Mexican Rice and Beans Skillet with Sausage — A FAST and EASY recipe that’s loaded with Mexican-inspired flavors and ingredients! Break out of your chicken rut with this FLAVORFUL dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
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Easy Mexican Rice and Beans Skillet
I am always trying to change up our usual chicken dinners and if you’d like to do the same, this is just the recipe for you! This black beans and rice skillet is easy, ready in 15 minutes, and loaded with so many Mexican-inspired flavors and ingredients.
There are both sautéed sweet Vidalia onions and green onions for a savory punch. There are red bell peppers and corn for juicy texture and natural sweetness, black beans and rice add heartiness, and kielbasa adds a comfort food touch.
Everything is perfumed with garlic, cumin, and an optional pinch of cayenne pepper. It doesn’t make it hot but instead just adds flavor. Cilantro adds the quintessential Mexican sabor.
Mexican Skillet Ingredients
To make Mexican black beans and rice with sausage, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Sweet Vidalia onion
- Red bell pepper
- Pre-cooked sausage
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper
- Precooked Spanish rice
- Black beans
- Corn
- Chicken broth
- Green onions
- Fresh cilantro
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Mexican Sausage, Rice & Beans Skillet
- First, sauté the onions in some olive oil until softened and lightly browned.
- Stir in the red pepper, sausage, garlic, cumin, and cayenne and cook for a few more minutes.
- Add the rice, beans, corn, and broth and cook just until warmed through.
- The green onions and cilantro are stirred in last, just before serving.
Can I Use Another Type of Sausage?
Of course! I used turkey kielbasa in this sausage, beans, and rice skillet, but you can use your favorite type of sausage or kielbasa.
Just make sure you’re using a sausage that’s already been cooked rather than ‘fresh sausage’ that’s in casings that you’d need to cook — that’s not what we’re going for here.
You could even use ground sausage that you brown, cook, and crumble in a separate skillet, and then add that into the skillet with the onions, garlic, corn, beans, and rice.
Recipe Tips
Flexible Ingredients: If you don’t have red bell peppers on hand but have green peppers or want the heat that a jalapeno would add, go for it. Have some mushrooms or leftover shredded chicken to use? Throw them in.
Rice: I used precooked Spanish rice to both save time and add flavor but you can go with your favorite type of rice. Just make sure the rice is already cooked when adding it to the skillet.
Salt to Taste: Because I use no or low-salt products where ever possible, including the canned beans and chicken broth, I added additional salt to balance the flavor. If you’re using items that are already salted, you may wish to add less salt than I did or none at all. Taste and season as needed.
What To Serve With Mexican Sausage Skillet
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15-Minute Mexican Sausage, Black Beans, and Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large sweet Vidalia onion, diced small
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced small
- one 14-ounce precooked sausage, I used turkey kielbasa, sliced into thin rounds
- 3 to 5 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed
- 2 to 3 teaspoons cumin
- pinch cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
- one 8-ounce bag precooked Spanish rice, or your favorite type of cooked rice*
- one 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed (I use no-salt added)
- ¾ cup corn, I use frozen corn straight from the freezer
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 to 3 green onions, sliced into thin rounds
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, minced; or to taste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the olive oil, onions, and cook over medium-high heat until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes; stir frequently.
- Add the red pepper, sausage, garlic, cumin, optional cayenne, and stir to combine. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes; stir occasionally.
- Add the rice, beans, corn, broth, and stir to combine. Cook for about 3 minutes or until everything is warmed though; stir occasionally.
- Add the green onions, cilantro, salt, pepper, stir to combine, check for seasoning balance and if desired add more salt, pepper, cumin, etc.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- *I used precooked Spanish rice to both save time and add flavor but you can go with your favorite type of rice. Just make sure the rice is already cooked when adding it to the skillet.
- Leftovers will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Originally posted January 21, 2019 and republished January 5, 2023 with updated text.