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Vegan Red Beans And Rice

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This Vegan Red Beans and Rice recipe seasoned with garlic, onion, paprika, and oregano is the ultimate comfort classic. This red bean and rice recipe is easily adaptable to the Instant Pot and the Crock pot for those busy nights.

vegan red beans and rice

I love to eat healthy and one of the ways that I do this is by preparing Simple Vegan recipes into our meal plan each week.

Vegan red beans and rice canned beans is one of my favorite Vegan recipes for so many reasons. I love how easy and versatile it is because you can spice it up or down and add different flavors to it depending on who I am making it for.

It’s such an easy comfort classic that I know you are going to love too. 

💗Why You’ll Love This Easy Vegan Dinner

This recipe is SO EASY to make and contains simple ingredients that we all keep stocked in our pantry. 

It is a meatless dish. I often try to incorporate meatless dishes into our meal plan to not only save money at the grocery store, but to change it up from eating meat every single night.

Its Vegan. I know I am being asked a lot to do more vegan and plant-based recipes, so this is one of my favorite Vegan recipes. 

Perfect on busy nights if you don’t have a ton of time to prep, and really easy to cook in the Instant pot or the crock pot (directions to alter recipe included)

This dish is versatile. You can serve this recipe just as beans and rice or you can make so many other meals using Vegan Red Beans and Rice as a base.

It is easily doubled and freezes great.

What goes with Vegan Red Beans and Rice? You can pretty much pair anything with beans and rice, but I love to pair it with my Maple Cinnamon Air Fryer Butternut Squash or this brussel sprout salad with apples

📖How to Make Vegan Red Beans and Rice With Canned Beans

Making Vegan Red Beans and Rice is really quite simple. With a few basic ingredients and simple steps you will have a perfect home cooked meal ready in under an hour. 

1️⃣ In a medium sized pot, heat avocado oil over medium high heat.  Add in onion, celery and garlic. Saute for 6-8 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. 

2️⃣ Add in the tomato paste, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and dried oregano and saute for another 3-5 minutes. 

3️⃣ Add canned red kidney beans, vegetable stock and bay leaves to the pot and stir to combine. 

4️⃣ Turn down heat to medium low and let simmer for 30-40 minutes or until raw tomato flavor is cooked through.

5️⃣ Adjust seasonings if necessary. Stir in cooked rice or serve rice on top.

vegan red beans and rice

🍚Slow Cooker Version

1️⃣ You first will want to saute your garlic, onion, and celery in a pan with with your avocado oil for 6-7 minutes.

2️⃣ Once tender, then add all the contents of your pan to your crock pot along with all the other ingredients, except your canned red kidney beans. 

3️⃣ Cook this on a low setting for 3 hours and thirty minutes. Do not let it simmer all day because the consistency will change. 

4️⃣ Then right before serving, add beans and fluff your rice. 

🥘Instant Pot Vegan Red Beans & Rice

1️⃣ To cook your canned red beans and rice recipe no meat in the Instant Pot you will first want to saute your onions, celery, and garlic in a pan with your avocado oil for 6-7 minutes, or until your vegetables are tender. 

2️⃣ Then you will then pour 2 cups of vegetable stock into your Instant Pot. Then add the rice and all your other ingredients, except for your canned red kidney beans. Close your instant pot and turn to manual high pressure for 24 minutes. 

3️⃣ Once done, do a natural release for 15 minutes, then open your instant pot add your canned red kidney beans and fluff your rice with a fork. 

❔FAQ

Can you freeze rice and beans?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze rice and beans! I love to make a huge pot of red beans and rice, some to eat now and some to eat later! The Vegan rice and beans that I eat later, I let cool to room temperature, then I double wrap them and get as much air out as possible (by double Ziplock bagging it, or using a food saver) out to prevent it from getting freezer burn. 

How do you reheat red beans and rice?

Once your beans and rice have been frozen reheating them is quite easy. You want to reheat them as quickly as possible.
The best way to do this it to reheat them in a frying pan with 1-2 tablespoons of water. You will do this on low heat. As they cook you want to stir the rice and beans and break up the clumps. Cook until desired temperature.  
You can also put your vegan red beans and rice in a microwave safe container in 1 minute increments, stirring after each minute. This does tend to dry them out a bit so a secret to make them less dry is to put a cup of water in the microwave with your rice and red beans as they cook. 
You never want to let your red beans and rice sit out to defrost or in the fridge. This will cause your rice to become very soggy. 

How long do red beans and rice last?

You will want to store this easy red beans and rice recipe in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last about 4-6 days. 

Can Vegans eat red beans and rice?

Yes, Vegans can eat red beans and rice! In fact it is a great vegan recipe for you to always have on hand. This is because it is especially important if you are eating a vegan diet to make sure that you are always getting enough protein. Vegan rice and beans provide lots of protein both through the red kidney beans as well as the rice. 

How do you thicken beans and rice?

If you find your red beans and rice to thin it is easy to thicken it up. You will want to mix 2 Tablespoons corn flour with enough water to dissolve the corn flour. You will then mix this into your beans and rice and stir for about a minute. This will thicken up your beans. 

What ingredients can I add to this easy red beans and rice recipe?

The sky’s the limit when adding ingredients to beans and rice! If you are meat lovers, you can add any type of meat you would like. If you love spicy food, you can add some more spice, and if you love vegetables, you can add all kinds of things like corn, extra tomatoes, squashes, etc. 

Are the red beans and rice at Popeye’s vegan?

Red beans and rice can be found at Popeye’s chicken. This would make for a great meal, however if you are gluten free or vegan, ordering this at Popeye’s would not be ideal as the sauce is made with pork fat and the sauce thickening agent may be flour and contain gluten. Therefore Popeye’s red beans and rice is not vegan or gluten free. 

How do you season canned red beans?

when purchasing canned beans to make this recipe, make sure there isn’t extra seasoning in the ingredients. The spices used in this recipe will season your beans perfectly. Make sure you drain and rinse them! 

Can I use Dried Beans in the Instant Pot?

You can use dried beans to make your easy Vegan Red beans and rice. To do this you will want to increase your liquid, I would do 2 cups of vegetable stock and 3 cups of water and add the beans when you add the rice. 
If beans rise to the top and look dehydrated when you open the Instant pot, just mix them up and place the lid back on and let them sit for about 10 minutes.   

vegan red beans and rice

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vegan red beans and rice

Vegan Red Beans And Rice

This Vegan Red Beans and Rice recipe seasoned with garlic, onion, paprika, and oregano is the ultimate comfort classic. This red bean and rice recipe is easily adaptable to the Instant Pot and the Crock pot for those busy nights.
4.20 from 61 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 358kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 15 oz cans Red Kidney Beans
  • 2 tsp Fresh Garlic minced
  • 1 cup White Onion diced
  • 1 cup Celery diced
  • 3 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 2 cups Vegetable Stock
  • 2 tsp Avocado Oil
  • 2 cups White Rice cooked
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • ¼ tsp Cayenne Pepper
  • ½ tsp Dried Oregano
  • 2 Bay Leaves

Instructions

  • In a medium sized pot, heat avocado oil over medium high heat.  Add in onion, celery and garlic. Saute for 6-8 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften. 
  • Add in the tomato paste, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and dried oregano and saute for another 3-5 minutes. 
  • To the pot, add canned red kidney beans, vegetable stock and bay leaves and stir to combine. Turn down heat to medium low and let simmer for 30-40 minutes or until raw tomato flavor is cooked through.
  • Adjust seasonings if necessary. Stir in cooked rice or serve rice on top.

Notes

Can you freeze rice and beans? Yes, you can absolutely freeze rice and beans! I love to make a huge pot of red beans and rice, some to eat now and some to eat later! The Vegan rice and beans that I eat later, I let cool to room temperature, then I double wrap them and get as much air out as possible (by double Ziplock bagging it, or using a food saver) out to prevent it from getting freezer burn. 
How do you reheat red beans and rice? Once your beans and rice have been frozen reheating them is quite easy. You want to reheat them as quickly as possible.
The best way to do this it to reheat them in a frying pan with 1-2 tablespoons of water. You will do this on low heat. As they cook you want to stir the rice and beans and break up the clumps. Cook until desired temperature.  
You can also put your vegan red beans and rice in a microwave safe container in 1 minute increments, stirring after each minute. This does tend to dry them out a bit so a secret to make them less dry is to put a cup of water in the microwave with your rice and red beans as they cook. 
You never want to let your red beans and rice sit out to defrost or in the fridge. This will cause your rice to become very soggy. 
How long do red beans and rice last? You will want to store this easy red beans and rice recipe in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last about 4-6 days. 
Can Vegans eat red beans and rice? Yes, Vegans can eat red beans and rice! In fact it is a great vegan recipe for you to always have on hand. This is because it is especially important if you are eating a vegan diet to make sure that you are always getting enough protein. Vegan rice and beans provide lots of protein both through the red kidney beans as well as the rice. 
How do you thicken beans and rice? If you find your red beans and rice to thin it is easy to thicken it up. You will want to mix 2 Tablespoons corn flour with enough water to dissolve the corn flour. You will then mix this into your beans and rice and stir for about a minute. This will thicken up your beans. 
What ingredients can I add to this easy red beans and rice recipe? The sky’s the limit when adding ingredients to beans and rice! If you are meat lovers, you can add any type of meat you would like. If you love spicy food, you can add some more spice, and if you love vegetables, you can add all kinds of things like corn, extra tomatoes, squashes, etc. 
Are the red beans and rice at Popeye’s vegan? Red beans and rice can be found at Popeye’s chicken. This would make for a great meal, however if you are gluten free or vegan, ordering this at Popeye’s would not be ideal as the sauce is made with pork fat and the sauce thickening agent may be flour and contain gluten. Therefore Popeye’s red beans and rice is not vegan or gluten free. 
How do you season canned red beans? when purchasing canned beans to make this recipe, make sure there isn’t extra seasoning in the ingredients. The spices used in this recipe will season your beans perfectly. Make sure you drain and rinse them! 
Can you cook this easy red beans and rice recipe in the crock pot? Yes, this recipe is easily adaptable to the crock pot!
  1. You first will want to saute your garlic, onion, and celery in a pan with with your avocado oil for 6-7 minutes.
  2. Once tender, then add all the contents of your pan to your crock pot along with all the other ingredients, except your canned red kidney beans. 
  3. Cook this on a low setting for 3:30 hours. Do not let it simmer all day because the consistency will change. 
  4. Then right before serving, add beans and fluff your rice. 

How do you cook Vegan Red Beans and Rice in the Instant Pot?

  1. To cook your Vegan Rice and Beans in the Instant Pot you will first want to saute your onions, celery, and garlic in a pan with your avocado oil for 6-7 minutes, or until your vegetables are tender. 
  2. Then you will then pour 2 cups of vegetable stock into your Instant Pot. Then add the rice and all your other ingredients, except for your canned red kidney beans. Close your instant pot and turn to manual high pressure for 24 minutes. 
  3. Once done, do a natural release for 15 minutes, then open your instant pot add your canned red kidney beans and fluff your rice with a fork. 
Can I use Dried Beans in the Instant Pot? You can use dried beans to make your easy Vegan Red beans and rice. To do this you will want to increase your liquid, I would do 2 cups of vegetable stock and 3 cups of water and add the beans when you add the rice. 
If beans rise to the top and look dehydrated when you open the Instant pot, just mix them up and place the lid back on and let them sit for about 10 minutes.   

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 482mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 4g

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8 Comments

  1. Just made this for dinner tonight and it was so easy and delicious! I love that I can use canned beans to make this extra simple. I will definitely be making these beans again!

    1. Valentina! Hi! I agree. Canned beans are a huge time saver. I hope you’re doing well! -Krista (Team Thyme & JOY)

  2. This is delicious! Thank you for the recipe. Money is tight right now and this made a satisfying and filling meal for my crew.

  3. 5 stars
    I honestly didn’t have high hopes for the recipe. I made it because it appeared to be very easy and I had all the ingredients on hand. Oh boy was I surprised, this recipe is delcious! I don’t usually measure my seasoning, but for some reason I did with this. I followed the recipe exactly with the exception of using olive oil because I don’t have avocado oil. I also mashed some of the beans when it was done because I prefer the texture that way. The flavors in this dish popped. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It’s my first time on your site, but I will definitely check out some of your other recipes.

4.20 from 61 votes (60 ratings without comment)

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