20-Minute Gallo Pinto–Inspired Rice and Beans Recipe (Budget-Friendly & Meal Prep)

This post is all about an easy vegan rice and beans recipe inspired by gallo pinto.

This easy vegan rice and beans recipe is inspired by the gallo pinto I loved while living in Costa Rica. Traditional gallo pinto is made with day-old rice, Salsa Lizano, and cilantro, which gives it that iconic taste.

This version keeps the spirit of the dish while simplifying the ingredients and method so it’s affordable, beginner-friendly, accessible, and realistic for meal prep cooking.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly meal prep recipe that can be made in about 20 minutes, uses pantry staples, and makes enough food for several meals, this one is for you!

It’s cozy, filling, plant-based, and easily adaptable depending on what you have on hand!

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Best Vegan Rice and Beans Recipe

Why you’ll love this vegan rice and beans meal prep recipe

• Ready in about 20 minutes
• Budget-friendly and made with pantry staples
• Great for meal prep and reheats beautifully
• Vegan and plant-based
• Beginner-friendly with minimal chopping
• Filling and satisfying without being heavy

This is one of those recipes that works just as well for lunch as it does for dinner, and it’s especially helpful during busy weeks when you want nourishing food without a lot of effort.

What is gallo pinto

Gallo pinto is a classic Costa Rican and Nicaraguan dish made with rice and beans. It is traditionally eaten for breakfast but is also enjoyed at any time of day. The name translates to “spotted rooster,” referring to the speckled appearance of the rice and beans mixed together.

While authentic gallo pinto often includes Salsa Lizano, the recipe I’m sharing is a simplified, weeknight-friendly version inspired by those flavors and NOT a traditional preparation. This version is meant to be accessible, affordable, and easy to recreate with ingredients commonly found in U.S. grocery stores.

If you have any Costa Rican or Nicaraguan restaurants near you, I encourage you to check them out and try out authentic gallo pinto!

This is Salsa Lizano if you wanted to check it out and add it to the recipe!

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Vegan rice and beans ingredient variations

This recipe keeps things intentionally simple to make eating healthier and saving time (with meal prep!) a whole lot easier!

White rice: The rice in this recipe makes it very filling! You could use brown rice if you prefer it more. I’ve also made this exact recipe with a cup of quinoa, and it worked perfectly! If you tend to make meal preps with rice and beans, using quinoa is a great way to mix things up.

Black beans: Canned beans are such a staple in my pantry! You don’t have to use canned beans, but they are a bit more convenient and cut down the prep time for this recipe. Kidney beans, white beans, or garbanzo beans could be used for this recipe if you don’t have black beans.

Diced tomatoes: So, normally when I make this recipe, I just use diced tomatoes, but when I remade this recipe to take photos of it, the only diced tomatoes I could find at the store were ones with green chilis! Honestly, I did not feel like going to another store haha. Anyways, any diced tomatoes will do, and if you can find some with green chilis, it turned out great!

Bell pepper: Really, any color of green pepper will do! I used green bell peppers for this recipe, and I kind of regret not getting yellow or red. Not that it matters, but the color variety probably would have looked better! Truly, the color of pepper won’t impact the recipe that much, so just use what you have.

Onion: I used a yellow onion for this recipe. You can definitely use a white onion or red, but the taste is a bit sharper. Onion powder is always a great option as well, and will cut costs.

Spinach: I loveee adding spinach to all of my recipes! I personally don’t notice the taste that much, which makes it great to throw into recipes. Kale could make a good alternative, but make sure to massage the kale, chop it, and saute it so that it’s cohesive with the softness of the beans and rice. In a traditional gallo pinto recipe, cilantro is used. I wanted to include spinach in this recipe since you can get it frozen (which is generally cheaper!) and it is generally more accessible.

Paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper: I love the color that paprika brings to food, and cumin gives it that smoky and cozy flavor. Add enough salt and pepper to taste, but also leave it out if you want a less salty version.

Vegan rice and beans ingredient add-ins

This simplified gallo pinto–inspired recipe is very flexible. This is especially helpful if you don’t love having leftovers and want to throw something different into your meal prep once it gets to day 3 or 4.

Here are a few easy ways to change it up:

• Add heat: Red pepper flakes or hot sauce
• Add citrus: A squeeze of lime enhances the flavors already present
• Make it heartier: Serve with roasted sweet potatoes or plantains
• Protein boost: Add tofu, tempeh, or extra beans
• Greens swap: Kale or Swiss chard works in place of spinach. Also, authentic gallo pinto includes cilantro, so use that if you can find it!

As for toppings, avocado, salsa, or vegan sour cream can be fun additions!

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Vegan rice and beans recipe price breakdown

One of the biggest benefits of this rice and beans recipe is how affordable it is. Prices will vary depending on location and whether you shop sales, buy organic, or buy in bulk, but here’s a rough estimate:

• 1 cup dry rice: $0.50
• 1 can black beans (15 oz): $1.00
• 1 can diced tomatoes (10 oz): $1.00
• 1 green bell pepper: $1.00
• 1 medium onion: $1.00
• Spinach (roughly 1-2 cups): $0.75
• Spices (paprika & cumin, pantry staples): $0.25

Estimated total cost: ~$5.50
Cost per serving (4 servings): ~$1.38 per serving

If you’re on a tight budget or are simply trying to save some money, this recipe is a great option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor!

What do you like to add to your rice and beans recipe?

Let us know in the comments below! I always love finding new ways to enhance my rice and beans recipe!

Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best vegan rice and beans recipe.

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