30 Minute Black Bean Corn and Rice Skillet has everything a well-rounded, wholesome meal needs! This is a perfect family dinner with many serving options. Roll it into a burrito or pile it into a bowl with cheese and sour cream on top!


30 MINUTE BLACK BEAN & CORN RICE SKILLET
I love nothing more than to prepare a dish such as this 30 Minute Black Bean Corn and Rice Skillet. With so many serving options, it’s good any night of the week! In the photos, as you can see, I served the dish up in a non-complicated, no-fuss way; a little diced avocado, some shredded cheese, and a little sour cream. It’s perfect just on its own, but a little toppings make it extra special.
This is indeed a 30 minute recipe, so I have taken some liberties as I’m sure we all do from time to time. I am using canned beans, frozen corn, and even previously cooked/leftover rice. Sometimes we all need a shortcut or two to get a good dinner on the table. I’m all about shortcuts and will take any help I can get, especially on weeknights!
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HOW TO MAKE THIS DISH A MEAL
When you have a dish such as this that’s loaded with black beans, corn, red pepper, red onion, and taco/Mexican-inspired seasonings, the possibilities are nearly endless.
You can easily top a bed of lettuce with a cup of this dish and enjoy an easy and fast salad. You can reheat it, pile it onto a tortilla with a little cheese and taco sauce for a great burrito option.
Try tossing it with cooked pasta and a few tablespoons of salsa for a hearty pasta dish. Spoon liberally over a sheet pan lined with tortilla chips, top with shredded cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes for a savoury nacho dish – how’s that for family fun night food!?
Of course, there’s always the option of eating this as a side. I would serve it with some grilled Mexican chicken, and a big helping of this guacamole. It has grilled corn in it and tomatoes too. I can’t get enough of that!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE
The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.
- Canned Black Beans – Buying and using canned beans to prepare a meal is nothing to be ashamed of – we all do it! I always drain and rinse canned beans. They taste better without that thick, syrupy sauce.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic will result in the best flavour every single time.
- Red Bell Pepper – Use whatever you have on hand; all colours work the same. I do tend to favour red bell peppers more than the others though, because they are sweeter.
- Red Onion – You can use yellow, white, or sweet onion if that’s what you have. Either of them will do just fine.
- Frozen Corn – I love using frozen veggies. They come in handy at any moment, whether you need an extra side dish or want to incorporate it into a dish you are already cooking.
- Brown Rice – We all know that brown rice is healthier than white rice, but I use it for another reason. It’s firmer and has more texture.
- Lime – Fresh lime juice adds freshness and acid to this dish.
- Spices & Seasonings – Chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and ground black pepper.
- Oil – For cooking. You can use olive, peanut, vegetable oil, etc.
- Toppings – I used avocado, sour cream, cheese, and parsley or cilantro.
USE CANNED PANTRY INGREDIENTS TO MAKE THIS RECIPE FASTER AND EASIER!
The simplicity of this recipe speaks for itself. I used canned black beans, frozen corn, leftover brown rice, and just a few pantry staple seasonings. These ingredients, paired with fresh red onion, chopped red peppers, and freshly minced garlic, and you’ve got a dinner fit for a King. Or a Queen!
Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the freshness of the lime juice. Citrus in almost any dish brings out the flavours so well. And, if you’re adventurous – that’s how I describe people who eat cilantro – you can most certainly add some fresh chopped cilantro to this dish to make it more authentically Mexican. I’m of the persuasion that cilantro takes like soap, so I always substitute it with freshly chopped parsley.
The choice is yours, Dear Reader; parsley or cilantro – either way, you’re going to really enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavours of this dish and the versatility of it as well!

HOW TO MAKE 30 MINUTE BLACK BEAN CORN & RICE SKILLET
We love this recipe and I make it quite often. It’s a great dish just as it is, or you can make other meals with it. Plus, it reheats so well, especially for lunches at work the next day! Here’s how I make it.
In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add the oil, onions and peppers. Sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another 3 minutes. Keep the garlic moving around the pan so that it doesn’t burn. Burnt garlic is bitter and nobody wants that! When the garlic is cooked, add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir into the onion and pepper mixture until well incorporated.
Next, add the black beans, corn, and brown rice. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Lower heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes until beans, corn, rice are fully heated through. Lastly, cut the lime in half and spritz the juice over the mixture. That’s it; you’re done! If you like it the way we do, you’ll serve it with diced avocado, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. If you have other topping ideas, I’d love to hear about them!
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REHEAT FOR BREAKFAST? YES!!
Even though you can certainly use white rice in this dish, if you plan to freeze this for later use, then I would highly suggest you use brown rice instead. Brown rice holds up to thawing and re-heating so much better than white rice. It’s heartier and firmer, which certainly helps it to retain its texture and shape.
Before you get to the recipe, I just want to mention as well how great this dish is for a hearty breakfast. Give this a try – scramble some eggs and add some of these leftovers to the pan. Once it’s all cooked through, pile it into a tortilla and roll it up. It makes for a very delicious and hearty breakfast on the go!
Oh, and you can send this dish to school with your kids. It makes for a great lunch option too!

QUESTIONS?
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30 Minute Black Bean Corn and Rice Skillet
Ingredients
- 2 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 large red onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 2 cups brown rice, cooked
- 1 whole lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 large avocado, diced (optional)
- 1/2 cup light sour cream, (optional)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated (optional)
- 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped (or cilantro)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add the oil, onions and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and saute for another 3 minutes.
- Next, add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir into the onion and pepper mixture until well incorporated.
- Next, add the black beans, corn, and brown rice. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Lower heat to medium-low and cook for 10 minutes until beans, corn, rice are fully heated through.
- Lastly, cut the lime in half and spritz the juice over the mixture.
- Serve with diced avocado, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ali says
Not a big fan of cilantro either. It always tastes too much like… cilantro. I like to substitute freshly chopped celery leaves, particularly the lighter, young leaves. I find it gives a similar hint of flavour and freshness without actually tasting like cilantro. Tastes great in mexican red lentil soup. I’m sure it will taste great in this too.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Ali – the chopped celery leaves is a great idea!
Debra says
This was so incredibly delicious! I did 4 things different: I added one 14.5 oz can of petite diced tomatoes and water to equal 3 cups, 1 cup raw rice, a green pepper and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper. Everything thing else as per recipe except for cooking, covered about 30 minutes until rice was done. Spice amounts were just perfect. Thanks for a great recipe!
Amy says
Delicious, quick and easy! Thank you!
Katelyn says
Love it. Made it as a last minute dinner because we forgot to take thaw out the meat for the day. Added a can of diced tomatoes (with jalepenos), used fire roasted corn, and added fresh spinach as well. We ate tortilla chips with it and it was a hit with the entire family – including my 1.5 year old. Thanks for the recipe!
Kimberly says
Made this last night. Used quinoa instead of brown rice for a less heavy option, added a fresh tomato at the end and used my homemade taco seasoning which has all the same spices but also a pinch of cayenne pepper, garlic and onion powder. Served it over some fresh spinach with some shredded cheese and scoop of sour cream. So filling and delicious!! Thanks so much for the recipe, looking forward to having it tonight in a tortilla. <3
Terri Clark-Kveton says
I’m definitely a fan of cilantro and find it absolutely essential to make Mexican and Thai dishes–just NOT the same without that flavour. Thank God I’m not one of those poor souls whose DNA makes them unable to enjoy the flavour. I pity them for having faulty genetics.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Oh, Terri – I wish I could eat it! I just get a very strong soapy taste from it. It’s frustrating!!
Jason Moser-Wilcox says
Tonight I’m making this again, for the fifth or sixth time, due to family demand. I love it because it’s not too spicy for the kids to complain, but enough heat for my liking!
byronethomas@gmail.com says
So glad to hear it, Jason! 🙂
Just Mary says
Soooooo good!!! I’ve made extra just to have on hand in freezer.
Anyway, wanna to have with Pork Tenderloin. Having trouble with what flavour to put on Pork, any suggestions? Thanks in advance
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you. To pair well with the black beans and corn, I’d consider a Mexican flavour profile for the pork. I like to season pork tenderloin with taco seasoning and throw it on the grill. So good – quick and easy too.
Amy says
This is great! I always substitute fresh parsley for cilantro too! I we topped with a drizzle of taco sauce too.🙂
Laurence says
This looks like a healthy dish. Would you recommend this for an individual looking to cut down on fatty foods?
Jason says
Very tasty and filling. The kids love it, so it’s a total win. Thanks!
Patricia Lawrence says
I made this last night. My bean-hating husband raved about it! Miracles can happen!
Shari says
My husband was about to order a pizza until he tasted it; then changed his mind. LOL It turned out really good.
Eric Brooks says
1. Added a third cup of rice, chili powder and cumin. Tasted great.
2. Don’t understand the 30 minutes. Takes 45 minutes to make brown rice. You can chop the vegetables while it is simmering. Whole recipe took an hour.
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Hi Eric – I’m glad you liked the recipe. In my case, the brown rice was already cooked. I’ll make sure to update the recipe card accordingly to reflect that. 🙂