3 Ingredient Creamy Beans & Rice

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When I first started trying to lower our grocery bill, I kept hearing about how beans and rice was the most frugal meal around.  It’s certainly cheap, but did you know it’s healthy too?  Beans and rice, when combined, make up a complete protein.  Even if your budget can’t afford protein in the form of meat, you can still get it by combining beans and rice.

As much as I kept hearing how great beans & rice was on the budget, I just couldn’t get excited about it.  Over time, I tried quite a few recipes and could not make myself like them!  Y’all know by now that I’m not a cook, so you know I’m excited about a recipe when I decide it’s blog worthy!  🙂

I’m excited to share this creamy beans & rice recipe for two reasons.  First, I invented this recipe on accident when I was rummaging through my pantry and fridge to figure out something for us to eat at the end of the month.  We get paid once a month, so our menu is always interesting right before payday.  Rarely do I ever create my own recipes, so it’s exciting!

Second, this creamy beans & rice recipe is probably the most frugal recipe I’ve ever come across.  Beans and rice are cheap, but I had no idea a recipe could be THIS cheap.  If my memory serves me correctly, this dish cost less than $3.  That’s total, not per person!  I shop primarily at Aldi these days, so the exact price may vary from store to store.

You will need a box of jambalaya mix, cream cheese, a can of black beans, and your slow cooker (mine is on its last leg, but I have my eye on THIS* one).  It doesn’t get much simpler than that, right?

You really don’t even need a recipe for this either, it’s just that easy.  Throw your black beans into the slow cooker , lay your block of cream cheese on top, and then let it cook on high for 30 minutes to warm it all up and soften the beans.

(If you have issues with the cream cheese curdling or just don’t want to take a chance, then you can add it towards the end.  You could add it right as you begin to prepare the jambalaya.)

After the beans have been cooking for 30 minutes, prepare your jambalaya according to the directions on the package.  This should take another 30 minutes.

Once the jambalaya has cooked, dump it into the slow cooker and mix it all up.  The cream cheese should be soft by now and easy to mix.

I have been on the hunt for a yummy beans and rice recipe for years and this creamy beans & rice recipe is our favorite by far!  My husband and I really love it.  Depending on the day (picky kids), my kids will eat it as well.  The jambalaya can be spicy by itself, but the cream cheese tones it down enough so that it has a kick without being too overpowering.

ENJOY!

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What is your favorite frugal recipe?

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