Slow Cooker Cuban-Style Black Beans and Rice

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-01 · Updated 2026-05-01

Comforting and hearty slow-cooked black beans simmered with smoky spices and served over fluffy white rice for a satisfying Latin American classic. This Latin American-inspired rice and grain recipe (vegan, gluten free), ready in about 435 minutes, pairs Dried black beans, White rice, Yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup, rinsed Dried black beans
• 1 cup White rice
• 1 medium, diced Yellow onion
• 1 medium, diced Green bell pepper
• 4 cloves, minced Garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Ground cumin
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 Bay leaf
• 4 cups Vegetable broth
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup chopped Fresh cilantro

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 diced yellow onion and 1 diced green bell pepper, sauté for 5-6 minutes until softened and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp dried oregano to the skillet. Cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
3. Step 3: Transfer the sautéed vegetables and spices into a slow cooker along with 1 cup rinsed dried black beans, 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until beans are tender.
5. Step 5: About 20 minutes before serving, rinse 1 cup white rice and cook according to package instructions.
6. Step 6: Remove bay leaf from beans, stir in 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
7. Step 7: Serve the black beans hot over the cooked white rice for a delicious, comforting meal.