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    Watch What U Eat > Rice Dishes

    Easy Healthy One Pot Spinach Rice

    Published: Feb 4, 2016 · Modified: May 29, 2024 by Watch What U Eat · This post may contain affiliate links · 68 Comments

    Recipe Print
    Spinach rice with beans in a cast iron pan.
    Spinach rice with beans in a cast iron pan.
    Long collage Pinterest pin for spinach rice and beans in a cast iron pan.
    Long collage Pinterest pin for spinach rice and beans in a serving bowl and in a cast iron pan.

    Filled with greens, beans, and carbs, this all-in-one pot spinach rice recipe is healthy and full of proteins, fibers, and vitamins.

    Healthy spinach rice with beans in a cast iron skillet. It is garnished with lime slices and is ready to serve.

    One-pot meals are so easy to prepare! Just dump in all the ingredients, set the timer, and the dish is ready to enjoy. And it’s less messy, too! For example, vegetable orzo soup with pesto, Mexican chicken and rice are some wholesome dishes to try in one pot.

    This fresh spinach rice recipe is also a one-pot meal. It hardly takes 10 minutes for the initial prep and 15-20 minutes for actual cooking. It is our favorite option when we are tired or don’t have time to cook.

    One reader said - "I made this tonight for dinner for my family of 3 and everyone loved it. Perfect ratios, great curry flavor, and I love that this is truly a one pot meal. Great recipe! Thanks!"

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Recipe Substitutions/Variations
    • Best rice to use
    • Preparation tips
    • How to make healthy spinach rice
    • Serving suggestions!
    • Helpful tips!
    • How is this spinach rice healthy?
    • Recipe FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients

    Here are the key ingredients you will need for making this spinach rice with beans.

    Ingredients to prepare one pot spinach rice are laid on a flat surface.
    • Rice - This dish calls for long-grain white rice. I prefer aromatic Indian Basmati rice. In addition to Indian stores, you can easily find this in Costco, Samsclub, or even some local grocery stores. I always buy it from Costco.
    • Spinach - Baby spinach leaves work best in this recipe. They are tender, and you don't have to remove the hard stems or clean them as much.
    • Curry powder - Good quality curry powder flavors the rice very well.
    • Liquid - I usually add 50-50 water and chicken broth. However, if you are vegan or vegetarian, use veggie broth or stock.
    • Beans - I always use either pinto beans or black beans to add protein.
    • Tomato - Use fresh tomatoes whenever possible.

    Recipe Substitutions/Variations

    You can also use the substitutions mentioned below. Readers have tried some of them and suggested them in the comment section.

    • White rice - You can use short-grain rice. However, it may result in a risotto-style texture in the final dish.
    • Beans - You can use your favorite choice of beans. Replace black or pinto beans with kidney or white beans, chickpeas, or green peas.
    • Curry powder - If you are not a fan of curry powder, you can also use garam masala or a Mediterranean spice blend to flavor the rice.
    • For an easy and simple meal, cook this spinach rice in an Instant Pot. See the recipe notes in the recipe card below for more details. You can also follow this Instant Pot spinach brown rice recipe with slight variations.
    • Meat lovers can add cooked or grilled chicken pieces once the rice is well done.

    Best rice to use

    I prefer using long-grain white basmati rice for making one-pot recipes. It is easy to cook and takes about 15 minutes to fully cook. You can use your choice of white rice. Just make sure to use enough water and cook it for the time given on the package. Different varieties of rice may take different amounts of water and time to cook.

    Preparation tips

    Diced tomato, diced onion, and chopped garlic are placed on a flat surface in separate bowls.
    • Garlic - peel and chop it finely or mince or grate using a grater.
    • Onion - trim the ends, peel, and then dice into small pieces. To avoid tears, after peeling cut the onion in half, rinse with cold water, and then dice.
    • Tomato - clean with water, cut in half, and then dice into ½" pieces.

    How to make healthy spinach rice

    Step 1—In a large skillet, sauté fresh chopped garlic in oil on medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent.

    Sautéing garlic in a cast iron pan.
    Sautéing onion in a cast iron pan.

    Step 2—Then add diced tomatoes and cook them until they soften.

    Cooking tomato with onion and garlic in a cast iron pan.

    Step 3—Now add fresh spinach leaves and rice to the pan. Stir-fry for a few seconds or until the spinach just wilts.

    Raw rice and fresh spinach are added to a cast iron pan.
    Raw rice and fresh spinach are mixed with onion, tomato, and garlic in a cast iron pan.

    Step 4—Now add cooked beans and liquid (water + chicken/vegetable stock or use only stock); gently mix to combine and bring the mixture to a boil.

    Liquid and cooked beans are added to the rice and spinach mixture.
    Bringing spinach, beans and rice mixture to boil in a cast iron pan.

    Chef's Tip for even better results - Instead of using store-bought canned beans, soak the raw pinto beans overnight and then cook them in an Instant Pot on manual high pressure for 8 minutes and release the pressure immediately. These home-cooked beans are way more delicious than canned ones.

    Step 5—Add seasonings, including curry powder, salt, and pepper. Lower the heat, cover, and cook the rice until tender. Serve warm.

    Seasonings are added to the spinach, rice, and beans mixture in a cast-iron pan on the gas stove.
    Simmering the spinach rice and beans mixture in a cast-iron pan on the gas stove.

    Serving suggestions!

    • Garnish the rice with chopped fresh cilantro, spinach leaves, and a slice of lime. Serve while it is fresh and warm to enjoy the flavors. A bowl of these beans and spinach rice is sufficient for a wholesome lunch or dinner.
    • Prepare cucumber and avocado salad to serve on the side.
    • You can also prepare light soups such as turmeric cauliflower soup or roasted tomato soup, detox broccoli soup to pair with this bowl of rice.
    • Make these roasted sweet potato fries, breaded ground chicken nuggets, or Air Fryer bbq cauliflower bites to serve on the side.
    Healthy spinach rice with beans in a cast iron skillet. It is garnished with lime slices and is ready to serve.

    Helpful tips!

    • Buy organic baby spinach leaves whenever possible. If you love gardening, grow them in your yard or balcony. Spinach is very easy to grow. You can also grow them in containers or fabric grow bags.
    • I always use 50-50 water and chicken/veggie broth instead of only the broth. This method still provides flavor to the dish and helps to cut down on the cost. I never noticed any difference in the taste.
    • After adding cooked beans, gently mix them with other ingredients to avoid breaking the whole beans.
    Spinach rice and beans served in a serving bowl, garnished with raw spinach and a lime slice, and ready to serve.

    How is this spinach rice healthy?

    This rice recipe is full of nutrients. Fresh green spinach is rich in vitamins A and C. Beans are a great source of protein and fiber. This rice dish is prepared without using any saturated fat, like butter.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to store leftovers and reheat the rice?

    You can store leftover spinach rice in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
    Cooked rice tends to dry up over time. Before using it the next day, sprinkle some water over the rice and stir-fry it in the skillet until it gets steamy hot.
    You can also microwave it for 1-2 min or until it gets steamy hot.

    Can I use frozen spinach in this recipe?

    Yes. You can use frozen spinach to make this rice.
    However, I recommend using fresh spinach as it adds a nice color to the dish and is also easily available in grocery stores.

    Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

    Yes, you can use brown rice instead of white rice. However, it will take at least 30-35 min to cook on the stovetop.
    Or you can try this Instant Pot brown rice and spinach recipe. It is a slight variation of this dish and is made with brown rice.

    Healthy spinach rice loaded with proteins, fibers and vitamins. It is a one pot meal that takes about 30 min to prepare. Ideal for busy times.

    More spinach recipes to try

    • One Pot Easy Palak Paneer Rice or Healthy Spinach Rice | Indian palak paneer turned into one pot rice dish. #spinach #palakpaneer #healthyrecipes
      One Pot Easy Palak Paneer Rice
    • Sweet potato gnocchi with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes
      Easy Sweet Potato Gnocchi With Spinach
    • Spinach Avocado Green Smoothie
    • Artichoke Spinach Pinwheels Christmas Tree

    More one-pot meals you will love

    • One pot easy vegetable biryani. Healthy and nutritious | watchwhatueat.com
      One Pot Easy Vegetable Biryani
    • Easiest one pot chicken biryani
      One Pot Easy Chicken Biryani Recipe
    • Healthy Mexican Chicken Rice made in one pot with tons of flavors and deliciousness. A perfect easy dish for busy weeknight dinner. Full of colors with nutritious veggies you will want to make this Mexican rice again and again. #onepot #Mexican #chicken #rice #healthyrecipes #watchwhatueat
      One-Pot Mexican Chicken Rice
    • One Pot Garlic Mushroom Quinoa - An easy, healthy quinoa dish you will love to make again and again. | #quinoa #glutenfree #onepot #healthyside
      One Pot Garlic Mushroom Quinoa

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments if you REALLY like this recipe. Thank You!

    📖 Recipe

    Spinach rice
    Print Pin
    4.43 from 66 votes

    Easy Healthy One Pot Spinach Rice

    Healthy spinach rice loaded with proteins, fibers and vitamins. It is a one pot meal that takes about 30 min to prepare. Ideal for busy times.
    Course: Dinner,One pot
    Cuisine: International
    Diet Gluten Free,Vegetarian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings :3
    Calories :349kcal
    Author:Swati Kadam Gulati

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    Email yourself a link to this post and come back to it later!

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup white rice (rinsed and drained)
    • 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach
    • 2 tomatoes diced
    • 1 medium onion diced
    • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 cup pinto/black beans canned (rinsed and drained)
    • 2 cup chicken stock low sodium (or vegetable stock or water if vegan)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder
    • 1 teaspoon cooking oil
    • salt and pepper

    Optional

    • 1-2 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro to garnish
    • 1 lime sliced to garnish

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant for about 30 sec.
    • Add onion and saute until translucent for about 2-3 min. Then add diced tomatoes and cook them until they soften for about 3-4 mins.
    • Add spinach and rice and stir to combine or until spinach just wilts.
    • Now add cooked beans and chicken or vegetable stock (if vegan). Gently mix and bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Season with curry powder, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer the rice mixture for 18-20 min (or until rice is tender) on low heat.
    • Garnish with fresh spinach leaves, chopped cilantro, lime slices, and serve warm.

    Notes

    1. Tips on cooking: Once the mixture comes to a boil, cover and then cook it on low heat to avoid burning the rice.
    2. Taste test: After adding seasonings taste test the liquid and add more seasonings if necessary.
    3. Cook it in an Instant Pot: You can prepare this dish in an Instant Pot. Turn on saute mode and follow the steps from 1 to 3. Then, after adding liquid in step 3, add seasonings (there is no need to bring the mixture to a boil here), mix to combine, cover, and cook on manual high pressure for 5 minutes, then immediately release the steam.
    4. Tips on garnishing: Cut a few fresh spinach leaves into stripes and use them to garnish the final dish. Also, cut lime into thin slices and tuck them on the side of the bowl of rice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 21mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @watchwhatueat or tag #watchwhatueat! OR leave us a comment & rating below. Your feedback is very important to us.
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    We are Swati and Tushar, our passion for food and cooking has now led us to share some healthy, tasty recipes and the benefits of eating certain ingredients with the goal of inspiring you to eat well and live well.

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    Comments

      4.43 from 66 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Ellen says

      January 19, 2024 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! I had no pinto beans, so used black beans. My husband and I enjoyed thoroughly!

      Reply
    2. Cindi says

      August 15, 2023 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      I made this with red curry because I couldn’t find my powdered currry! It was absolutely delicious. I also made the recipe with the rice separate because my husband likes basmati and I prefer brown. At the end, I mixed each kind of rice in our respective bowls. The red curry was delicious, but as soon as I find that powdered curry, I’m going to make it as written! Great recipe!!

      Reply
    3. Gretchen says

      January 28, 2023 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this dish last night, as my husband has gout and needs a different diet. This recipe was super easy and beyond flavorful! It was a hit at my house and will go into heavy rotation in the weekly menu. Thank you for posting. Looking forward to trying some of your other recipes!

      Reply
    4. Lindsay Green says

      May 25, 2022 at 5:34 pm

      Can you make this is the instant pot? I saw the brown rice version and wanted to make it but with white rice.

      Reply
      • Watch What U Eat says

        May 28, 2022 at 8:43 pm

        Hi Lindsay,

        Yes, you can make this rice in the Instant Pot. You can cook the rice for 5 min on manual high-pressure mode. Then release the steam once the cooking time is over. Please let us know your feedback if you try it in the IP.

        Reply
        • Kristina says

          January 26, 2024 at 11:08 am

          5 stars
          This is super easy & delicious!! I made the rice in my instant pot using brown basmati rice (20 min) and cooked the other ingredients in a pan on the stove. I didn’t have tomatoes so I used half a can of tomato sauce I had left in my fridge. Then I combined all of the ingredients and added some cilantro. I will definitely be remaking this on the regular. The curry powder makes this pop. I love it!! Ty!!

          Reply
    5. Christina A Donaldson says

      February 19, 2021 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      This came out delicious! Love the flavor.

      Reply
      • Thomas McCarty says

        December 16, 2024 at 7:10 pm

        5 stars
        Excellent recipe. I am trying to cook more meatless dishes and this was very flavorful , quick, and easy.

        Reply
    6. Marguerite says

      January 28, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      5 stars
      So simple but delicious! Thank you for the recipe! What did you garnish with the in pictures? Lime and basil?

      Reply
      • Watch What U Eat says

        February 12, 2021 at 11:08 pm

        Thank you Marguerite, I did use lime slices, fresh cilantro and raw spinach leaves to garnish the final dish.

        Reply
    7. Isabella says

      October 23, 2020 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. We just loved it. So easy, fast and nutritious. Next time I will make it for my vegan daughter.

      Reply
    8. Mariana says

      October 14, 2020 at 12:18 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. Did not have Pinto beans so substituted with garbanzo beans. So good. Thank you!

      Reply
    9. Jodie says

      October 06, 2020 at 6:07 am

      4 stars
      Delicious recipe! I substituted the curry powder for a Moroccan spice mix, and it came out beautifully, I also served with a drizzle of lemon juice. Halved the recipe to create smaller portions, but still came with enough for 3 to 4 servings!

      Reply
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