Description
This hearty rice and beans recipe brings together tender pinto beans, smoky sausage, and fluffy white rice in one deeply flavorful skillet. It’s savory, comforting, and full of textures—from crisped sausage bits to creamy beans and perfectly steamed rice. Ideal for cozy dinners, leftovers, or feeding a crowd without fuss.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 slices bacon, chopped
12 ounces smoked sausage, sliced into rounds
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups long grain white rice
1 ½ cups cooked pinto beans with liquid
2 ½ cups water
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped bacon and cook until it begins to render fat.
2. Add sliced sausage and cook until browned and crisp at the edges.
3. Stir in the chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Add the rice and stir to coat it in the fat, toasting lightly for 2 minutes.
5. Pour in pinto beans with their liquid and water. Season with salt and pepper. Stir everything together.
6. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover tightly with a lid and cook for 18–20 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and let rest, covered, for 5–10 minutes.
8. Fluff with a fork and garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley before serving.
Notes
Use the bean liquid instead of draining canned beans—this adds extra flavor and body to the rice.
Toast the rice before simmering for fluffier, non-sticky grains.
Let the dish rest covered after cooking so the rice can absorb the last of the steam.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 940mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: rice and beans, smoked sausage, comfort food