Recipe Roundup

27 Black Bean Recipes for Easy, Hearty Meals

Our favorite ways to cook black beans, whether you start with canned or dried.

By Joe Sevier and The Editors of Epicurious

September 18, 2023

Tostadas on a stone surface spread thick with refried black beans and topped with shredded chicken tinga cilantro and...

This collection of black bean recipes means that if you have a can of black beans—or a bag of dried black beans—in your pantry, you're not far from a cozy, hearty meal. Napped in a broth of chipotle peppers and garlic, they'll turn into a warming soup; puréed and layered in a flour tortilla with bacon and creamy scrambled eggs, they'll be the star of your breakfast burrito. Scroll down for crowd-pleasing homemade veggie burgers, loaded nachos, and sweet potatoes piled high with toppings, plus a few of our favorite vegetarian-friendly chili recipes.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
1/27
Caldo de Frijoles Negros
We couldn't present a list of the best black bean recipes without including this chipotle-seasoned black bean soup. It's an essential for cool weather that we love to serve topped with cubes of avocado and a dollop of crema.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
2/27
Vegan Chili
Inaugurate Dutch oven season with this hearty meatless chili, which leans on a mix of black beans and kidney beans, plus a half cup of bulgur in the pot.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
3/27
Breakfast Burritos
Part of what makes these bacon, egg, and cheese burritos so great is the silky layer of puréed black beans, seasoned with cumin, oregano, thyme, and jalapeño plus dried pasilla and guajillo chiles.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
4/27
Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
This black bean chili is weeknight-friendly, since you aren't waiting around for any meat to cook. You'll simmer the black beans and a can tomato sauce with chili powder, garlic, cayenne, and cumin, then top with grated Monterey Jack, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez
5/27
Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Beans and Guacamole
Here at Epi, we're on Team Sweet Potato. We love them for lunch, we love them for dinner, we even love them for breakfast. This black bean recipe is one of our favorite ways to fancy up a spice-rubbed sweet potato, complete with all of our favorite burrito toppings.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Jennifer Ophir
6/27
Very Versatile Baked Beans With Cabbage
Embrace the versatility of this dish by playing around with the vegetables: add cubed winter squash, swap chicories for the cabbage, or stir in blanched hearty greens or spinach at the end, for example.
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Photo by Peden + Munk
7/27
Turkey Tacos With Black Beans
This barbacoa-inspired recipe turns turkey drumsticks into luscious, shreddable meat that's excellent in tacos.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce
8/27
Slow Cooker Black Velvet Beans
Dried black beans sip up the flavors of avocado leaves, epazote, garlic, chipotle, and cumin while they soften in your slow cooker. You'll stir in sour orange juice at the last minute for brightness.
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Photo by Romulo Yanes
9/27
Black-Bean Burgers
These homemade veggie burgers are earthy and satisfying. The patty's spice mix is all Southwestern, and breadcrumbs keep the patty from falling apart.
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Photo by Lauren Volo
10/27
Chicken and Black Bean Nachos
Nachos for dinner are a guaranteed hit. Use a can of black beans plus shredded cooked chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, store-bought salsa or salsa verde, and creamy avocado.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
11/27
Big-Batch Black Beans
It doesn't really make sense to cook a small batch of beans, since they can be repurposed so many ways. Do this bit of meal prep, and you'll be ready to eat them with rice, pile them into burritos, smash them into veggie burgers, pop them into quesadillas, and so much more.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
12/27
Memelas
Top these griddled masa cups with refried black beans, salsa, and crumbles of queso fresco.
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Photo by Jennifer Davick
13/27
Here Comes the Sun Breakfast Bowl
For a breakfast that'll keep you powered throughout the day, try this bowl piled high with roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed kale, black beans, and farro, wild rice, or freekeh.
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Photo by Jim Henkens
14/27
Shortcut Black Bean Chili
Want to punch up the flavor of this quick chili recipe even further? Sub in beer for half the water.
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Following stints at StarChefs and Saveur, Joe joined Epicurious in 2016 where he’s written about how to make the very best biscuits, the singularity of third-culture cooking, and the ultimate cream cheese frosting. Currently, he works across both BA and Epi as the senior SEO editor for cooking stories, which ... Read More

Senior SEO Editor, Cooking

The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here. ... Read More

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