Pinto beans and rice are a good cheap eat, especially when you top them with chips, salsa, and some other goodies. They make a filling meal to help you save money and eat well.

Are you looking for an easy, affordable meal that doesn’t look or taste like fast food? There’s nothing so homey and down to earth than a bowl of beans and rice.

Beans and rice are welcomed the world over as hearty, home-cooked fare that won’t break the bank. Combined they make a complex carbohydrate that is filling and affordable.

While you might raise an eyebrow over the humble beans and rice, consider how much that fancy pants eatery charges for a “burrito bowl”!

Beans and rice are basically the same thing — only a whole lot cheaper.

Pinto Beans and Rice

We eat homemade pinto beans and rice at least once a week for dinner. Sometimes they are side dishes, but often they make the bulk of the meal.

Fun fact: This dish helped us get out of debt!

While I sometimes lean on canned beans, I save money when I cook my own pinto beans to serve alongside “from scratch” Mexican rice. No boxed rice mixes around here!

We’ve found that these homemade varieties taste better than the canned and boxed versions, and generally the homemade version is less expensive as well.

Do you have to use pinto beans?

No, you can really use whatever cooked bean you prefer, though I don’t recommend green beans.

Black and pinto beans are the most common used in burrito bowls.

What do you eat with rice and beans?

In fact, during very lean times, like when we were paying off a ton of debt, I served beans and rice three or four times a week! Sometimes we might have just beans and rice and perhaps a little cheese. But know that this humble meal can turn into something special when you “dude it up” with toppings.

I make my own fresh salsa because it’s very inexpensive. I buy the other toppings on sale whenever possible.

What meat do you eat with beans and rice?

While beans and rice make a perfect meatless meal, your people might enjoy a little meat atop their homemade burrito bowls. The great thing about this dish is that you can use up all kinds of leftover cooked meats from previous meals on these bean and rice bowls!

Consider adding:

shredded chicken

grilled and chopped chicken

pulled pork

shredded beef

ground taco meat

What toppings are good on burrito bowls?

You can vary your toppings so much, it really never has to be the same meal twice. However, my people prefer cheese, salsa, sour cream, and chips at the very minimum.

Other toppings you might want to consider: guacamole, avocado, lettuce, chopped onions, fajita vegetables, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and hot sauce.

Beans and Rice make a perfect Bowl Meal!

How much does rice and beans cost?

Check out the price breakdown:

dried beans – $1 (or canned $2)

Mexican rice – $1.50

shredded cheese – $1.50

shredded lettuce – $0.50

homemade salsa – $1.25

tomatoes – $0.25

tortilla chips – $1

Total cost to feed a crowd: $8

That’s some good cheap eats, my friends!

How can I make this dish economically?

By their very nature, bean dishes are very budget-friendly. However, here are some of the strategies you can use to make this recipe even more economical:

Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When you see a good price on tomato sauce, beans, or your spices, buy a few extra to stash for later. You know you’ll use them. Stocking up can save you money.

When you see a good price on tomato sauce, beans, or your spices, buy a few extra to stash for later. You know you’ll use them. Stocking up can save you money. Cook dried beans. It’s a lot cheaper to cook dry beans than to buy canned. Recently I’ve started using my electric pressure cooker for beans and it has been a game changer.

It’s a lot cheaper to cook dry beans than to buy canned. Recently I’ve started using my electric pressure cooker for beans and it has been a game changer. Make your own spice mixes. Spice mixes, like taco seasoning, are super simple to mix up in big batches and are so much cheaper than buying the packets at the store.

Spice mixes, like taco seasoning, are super simple to mix up in big batches and are so much cheaper than buying the packets at the store. Buy spices in bulk. I regularly buy larger containers of spices I use frequently, like pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, and chili powder. I store excess dried herbs and ground spices in the freezer if I know it will be awhile before I go through the large container.

Here’s our very forgiving recipe for beans and rice:

If you prepare this recipe, be sure to take a picture and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up! If you prepare this recipe, be sure to take a picture and hashtag it. I can't wait to see what you cook up!

Print Recipe 0 from 0 votes Pinto Beans and Rice Pinto beans and rice are a good cheap eat, especially when you top it with chips, salsa, and some other goodies. It’s a filling meal to help you save money. Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 20 mins Total Time 30 mins Servings: 8 Calories: 557 kcal Author: Jessica Fisher Ingredients 2 15-ounce cans pinto beans or 4 cups homemade

1 batch Mexican rice

8 oz cheddar cheese (shredded) (2 cups)

2 cups shredded lettuce

1 cup salsa

2 tomato chopped

1 9-ounce bag tortilla chips

toppings for burrito bowls : sour cream, guacamole, sliced black olives, avocado, chopped green onion Instructions Lay out bowls of each of the ingredients.

Allow diners to layer beans, rice, and toppings in each bowl or dish, according to tastes. Notes Stock up on ingredients when they are on sale. When you see a good price on tomato sauce, beans, or your spices, buy a few extra to stash for later. You know you’ll use them. Stocking up can save you money.

When you see a good price on tomato sauce, beans, or your spices, buy a few extra to stash for later. You know you’ll use them. Stocking up can save you money. Cook dried beans. It’s a lot cheaper to cook dry beans than to buy canned. Recently I’ve started using my electric pressure cooker for beans and it has been a game changer.

It’s a lot cheaper to cook dry beans than to buy canned. Recently I’ve started using my electric pressure cooker for beans and it has been a game changer. Make your own spice mixes. Spice mixes, like taco seasoning, are super simple to mix up in big batches and are so much cheaper than buying the packets at the store.

Spice mixes, like taco seasoning, are super simple to mix up in big batches and are so much cheaper than buying the packets at the store. Buy spices in bulk. I regularly buy larger containers of spices I use frequently, like pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, and chili powder. I store excess dried herbs and ground spices in the freezer if I know it will be awhile before I go through the large container. Nutrition Calories: 557 kcal | Carbohydrates: 76 g | Protein: 22 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Cholesterol: 30 mg | Sodium: 615 mg | Potassium: 776 mg | Fiber: 13 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 565 IU | Vitamin C: 4.8 mg | Calcium: 349 mg | Iron: 4 mg

Ready to make the most of beans?

Beans not only make a great base for main dishes, but they also freeze beautifully.

Grab this Freezer Cooking Mini Plan featuring Beans to help you fill the freezer quickly and easily.

Learn to cook beans at home three different ways.

Fill the freezer with wraps, pot pie, lasagna, chili, and soup, all featuring hearty beans.

Click here to purchase the instant download: https://fishmama.com/product/freezer-cooking-mini-plan-beans/