Creamy Rice And Bean Bake
I love casseroles, especially when they are super cheesy and creamy. That’s why I made this rice and bean casserole really special by mashing the rice and beans before baking. The result is a heavenly creamy rice bake which is super comforting and delicious. The vegan cheese sauce on top will stop all cheesy cravings! You might love this recipe as well because it’s…
How To Make The Best Rice And Bean Casserole?
It’s seriously so simple. First, you have to cook rice of choice. I used brown rice, however, you can use white rice, Jasmine rice, Basmati rice or even wild rice. You can cook it on the stove top or in a rice cooker. Meanwhile, you can prepare all the ingredients. Dice the onion, chop the pumpkin, and mince the garlic. Heat a little oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the onion. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes. Then add the garlic and all spices and sauté for a further minute. Turn off the heat. Check the following 6 easy step-by-step pictures below: Bake the casserole in the oven for about 25 minutes. Done!
Simple Ingredients
You can use kidney beans, black beans, white beans (Cannellini beans) or even chickpeas to make this delicious rice casserole. I chose kidney beans, however, you can use whatever beans you have in your pantry. Also, feel free to use a carrot or any other veggies instead of pumpkin. If you don’t like corn, either use more beans or veggies of choice. Some options would be zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, or even mushrooms. Use whatever you prefer or try out different versions. Aren’t versatile recipes the best?!
Rice and Bean Casserole With Cheesy Topping
I made this easy casserole a couple of times with different toppings and I actually have two favorites. First time I used a vegan “Bechamel Sauce” which I already used before in my Vegan Moussaka recipe! It’s creamy, thick, and delicious. Next time I used my favorite Vegan Cheese Sauce. I added one cup of plant-based milk to make it a little thinner and it also turned out very creamy and yummy. You can also use store-bought vegan cheese of choice! Please tell me in the comments which version you prefer. 🙂
Mexican Rice And Bean Casserole For Dinner
I love making this creamy Mexican bake during the week because it’s pretty simple and doesn’t require much time. You just have to cook the rice and then mash all ingredients in a pot. Seriously so easy! Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can simply reheat them in the oven.
Creamy Filling
If you love casseroles with a creamy filling, definitely mash the rice and the beans with a potato masher. There is something really satisfying and comforting about eating mashed food, that’s why I made this mashed bean casserole. If you aren’t a fan of “baby food” simply don’t mash. 😀
This Cheesy Vegan Rice And Bean Casserole Is:
Vegan (meat-free, no chicken, no bacon…) Gluten-free “Cheesy” (yet dairy-free) Hearty Satisfying Flavorful Comforting Easy to make with simple ingredients Perfect for a weeknight dinner And it can be made oil-free
Should you recreate this vegetarian rice casserole, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your remakes! If you love vegan casseroles, definitely also check out the following recipes:
Cheesy Pasta Bake Creamy Potato Bake Vegan Moussaka Vegan Shepherd’s Pie Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
If you are using Pinterest, feel free to pin the following photo:
