This shop to create Cheesy Salsa Rice and Beans has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #KickUpTheFlavor #CollectiveBias
Being from Nebraska it might come as a shocker to you that I don’t follow football. I might be throwing him under the bus, but my husband doesn’t either. This is a big deal around here because during football season if you look down just about any neighborhood street it’s a sea of red, just like the stadium during game days. It’s odd to drive anywhere and not see at least a dozen or more vehicles demonstrating their love for our team in bumper stickers, personalized plates, or those little stick figure families in the back window.
My sister’s family and my in laws love the game and love our team. My sister was a high school cheerleader years ago and our hometown team has the same colors as our college team, so she’s taught my kids some cheers. I love seeing the kids connect with other family members in a way they can’t do with us.
A way I can connect with my football loving family is through food. I’m on team good food, and I don’t think anyone will ever argue with me on that one. My contribution to game day excitement is the food. This recipe is inspired by one my sister has been making for years and it’s great as a side dish for just about any game day spread.
Cheesy Salsa Rice and Beans
For game day foods I like to turn up the heat, so we grab Pace® Salsa in the Medium heat for our recipes. It’s a nice balance for everyone, both the heat lovers and those who avoid too much heat. I love the variety of heat levels and textures Pace offers, plus the versatility Pace offers by being the perfect addition to a lot of different recipes from main dish to appetizer.
Today’s recipe is a great side dish, though I’ll admit I have enjoyed it as a light lunch.
To make Cheesy Salsa Rice and Beans first gather your ingredients. You’ll need a half cup each of green peppers and onion, one cup each of uncooked white rice, Pace Salsa and shredded cheese. One 15oz can of kidney beans drained and rinsed. A couple cloves of garlic minced, about a tablespoon of cooking oil, and green onion for garnish. Finally, two cups of either water or chicken broth.
First heat the oil in a sauce pan at medium heat. Once heated add in the green pepper, onion and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until softened, the onions should start to become translucent.
Now add in the salsa and water (or chicken broth) and bring to a boil. Once boiling stir in the rice, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer covered for 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
When the rice is done there should still be a little bit of liquid in the rice, this is a good thing because we want to keep the dish moist after the cheese and beans are added. Speaking of which, it’s time to stir in the cheese and kidney beans.
Turn the heat back up to medium and heat until the cheese is melted and the beans are heated through.
Now you can serve up this delicious dish to all of your game day party attendees! Don’t forget you can also serve up any leftover Pace Salsa with chips, or give a little extra Southwest kick to some of your other game day recipes.
Pick up a 24 ounce Pace® Salsa in Medium heat at Walmart and turn the heat up on your game day spreads!
How will you be using Pace Salsa to kick up the flavor of your game day spread? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Cheesy Salsa Rice and Beans
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup onion
- 1/2 cup green pepper
- 1 to 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 cup Pace Salsa
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 15 oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil in a sauce pot on medium heat. Cook green pepper, onion and garlic until soft and onions are translucent.
- Add salsa and water, heat to boiling. Stir in rice, cover, reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender.
- Stir in beans and cheese and heat through on medium heat.
- Garnish with green onion.
This looks so amazing. We’re big rice fans in our house and I’m always looking for new ways to jazz it up. #client
That looks delicious. Except I would make it with black beans, I sort of have a crush on them! 🙂
saving this recipe!! my husband loves football, so my weekends are basically watched every single football game on! jajaja.
This is a quick and easy recipe, I hope you enjoy it! It also goes great with brats or hamburgers. It’s a nice little flavor boost to serve on the side.
Looks good will be trying this soon! Fingers crossed I do not have a reaction a huge allergic reaction to the beans.
Oh no, I couldn’t imagine a bean allergy! It would be just as delicious leaving out the beans and maybe adding in more veggies. Maybe some red pepper or even some celery!
I’ll do that maybe some mushrooms for the protein. It is the weirdest allergy and its annoying LOL.
Oooo…I think mushrooms would be fantastic in this!
I’m not a football fan, either, but I do love snacks! 😀 I could keep myself busy eating your salsa rice for sure.
Looks great!! Perfect game day treat!
That looks delicious! Perfect for our next Taco Tuesday!
Cheesy rice is so delicious!
Literally drooling! This looks simple and delicious!!
Stop it – that looks amazing. Although, I add salsa to everything 🙂
I’m getting to that point! I also love salsa on my scrambled eggs in the morning. Yum!
I will have to add this to our meal rotation! PS I am originally from Nebraska! 🙂
It’s a great place to be! Look me up if you ever come back to visit or drive through!
That looks super tasty. Must make this for my family this weekend.
What a wonderful way to dress up rice and have an amazing dish!
I love this twist on rice and beans!
YUM! We love rice and beans. This would be a great recipe for our family on busy weeknights! Thanks so much for inspiration!
This looks so tasty, and it would work anytime for a quick meal! Yum!
We’re not big into football either but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy game day food! And the big game is really all about the commercials anyway, right?
How yummy! It looks very filling too. We’ll be making it soon!