Super Easy Brown Rice and Black Beans (Rice Cooker, Oil-Free & Plant-Based)
This oil-free brown rice and black beans recipe is as simple as it gets and is a whole-food, plant-based meal. You can make it effortlessly in a rice cooker. It’s ideal for meal prep. It suits busy weeknights, or anyone looking for a foolproof way to cook fluffy brown rice without oil.
Post Date: September 7, 2023
Updated: February 5, 2026
Posted by: Donna SpencerThis post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
This was one of the first recipes I made on my whole-food, plant-based journey. Now, it’s my go-to ‘no thinking required’ dinner. Got rice, beans, and a few fridge leftovers? Boom—dinner done, always delicious, with enough leftovers to make another weeknight a breeze.
Why This Oil-Free Brown Rice Works Every Time in a Rice Cooker
It’s super easy—just three ingredients, and your rice cooker does all the work: 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup black beans, and 2–2½ cups liquid (salsa is our favorite!).
Want to add more flavor or veggies? Toss in a handful of chopped onion, corn, or peppers. You can also add sweet potato, jalapeños, or leftover tomatoes. Just chop them small so everything cooks evenly.
This recipe is satisfying and inexpensive. It is totally WFPB-friendly. It is perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep. Use it whenever you need a no-fuss dinner that never disappoints.
Why This Oil-Free Brown Rice Works Every Time in a Rice Cooker
Why is it super easy? It’s super easy. You only need three ingredients. Your rice cooker does all the work. You need 1 cup rice, 1 cup black beans, and 2 cups liquid (may need ½ cup more). Options: diced tomatoes, salsa, or half salsa + half water.
If you have a little bit of chopped onion in the veggie bin, threw it in. Other good add-ins would be corn, tomatoes, peppers, sweet potato, jalapenos, or carrots. YUMMMM! Satisfying, easy, inexpensive, delicious, and WFPB!
Common Rice Cooker Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Avoid these common brown rice mistakes to ensure perfectly tender, fluffy grains every time:
- Using too little liquid: Brown rice needs more liquid than white rice, especially without oil. If the rice isn’t tender after one cycle, add ½ cup water and run a second cycle.
- Skipping the rinse: Not rinsing brown rice can lead to gummy or unevenly cooked grains.
- Adding large veggie chunks: Chop vegetables small so they cook evenly with the rice.
How to Turn This Into a Complete Meal
Serve this oil-free brown rice and black beans:
- In a burrito bowl with lettuce, salsa, Fresh Peach Pico di Gallo, and Lime Avocado Creme
- As a taco filling
- Stuffed into bell peppers or sweet potatoes
- Alongside roasted veggies or a simple green salad
Meal Prep Tips for Brown Rice and Black Beans
Doubling this recipe makes meal prep easy for the week. Once cooled, portion the rice and beans into individual containers for quick grab-and-go lunches. For the best flavor, add fresh lime juice or herbs after reheating. You can also freeze portions for up to two months, making this a great option for easy, last-minute meals.
Grocery List
Produce
Veggies
Pantry
Brown Rice
Black Beans
Salsa
Mexican spices
Misc
Water
Salt
Pepper
Add-Ins and Substitutions
Today I had a little bit of chopped onion in the veggie bin, so I threw it in. 😉 Other good add-ins would be corn, peppers, sweet potato, jalapenos, carrots, or leftover tomatoes.
The 2 to 2-1/2 cups of liquid could be a can of diced tomatoes. Alternatively, you can use a jar of salsa. Another option is to combine half salsa and half water.
If you are not using salsa, add spices. Use 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, and/or garlic powder. Try adding in a few pinches of dried herbs such as parsley, Mexican oregano, or marjoram if you have them.
Storing
Best if eaten within 2 days. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Nutrition 411
What makes brown rice so good for you? It is the fact that it’s whole—a whole grain. Grains are considered whole when their three original parts are intact: the bran, germ, and endosperm. A grain’s bran is its fibrous outer skin. The germ is its embryo, which has the potential to sprout into a new plant. The endosperm is the germ’s starchy food supply. (P. NPV, Joye IJ. Dietary fibre from whole grains and their benefits on metabolic health. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3045. doi:10.3390/nu12103045). You don’t want to miss out on the bran. It appears to be the reason why it takes longer to digest brown rice compared to white rice. Eating brown rice could help prevent your blood sugar levels from getting too high. This happens in comparison to when you eat white rice. (trusted source).
Black beans have numerous health benefits. They are a nutritional powerhouse. They improve blood sugar control. They also reduce the risk of developing certain chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes (1Trusted Source). Their protein is highly digestible, with a digestibility of 79%. In fact, black beans are considered an ecologically sustainable protein source compared with animal-based sources. They are rich in plant-based protein, fiber, and numerous vitamins and minerals. However, their mineral content may vary, and your body may not absorb iron well due to the presence of anti-nutrients.
Super Easy Brown Rice and Black Beans (Rice Cooker)
Equipment
- Rice Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- 1 cup cooked black beans
- 2 cups liquid May need 1/2 cup more. The liquid could be a large can of diced tomatoes, a jar of salsa, or half salsa and water.
- 1/4-1 cup Up to 1 cup of leftover chopped veggies consider:: onions, corn, peppers, sweet potatoes, jalapenos, or carrots.
- ½ teaspoon each of salt, pepper, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, and/or garlic powder
- 1 pinch dried herbs such as parsley, Mexican oregano, or marjoram or whatever you have on hand.
Instructions
- In your rice cooker, place 1 cup of uncooked brown rice, 1 cup of black beans, and 2 cups of liquid.
- Add in up to 1 cup of any leftover veggies you might have.
- The 2 cups of liquid could be a can of diced tomatoes, a jar of salsa, or a half salsa and water.
- If not using salsa, add desired spices such as 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, and/or garlic powder.
- If desired, add in a few pinches of dried herbs such as parsley, Mexican oregano, or marjoram if you have them.
- Set rice cooker to "rice" setting for one cycle.
- At the end of that cycle, check for rice doneness. If needed add another 1/2 cup water and set to "rice" setting once again for a second cycle.
- Let sit for 3-5 minutes, then serve with lime.
Nutrition
❓FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you make brown rice and black beans in a rice cooker?
Yes. You can cook brown rice and black beans together easily in a rice cooker. Use the brown rice setting or standard cook cycle.
2. Do you need oil to cook brown rice in a rice cooker?
No. Brown rice cooks perfectly in a rice cooker without oil as long as you use enough liquid.
3. What liquid is best for brown rice in a rice cooker?
Salsa, diced tomatoes, or water all work well. Salsa adds flavor and keeps the recipe oil-free and plant-based.
4. Should you rinse brown rice before cooking it?
Yes. Rinsing brown rice removes excess starch and helps prevent sticky or gummy rice.
5. How long does brown rice and black beans last in the fridge?
Stored in an airtight container, brown rice and black beans last up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
More Rice PF Recipes
Italian Rice Pudding (No Dairy)
Beet Black Bean Burger
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