Mom’s Authentic Puerto Rican Rice & Beans – A Comforting Family Favorite

Puerto Rican cuisine is built on flavor, comfort, and tradition — and nothing represents that better than Arroz con Habichuelas (Puerto Rican Rice & Beans). This dish is a staple in nearly every Puerto Rican home. It’s simple, nourishing, budget-friendly, and bursting with the flavors of sofrito, spices, and slow-simmered beans. Whether served as a complete vegetarian meal or alongside roasted chicken, steak, or pork, it’s the kind of dish that instantly feels like home.

This Mom’s Authentic Puerto Rican Rice & Beans recipe tastes like it came straight out of a family kitchen in San Juan. It features perfectly seasoned yellow rice and tender pink beans simmered in a rich, savory sazón-and-sofrito base that brings all the classic island flavor.

This isn’t a shortcut recipe — it’s the real deal. The way moms and abuelas make it. The aroma fills your whole home with warmth: onions and peppers sautéing in olive oil, garlic and sofrito releasing their fragrance, sazón creating that iconic color, and beans simmering gently until the sauce thickens just enough.

This guide walks you through each step, explains the fundamentals of Puerto Rican cooking, includes ingredient substitutions, serving ideas, make-ahead tips, and everything you need to create an authentic Latin meal your family will fall in love with.

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Why Puerto Rican Rice & Beans Is So Special

✔ It’s a complete meal

Rice + beans = protein, fiber, comfort, and flavor.

✔ Naturally budget-friendly

Simple ingredients create deep, irresistible flavor.

✔ Packed with aromatics

Sofrito, garlic, bell peppers, onions, sazón — all essential to the Puerto Rican kitchen.

✔ Easy to make and customize

You can use canned beans, dry beans, white rice, brown rice, or add veggies and proteins.

✔ Perfect for meal prep

Rice & beans store beautifully and taste even better the next day.

✔ Family-approved

A dish everyone at the table loves.

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What Makes It Puerto Rican?

Several key ingredients give Puerto Rican rice & beans their unique flavor:

1. Sofrito

A blend of onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro, and culantro.
It’s the flavor base of almost every Puerto Rican dish.

2. Sazón

A seasoning blend that gives food its bright orange color and savory taste.

3. Adobo

A classic Puerto Rican all-purpose seasoning.

4. Pink Beans (Habichuelas Rosadas)

These become incredibly tender and flavorful.

5. Tomato Sauce

Adds richness and depth.

6. Olive Oil

Used generously for authentic flavor.

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Key Ingredients

For the Beans

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup sofrito
• ½ onion, diced
• ½ green bell pepper, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can pink beans (with liquid)
• ½ cup tomato sauce
• 1 packet sazón
• ½ tsp adobo
• ½ tsp oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1–1½ cups water (as needed)

For the Rice

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups long grain rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sazón
• 1 tbsp sofrito

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Instructions

Make the Beans

1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add sofrito, onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Sauté 3–4 minutes.
3. Add tomato sauce, sazón, adobo, oregano, and bay leaf.
4. Stir in the entire can of pink beans (liquid included).
5. Add 1 cup water and simmer 20–30 minutes.
6. If too thick, add more water.
7. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Make the Rice

8. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
9. Add rice and sauté 1 minute.
10. Stir in water, salt, sazón, and sofrito.
11. Cover and bring to a boil.
12. Reduce heat and simmer 18 minutes.
13. Turn off heat and let rest 10 minutes before fluffing.

Serve Together

14. Serve a big scoop of fluffy yellow rice topped with saucy beans.
15. Garnish with cilantro or a squeeze of lime.

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Tips for Perfect Rice & Beans

✔ Don’t skip the sofrito

It’s the heart of the dish.

✔ Let the beans simmer slowly

This builds flavor and thickens the sauce naturally.

✔ Rinse the rice well

Removes excess starch and improves texture.

✔ Sazón is essential

You can use homemade or store-bought.

✔ Don’t lift the lid while the rice cooks

Steam is your friend.

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Variations

1. With Bacon or Ham

Sauté ham cubes or bacon with the sofrito.

2. Spicy Version

Add chili flakes, jalapeños, or spicy sazón.

3. Vegetarian

Use vegetable broth instead of water.

4. With Chicken

Add shredded rotisserie chicken to the beans.

5. With Coconut Milk

Add ¼ cup coconut milk to the beans for Caribbean flair.

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What to Serve with Puerto Rican Rice & Beans

• Pollo Guisado (stewed chicken)
• Roasted chicken thighs
• Bistec encebollado (steak & onions)
• Pernil (roast pork shoulder)
• Tostones
• Sweet plantains (maduros)
• Avocado slices
• Fresh salad

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Make-Ahead & Storage

Make Ahead

Rice and beans can be prepared 2 days in advance.

Storage

• Refrigerate: 4–5 days
• Freeze: Up to 2 months

Reheat

• Microwave with a splash of water
• Or warm in a pot over medium heat