6 Ingredients or Less

Easiest 5-Ingredient Green Rice Recipe

~ Carrie Tyler ~ Leave a comment
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Green Rice on platter with chicken kabobs on top. This Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.  Basil gives it fresh herb flavor, chives bring a slight onion flavor, and spinach rounds it all out with beautiful green color and so many healthy vitamins.  In just a few minutes you can turn your white rice into this fantastic Green Rice Recipe!

Close Up of green rice in pot. This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

FROM PLAIN TO SUPER RICE! 

While white rice is a great backdrop for sauces and big flavors, it really has very little in the way of nutritional value.  By adding basil, chives, and spinach to it, you are infusing it with flavor, vitamins, and nutrients!!  With the addition of the small amounts of basil and chive, their role here is really to bring the flavor.  But the Spinach is what brings the nutrition to the party!

White rice has very little fiber, but spinach is high in fiber, which makes it a great addition!  While white rice does have Vitamin A, it is lacking on most other vitamins, including the all important Vitamins C which is an antioxidant that promotes skin health and immune function.  And while white rice has 0% calcium, guess what is a great source of calcium?  Yep, spinach!  Check out all of the benefits that spinach brings to the mix.

This rice would go great with any of these main proteins!

Basil, chives, spinach, and sour cream blended in a bowl for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

For this recipe either a food processor or blender will work. My go-to mini food processor was perfect for the job.

EASY STEPS TO MAKE YOUR GREEN RICE

You can make this Green Rice up to 5 days in advance and reheat heat it.  There really are only 3 easy steps to this.  

1.Make your rice.

2.Add the basil, chives, sour cream and spinach to the blender or food processor and blend.

Basil and chives in food processor for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

Basil, chives, and sour cream in food processor for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

Basil, chives, and spinach in food processor for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

Basil, chives, spinach, and sour cream blended in food processor for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

3.Mix the sauce into the rice.

Basil, chives, spinach, and sour cream blended and added on top of cooked white rice in pot for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

What other herbs could I use?

In place of the basil, you could go with cilantro or dill.  I wouldn’t combine all three together, but select one as your primary flavor.  

If you don’t have chives, you could use 1-2 scallions or skip it all together, but I really like a slight onion flavor in this.  

You could also add parsley.  If you want to add kale, you may want to saute if first to soften it a bit as it has a heartier texture and won’t get as creamy from the raw state as spinach. 

Will other grains work with this?

Of course!  Instead of white rice, you could use brown rice, quinoa, farro, couscous, or even a small pasta, like orzo. 

Can this Green Rice be frozen?

You can make this recipe and freeze it for up to 6 months.  To freeze it, you will want to cool it in the fridge first.  Then you can place it in a large storage bag and flatten it to freeze it.  Or you can spread it out on a sheet pan and freeze it, then transfer it to a container.  You can freeze it in a freezer-safe bowl, but it can take a long time defrost when it’s in a large clump.

ENJOY!  😍 Carrie

Green Rice in pot. This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.
Green Rice in pot. This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.
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5-Ingredient Easy Green Rice

This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.  Basil gives it fresh herb flavor, chives bring a slight onion flavor, and spinach rounds it all out with beautiful green color and so many healthy vitamins.  In just a few minutes you can turn your white rice into this fantastic Green Rice Recipe! #ricerecipes #sidedishes #healthysides #greenrice

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword 30 Minute Meal, healthy recipes, meal prep, rice, Side Dish
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 67 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 20 Basil Leaves
  • 10 Chive Sprigs
  • 2 cups Baby Spinach leaves, loosely packed
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream or Yogurt
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

  1. Make the rice according to package instructions. Or…to a small-medium pot with a lid, add 4 cups water, 1/2 tsp salt, and rice. Bring water to boil, stir, turn heat down to lowest setting, cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn off the heat, but leave covered until ready to serve.

  2. Add the basil, chives, and sour cream to the blender or food processor. I add the spinach leaves last just so the sour cream is near the bottom and can help it blend. Pulse to start and then blend until smooth and creamy.

    Basil, chives, spinach, and sour cream blended in food processor for Green Rice Recipe. It takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

  3. Mix the sauce into the rice. Enjoy!

    Green Rice in pot. This Green Rice Recipe takes white rice from plain to amazing with just 5 ingredients. Filled with herbs and spinach, it has the perfect herby flavor.

Quinoa and Black Bean Burritos

~ Carrie Tyler ~ 1 Comment
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Quinoa Black Bean Burritos are a scrumptious family dinner!  Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Quinoa and Black Bean Burritos are a scrumptious eat-with-your-hands family dinner!  They are packed with protein and fiber, but also ooey-gooey cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The ‘meat’ in this recipe is a flavorful taco-seasoned quinoa, black bean, and cauliflower filling.  I mean, could it get any healthier!?  But yet, it tastes like a burrito, it looks like a burrito, and it oozes like a burrito!

These Quinoa Black Bean Burritos are also such an easy Meal Prep idea because you can prep them entirely ahead and wrap them individually in foil.  Then toss them into the oven to warm through and enjoy! 

And….they are a great way to use ingredients from your pantry!  

Click here to get more pantry dinner ideas and  Pantry Must-Haves for Quick & Easy Dinners!

Quinoa Black Bean Burritos cut in half and standing face up on counter. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Protein and Fiber! 

We all know that protein and fiber are important, but do you know if you’re getting enough each day?  It’s recommended that Women get at least 25g of Fiber and 46 grams of Protein per day (for the average sedentary woman).

I try to keep my carb intake down, so I generally eat a high protein diet.  However, when I checked my daily fiber intake, I was only at about 15g and was really surprised!!  Track your Fiber for a day or two and see how you stack up. 

1 cup of cooked quinoa has 8g of protein and 5g of fiber.  Black Beans have a whopping 15g of protein and 15g of Fiber in 1 cup!  Both are a great source of healthy protein and fiber!

Other Black Bean and Quinoa Recipes I love:

Quinoa Black Bean Burritos cut in half and stacked on plate. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Nothing special for this one! Just a small-medium pot with lid for the quinoa. You also need a large skillet/frying pan for making the filling. I use my absolute favorite 12″ Ceramic Pan, which is great because food really does slide right off with minimal oil and I don’t have to worry about food sticking and burning.  It comes with a glass lid, which is perfect for watching your dinner cook!

PREP-AHEAD STEPS FOR YOUR QUINOA & BLACK BEAN BURRITOS

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are the steps you prepare in the day(s) in advance and store in the fridge as your meal Kit… (See the recipe below for more details)

Quinoa

I love quinoa in this recipe because it just perfectly melds with the other ingredients and absorbs the taco seasoning.  It’s also a superfood that’s much healthier than using rice.  That said, you could certainly swap the quinoa for rice if you prefer.  

Start by rinsing the quinoa thoroughly in a strainer, then adding it to the water with the salt. Bring the water to a simmer, then turn it down to the lowest setting and cover. Cook covered for 20 minutes. Then turn off the heat, but leave the cover on for another 5 minutes.

Prep the rest of the ingredients

I love adding cauliflower to this recipe because the flavor completely transforms and for these 3 reasons:

  1. It is your main vegetable and makes this a balanced meal.  That means it brings the vitamins and nutrients that you would not be getting from the other ingredients.
  2. It balances out the calories and carbs from the quinoa and black beans.  Without the cauliflower, you would need to add more quinoa and beans.
  3. It provides the ‘meaty’ texture that we usually have in a burrito from the beef.  

You can leave the cauliflower out if you want, but you will have less filling and therefore, less burritos.  You will want to add another 1/2 can of beans and another 2 cups of quinoa for 10 burritos.

Cut the cauliflower florets into small pieces.  You want these to blend into the filling not be too big in the burrito.  

Cauliflower florets in hand for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Shred the cheese.  Dice the tomato.

COOK & ASSEMBLE YOUR QUINOA & BLACK BEAN BURRITOS

To a preheated large pan/skillet, add the oil and then the cauliflower florets. Cook for 5 minutes until they are browned.

Drain the black beans of any excess liquid and add them to the cauliflower in the pan. Then add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer.

Add the quinoa and stir to combine.  Add the taco seasoning and chili powder. Taste for seasoning and add salt as needed (depends on how salty your taco seasoning is).

Assemble!

When you are ready to assemble, warm your tortillas. I like to give them a light grill in a pan, but you can also warm them in the microwave.

Lay the tortilla on a flat surface and add 1/2 cup of the Quinoa Black Bean filling towards the bottom.  Add the other toppings…Cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream.

Then roll the burrito by first folding over the bottom of the tortilla over filling. Then fold in the sides and roll it up.  You can serve it now or if you want to store and reheat later, place on a square piece of aluminum foil on a diagonal, towards the bottom point. Roll it up and then fold the sides under.

 

  

ENJOY!  😍 Carrie

Quinoa Black Bean Burritos cut in half and stacked on plate. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.
Quinoa Black Bean Burritos cut in half and standing face up on plate. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.
5 from 1 vote
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Quinoa Black Bean Burritos

Quinoa and Black Bean Burritos are a scrumptious eat-with-your-hands family dinner!  They are packed with protein and fiber, but also ooey-gooey cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The 'meat' in this recipe is a flavorful taco-seasoned quinoa, black bean, and cauliflower filling. Easy to prep in advance and wrap individually! #vegetarianburritos #blackbeanburritos #blackbeanrecipes #quinoarecipes #burritorecipe

Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword black beans, burrito, mexican food, quinoa, tacos, vegetarian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 10 Burritos
Calories 396 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

Quinoa

  • 2/3 cup Uncooked Quinoa
  • 1 1/3 cup Water
  • 1 tsp Salt

Burrito Quinoa Black Bean Filling

  • 1 tsp Olive Oil
  • 4 cups Cauliflower florets (small pieces)
  • 15 oz Black Beans, canned
  • 3 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
  • 2 tsp Chili Powder
  • 2 cups Water

Burritos

  • 10 10" Flour tortillas
  • 10 oz Shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 10 oz Sour Cream
  • 1 bunch Fresh Cilantro
  • 2 Large Tomatoes

Instructions

Prep Ahead Steps

  1. Start by rinsing the quinoa thoroughly in a strainer, then adding it to the water with the salt. Bring the water to a simmer, then turn it down to the lowest setting and cover. Cook covered for 20 minutes. Then turn off the heat, but leave the cover on for another 5 minutes.

  2. Cut the cauliflower florets

    Cauliflower florets in hand for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  3. Shred the cheese (if needed). Dice the tomato.

Cook the Quinoa Black Bean Filling

  1. To a preheated large pan/skillet, add the oil and then the cauliflower florets. Cook for 5 minutes until they are browned.

    Cauliflower florets in pan for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  2. Drain the black beans of any excess liquid and add them to the cauliflower in the pan. Then add 2 cups water and bring to a simmer.

    Black beans and Cauliflower florets in pan for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  3. Add cooked quinoa and the taco seasoning and chili powder. Taste for seasoning and add salt as needed (depends on how salty your taco seasoning is).

    Quinoa, Black beans and Cauliflower florets in pan for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Assemble your Burritos

  1. When you are ready to assemble, warm your tortillas. I like to give them a light grill in a pan, but you can also warm them in the microwave.

    Tortilla in pan for Quinoa Black Bean Burritos. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  2. Lay the tortilla on a flat surface and add 1/2 cup of the Quinoa Black Bean filling towards the bottom.

  3. Add the other toppings…Cheese, tomatoes, cilantro, sour cream.

    Tortilla with Quinoa Black Bean filling, cheese, and tomatoes. These Burritos are packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  4. Then roll the burrito by first folding over the bottom of the tortilla over filling. Then fold in the sides. Then roll if up. Serve and enjoy!

    Hand rolling Quinoa Black Bean Burrito. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

  5. Or to store and reheat later, place on a square piece of aluminum foil on a diagonal, towards the bottom point. Roll it up and then fold the sides under.

    Wrapping in foil, Quinoa Black Bean Burrito. Packed with protein and fiber, but also cheese, tomato, cilantro, and sour cream!  The vegetarian 'meat' is taco-seasoned quinoa, black beans, and cauliflower.

Recipe Notes

Prep Time includes the time to prep the ingredients and fill/assemble all 10 burritos. 

Cook Time includes the time to cook the quinoa and then the filling (cauliflower, black beans, and quinoa).  It does not include the time to reheat the burritos if cooled in the fridge.

If you store the prepared burritos in the fridge, reheat them in foil in the oven at 400 F degrees for 20 minutes.