when the skins break and the bean inside becomes a mush leaving hollowed out bean skins.

    Now I don’t know about you, but I want to eat the whole bean not just the skin.

    If you encounter the same problem hold off on adding them to the broth until the last 5 minutes of cook time.

     

    A dinner bowl of black beans and lime rice.

     

    Skip the sautéing 

    Black beans and rice have become a family favorite.  It's quick, easy and versatile.

    When I feel extra lazy I skip sautéing the onion.  Instead, I simmer all the bean ingredients together in a large saucepan.  (If the beans are split wait to add them.)

    It takes about 20-25 minutes for the onion to soften this way.  Since that is the only 'raw' ingredient in the pot it's all that needs to cook.  Once the onion has softened the beans are done!

     

    A bowl of black beans and lime rice with lime wedges.

     

    Serving Suggestions

    • Top your rice with a handful of chopped cilantro and extra freshly squeezed lime juice. For more flavor, add a bit of juice from the bean mixture.
    • To liven up the bowl and make it more filling add diced avocado and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
    • Black beans and lime rice make a great burrito filling. 
    • Serve it as a side with vegan tacos, potato tacos jackfruit tamales, or vegan taco soup.

    The options are endless!

     

    We'd love to hear from you!

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5 star rating in the recipe card and share your thoughts in the comments below.  Also, if you snap a photo be sure to share it with us! We love to see your creations! You can find us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

     

    Recipe

    A bowl of black beans and lime rice.

    30 Minute Black Beans and Lime Rice

    prep time: 10 minutes minutes
    cook time: 20 minutes minutes
    total time: 30 minutes minutes
    servings: 4 bowls
    Black Beans are perfectly spiced with cumin, paprika and optional cayenne for a kick.  The lime rice adds an authentic 'gotta have it taste', and a handful of cilantro completes the bowl!  Gluten-free!
    4.81 stars (31 reviews)
    Print Pin SaveSaved!

    Ingredients

    Black Beans

    • 2 (15-ounce) cans low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 small red onion, chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 cups vegetable broth, I use low sodium
    • ⅔ cup water
    • ⅔ cup corn, frozen, fresh, or canned
    • ½ teaspoons pink salt, or to taste (see notes)
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • Cayenne pepper to taste
    • Optional: chipotle powder for added flavor and heat

    Lime Rice

    • 2 cups uncooked brown rice
    • Juice of 2-3 limes

    Garnish

    • Fresh cilantro
    • Lime wedges
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    Instructions

    Cooking Rice

    • Cook the rice according to the package or rice cooker.
    • Once the rice has fully cooked, squeeze in the juice of 2-3 limes and mix.

    Cooking Beans

    • Meanwhile, in a large saucepan sauté the diced onion and garlic in 1 Tablespoon broth until it begins to turn translucent. Add more broth as needed. This will take about 5-7 minutes.
    • Once the onion begins to soften, mix in the seasonings and sauté for another minute.
    • Now add the broth, water, beans and corn to the saucepan. Cover and let simmer for 15 min.
    • Taste and adjust seasonings.

    To Serve

    • Add 1 cup of lime rice and 1 cup of drained bean mixture to your bowl. For extra flavor, mix in a spoonful or two of broth from the beans.
    • Serve with extra lime wedges, diced avocado, plenty of fresh cilantro, and a side of tortilla chips.

    Notes

    • Salt: I sometimes use up to 1 and ½ teaspoons for low sodium broth. Start with ½ teaspoon, taste, and add more if needed.
    • Tomatoes: To add more flavor to the beans, toss in a can of fire-roasted tomatoes.
    • Broth: If using a low sodium or light vegetable broth, omit the water and use all broth for more flavor.
    • For best flavor: Measure the seasoning using a full scoop, don't level.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 267kcal | Protein: 8g

    **Nutritional info is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients I used and for convenience and as a courtesy only.**

    course: Main Dishes
    cuisine: Mexican-American
    author: Marlena Luna
    Did you make this recipe?Please consider Leaving a Review!

     Note: This recipe makes enough to serve 4 as a main dish.  For a smaller portion or to serve as a side, the recipe can be cut in half.

    Cayenne Note: If you have spicy and non-spicy eaters, individually mix the cayenne pepper to each bowl before serving.

    *Recipe updated Jan 12, 2018


     

    a close up of black beans and lime rice.

     

    *Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. 

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    Comments

      4.81 from 31 votes (31 ratings without comment)

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    1. Laura

      July 20, 2021 at 4:58 pm

      This turned out incredibly wet. I’m actually really surprised since the photo shows nothing like what is in my pot - which is bean soup. I’ve had to let it simmer longer with lid off hoping that it will reduce.

      Reply
      • Marlena Luna

        July 23, 2021 at 3:14 pm

        The beans are cooked in a seasoned broth which may look like soup. They should be scooped out with a slotted spoon for serving. The rice is cooked separately. A serving of rice and a serving of beans are mixed together in each dinner bowl.

        Reply
    2. Lisa

      January 06, 2021 at 4:25 pm

      Honestly, if you like spicy food, this was kind of bland. Needed more cumin and chili powder for sure. Next time I'll skip the onion and garlic powder and just use a whole onion and two cloves of garlic and 1 Tbsp cumin and 2Tbsp chili powder. Liked the lime flavored rice. Served with cilantro, sliced lime, sliced avocado, diced green chilies and hot sauce.

      Reply
    3. Cecelia

      June 23, 2019 at 7:40 pm

      Wow, the fresh lime juice on the rice makes all the difference! I used an ear of fresh corn cut from the cob raw and it came out so good. Thanks for a great meal on its own or one I can use as a base for whatever is in the frig.

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein

        June 28, 2019 at 7:18 pm

        Fresh corn sounds wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe, Cecelia!

        Reply
    4. Christine Yates

      November 05, 2018 at 1:24 pm

      For whatever reason, I suspected this might not turn out well bc that tends to happen when I try a new recipe. I was so pleasantly surprised! I used half a white onion instead of red and no cayenne. I held back about a tsp of the seasonings in case I wanted to add more at the end but lo and behold...it was perfect! Perfectly spiced without overwhelming the tastebuds. The lime rice makes it perfect. Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        November 06, 2018 at 2:10 pm

        That's so great to hear Christine! New recipes can be daunting, so I'm glad this one came out perfect and you enjoyed it! :)

        Reply
    5. Jennifer

      February 24, 2018 at 2:47 pm

      How many calories in 1 cup?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        February 27, 2018 at 10:56 am

        Hi Jennifer! I'm in the process of finding a new recipe card so I can better provide nutritional facts. As of now I'm unsure how many calories are in 1 cup. I plugged the info into this nutrition calculator. I hope it helps!

        Reply
    6. Alexa

      January 20, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Would love to try this recipe but don’t have any broth at home. Is it okay to use all water instead of 2 cups brother and 2/3 cups water?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        January 21, 2018 at 4:36 pm

        Hi Alexa! I wouldn't recommend replacing the broth with only water. It would lose too much flavor.. If you have a bullion cube you can use 1 bullion cube and 2 cups of water in place of the broth.

        Reply
    7. Pam

      January 15, 2018 at 10:29 am

      Can I make this ahead for a meal prep idea?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        January 15, 2018 at 10:48 am

        Hi Pam! Yes, this is a great recipe for meal prep. Enjoy! :)

        Reply
    8. Melissa

      November 19, 2017 at 2:34 pm

      I'm wondering why you simmer canned beans and (I assume) canned corn in broth/spices for 15 minutes, then drain off the broth. Do the beans and corn absorb the flavours? How do they not get over cooked?
      Thanks :)

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        November 25, 2017 at 3:35 pm

        Yes, the beans and corn are simmered so they can absorb some of the flavors. If your beans are soft and you're worried about over cooking them, they can be added in at the end as well.

        Reply
    9. Polly Koch

      December 02, 2016 at 3:19 pm

      Can you serve this cold?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        December 02, 2016 at 7:13 pm

        I haven't tried it cold, but I'm sure it would be just fine. :)

        Reply
    10. Jodi

      November 02, 2016 at 2:54 pm

      Do you drain the beans or use the bean juice?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        November 02, 2016 at 4:12 pm

        The beans should be drained and rinsed before adding to the pot. :)

        Reply
    11. alex

      October 11, 2016 at 9:43 am

      Does this need to be covered while simmering?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        October 12, 2016 at 8:42 am

        I usually cover it to avoid the broth from evaporating too much, but it's fine either way.

        Reply
    12. Nicole

      July 29, 2016 at 12:18 pm

      I have a bottle of lime juice that I'd like to use. About how much juice would equal the amount in 2 - 3 limes?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        July 29, 2016 at 1:27 pm

        Hi Nicole! I would start with about 3-4 Tablespoons. Mix the lime juice in and taste the rice to see if you'd like to add more. Enjoy! :)

        Reply
    13. Fran

      July 24, 2016 at 10:27 am

      The recipe calls for 2/3 cup water: what do we do with the water?

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        July 24, 2016 at 10:33 am

        Hi Fran! The water is added to the pot along with the veggie broth and seasonings. I have revised the recipe to include the water. Enjoy! :)

        Reply
    14. Tanya B.

      May 09, 2016 at 6:24 pm

      Ok this is so delicious and easy to make! For sure going to be a go to meal!

      Reply
      • Where you get your protein!

        May 10, 2016 at 9:59 pm

        So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Tanya! :)

        Reply

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    Marlena Luna in a pink sweater holding a coffee mug.

    Hi, I’m Marlena the recipe creator behind Where You Get Your Protein! I love spending time in the kitchen cookin’ up delicious vegan comfort foods! Most of the ingredients I use are easy-to-find or pantry staples. Stick around and enjoy some amazing vegan food!

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