How to turn a can of beans into something extraordinary with a few simple ingredients and one special technique. Use this canned black beans recipe for any canned beans to create a delicious side dish or filling for quesadillas, tostadas, or enchiladas Includes a video!
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Recipe first posted on September 23, 2021. Last updated October 9, 2023 with new step-by-step images and text.
One reader said: “I made this last night. I was concerned the amounts of the ingredients would overwhelm a 15 ounce can of black beans, but I followed the recipe anyway and it turned out perfect. Thank you a delicious quick black bean recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“
-Diana
Another reader said: “thank you, I eat black beans and pintos regularly and anything to add some flavor or a change of flavor is a nice change so I really appreciate it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.”
-Sabrina
Of all the black bean recipes on my site, this one by far is the easiest and definitely the quickest. Learning how to make canned black beans is a thrifty cook’s dream. For less than two dollars a family of four can eat like kings, and most importantly, in under thirty minutes—perfect for busy weeknights. A can of black beans (or any canned beans for that matter) can be served as a soup, as a side dish with steak or with white rice (or my personal favorite, cilantro lime rice) for a healthy vegan meal.
Black beans (sometimes labeled black turtle beans) are the perfect protein-packed breakfast with a hard boiled egg and maybe even a couple slices of avocado or some chopped cilantro or sour cream and lime juice.
They are incredibly healthy for you too! They have loads of fiber and antioxidants and can also help lower your blood sugar and bad cholesterol.
how to make canned black beans taste better
This easy recipe can be used to cook any type of bean although the flavorings are best suited to pinto beans or black beans. The biggest secret when doctoring up a can of beans is to use the cooking liquid in the can.
Draining and rinsing a can of beans has its place, like if you are making a salad, for example. But for anything else you’re making, do not drain the beans. The canning liquid is your best friend. That juice the beans are packed in makes a rich, thick stew for creamy beans.
Plus, when you add aromatics like sautéed onions, minced garlic, and toasted spices, it is this liquid that picks up all those flavors.
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- White onion, adds so much flavor
- Jalapeños, essential to make Mexican black beans
- Garlic
- Cumin, again, adds a lot of flavor
- Coriander
- Chili powder or cayenne pepper if you want it really spicy
- Dried oregano
- Kosher salt
- Canned black beans
- Fresh cilantro for garnish, optional
how to cook canned black beans
step one
Sauté the vegetables. When making a quick can of black beans, I start by sautéing the onions in olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the onions start to sweat and become translucent, add the garlic and diced jalapeno.
step two
Toast the spices. To this I add generous amounts of ground cumin, ground coriander, chili powder, and dried oregano, stir to combine. (Other spices that would be good are smoked paprika, onion powder, or fresh ground black pepper. You can add a bay leaf too if you’d like.) Most importantly, don’t forget the salt. Let the spices toast in the cooking oil for at least 30 seconds or until they bloom and become fragrant.
step three
Add the beans. When the sofrito is soft and fragrant I add the can of beans—with the liquid and everything and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until thick and creamy.
As always, taste as you go and keep adding a little salt when it seems to be lacking that special something. If you want the beans to be a creamier consistency (more like refried beans), you can mash them with a potato masher until they reach the desired consistency.
step four
Serve. To finish the beans I like to squeeze some fresh lime juice over the beans and maybe top with some chopped cilantro right before serving, but that’s totally optional.
what can I add to beans for flavor?
My favorite way to season a can of beans is the same thing I use when I’ve cooked dried beans—the sofrito. A sofrito is a mixture of onions, jalapeños, and garlic that gets fried in oil until they are sweet and tender and caramelized.
In addition to the onions and garlic some people love the sweetness of red pepper too or add tomatoes like Isabel does in her easy beans recipe.
can you freeze black beans?
You can always cook a batch of black beans and store them in the freezer for a quick meal later.This is more common when making a big pot of homemade beans using dried black beans, not canned.
But if you find yourself with lots of canned bean leftovers, you can certainly put them in an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.Never put an actual can of beans in the freezer though. The metal cans are not freezer safe.
make it a meal
- Bake a loaf of this super simple Jalapeno Beer Bread or Easy Cornbread for a complete meal.
- Burrito Bowls are a great place for these black beans. Add them to this Smoky Chile Relleno Bowl.
- Top tortilla chips with the beans and make these Chicken and Black Bean Nachos.
- Add chicken broth, some sour cream, and a couple more jalapeños and turn the beans into this Spicy Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup.
- My family loved these black beans as a sandwich spread for these Mexican Tortas with Turkey.
- In under 30 minutes you can turn that can of beans into this incredible vegetarian Chipotle Black Bean Tortilla Soup.
- Tuck the black beans inside pupusas for a the best gluten free main dish ever!
Top 5 Most Popular Main Courses To Serve With Black Beans
- Enchiladas Verdes with Chicken
- Red Wine and Garlic Marinated London Broil
- Pork Tamales
- Grilled Fish Tacos
- Carne Picada
did you love this seasoned black bean recipe?
If this is one of your favorite recipes, let me know, OK? Let me know what you end up making by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram@holajalapenoand#holajalapenoso I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating)! Also, don’t forget to sign up for myweekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!
Best Ever Canned Black Beans
Yield: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Learn how to make a can of black beans taste like gold. Some onions, garlic, a few spice, really not much turns a ho-hum can of beans into something special.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 white onion, chopped
- 2 jalapeños, chopped (seeds removed if you'd like it less spicy)
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 15-ounce can black beans
Instructions
- Heat oil.Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Sauté vegetables.Add onions and jalapeños and season with salt. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown.
- Add garlic and spices.Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, coriander, and dried oregano. Cook, stirring to toast the spices 1 minute more.
- Add black beans.Add black beans, juice and all, and bring to a simmer. Simmer about 5 minutes. Mash a bit with a potato masher to make them nice and creamy. You don't want to make a puree, just break some up to thicken the beans.
- Enjoy!Serve as a side or as a main meal with rice or with eggs and tortillas for breakfast.
Notes
- Spiciness. Feel free to adjust the spice level by adding more or less jalapeños or leaving the seeds in for extra heat.
- Texture. For a creamier consistency, use a potato masher to lightly mash the beans, but be careful not to overdo it.
- Seasoning. Don't forget to taste as you go and adjust seasoning with more salt as needed.
- Serving size. This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to accommodate different serving sizes.
- Make ahead-storage instructions. Leftover beans can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 6 months
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 4Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
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