Casado, main dish from Costa Rica: what it is and how it is eaten

Casado is a typical Costa Rican meal that brings together rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and a choice of meat or fish. It is a common dish served at lunch or dinner, known for its variety and balance, and reflects everyday home cooking in Costa Rica.

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Casado means 'married' in Spanish
Always includes rice and black beans together
Served with plantain, salad, tortilla, and a protein
Common for lunch or dinner in Costa Rica

What is Casado?

Casado is a plate meal from Costa Rica that combines several foods on one dish. It usually has rice and black beans, which are always served together, along with fried plantains, a fresh salad, and a tortilla. The meal is rounded out with a protein, such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish, depending on preference. Each part is served separately on the plate, making for a colorful and varied meal. The mix of ingredients gives a balance of flavors and textures, with the beans and rice providing a hearty base, the plantain adding sweetness, and the salad offering freshness.

Where does Casado come from?

Casado comes from Costa Rica and is a staple of the country's everyday cooking. The name means 'married' in Spanish, and there are different stories about its origin. One idea is that restaurant diners would ask to be served like married men, who were thought to eat this kind of meal at home. Another explanation is that the rice and beans, or the grouping of foods, are 'married' because they are always served together. The dish reflects the typical way meals are put together in Costa Rican homes.

How is Casado made?

To make a casado, rice and black beans are cooked separately and then served side by side on a plate. Fried plantains are added for a sweet touch. A simple salad, often made with fresh vegetables, is included. A corn tortilla is placed on the side. The main protein, which could be grilled or stewed chicken, beef, pork, or fish, is prepared and served alongside the other items. Each part is cooked on its own and then arranged together just before serving.

How and when is Casado eaten?

Casado is usually eaten at lunch or dinner in Costa Rica. It is served on a single plate, with each component kept separate. The meal is common in homes and small restaurants, where diners can choose their preferred protein. It is considered an everyday food and is valued for its variety and balance. Casado is often enjoyed with family or friends, and the combination of rice and beans is seen as essential.

Kinds of Casado

The main elements of casado—rice, beans, plantain, salad, tortilla, and a protein—stay the same, but the protein can vary. Some versions use chicken, others beef, pork, or fish, depending on what is available or preferred. The salad ingredients may change with the season or region. While black beans are most common, other types of beans can sometimes be used.

What Casado means

Casado is a symbol of Costa Rican daily life and home cooking. It is not tied to festivals or religious occasions, but rather represents the typical meal that people eat every day. The dish is known for its balance and variety, and the name itself reflects the idea of foods coming together. Casado is widely served in Costa Rican restaurants and is recognized as a national staple.

Questions people ask about Casado

What is casado made of?

Casado is made with rice, black beans, plantain, salad, a tortilla, and a protein such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish.

Where does casado come from?

Casado is from Costa Rica and is a classic part of the country's everyday cooking.

Is casado always made with meat?

Casado usually includes a protein, which can be chicken, beef, pork, or fish, but the choice varies.

When is casado typically eaten?

Casado is commonly eaten at lunch or dinner in Costa Rica.

Why is it called casado?

The name may come from the idea that married men ate this kind of meal at home, or because the rice and beans are always served together.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Casado", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Casado