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Black beans are a beautifully versatile ingredient, and there are plenty of amazing black bean recipes. Deciding what to make with black beans can sometimes be tricky due to many choices. This breadth of choices is because the black bean is a central player in many world cuisines, and you can cook it in so many ways.
Black beans are a good source of protein and antioxidants, making them popular in light dishes. You can easily incorporate a can of black beans into a dish or use them from their dried state. There are a few methods for reconstituting dried black beans, including a long soak or a combination of boiling and soaking.
Sometimes, the black bean recipes chosen can determine the type of black beans you want to use. For example, a quick weeknight skillet may be made more accessible by a can of beans rather than beans from scratch. So if you are wondering, “what can I make with black beans?” know that the possibilities are endless.
Black Bean Lettuce Wraps
If you are looking for something meatless but packed with flavor, for dinner, these black bean lettuce wraps are a must-try. Fresh-tasting, filling, with a southwestern flavor, here’s a finger food that everyone can customize.
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Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
This is a fresh take on quinoa that we think you’ll love. Served hot or cold, this quinoa salad includes fresh tomatoes, red onion, corn, black beans, cotija cheese, fresh lime, and avocados.
Chicken Enchilada Dip
This is the good stuff: a hot tex-mex chicken enchilada dip baked in the oven until the cheese is bubbly. You add the usual suspects, like a Costco chicken that you shred yourself, preshredded cheese, a can of black beans.
Sheet Pan Tex Mex Quesadillas
Sheet Pan Tex Mex Quesadillas bake into one large, bronzed slab of crispy tortillas with a filling that stays hearty and well-seasoned: browned beef, softened onion, sweet bell peppers, earthy black beans, and pockets of melty cheese.
Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole
My Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole is packed with savory ground beef, seasoned with taco spices, and mixed with black beans, corn, green chiles, and a rich red enchilada sauce. It’s a fun twist on baked enchiladas that will have everyone asking for seconds!
Mexican Tortilla Casserole
This Mexican Tortilla Casserole is a beautifully layered casserole, nearly cake-like—stacked to the heavens with a combination of corn, rice, ground beef, and cheese. The layers of beans, beef, cheese, and corn/rice are sturdy.
Beef Taco Salad
This hearty salad is made with all your favorite taco ingredients, including ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, sturdy lettuce, and shredded cheese.
Taco Soup
This taco soup recipe is so easy to make, comes together quickly, and with a few garnishes, makes a complete, healthful meal in 60 minutes, especially if you have a helper for chopping. Taco soup is what it sounds like—all of the ingredients of a taco but in a soup instead of a taco shell.
Taco Casserole
A taco casserole is essentially a deconstructed taco. This casserole has cooked ground beef with sauteed onions and garlic.
Taco Cups
These quick taco cups—made with tortillas in a muffin tin—cook up fast and hold all the flavor. They are a really fun appetizer you can put together quickly.
Taco Pizza
Can’t decide between pizza night or taco Tuesday? You can mix and match toppings so the entire family can have their perfect slice.
Sheet Pan Ground Beef Nachos
Sheet pan nachos come out of the oven ready to feed a crowd with just a handful of easy ingredients. With melted Colby Jack layered over everything and protein-rich refried beans anchoring the layers, this comfort food makes a hearty and satisfying dinner.
The bottom line
Black beans are healthy and hearty, making them the ideal star of any dish. You can dress them up or down, depending on what your needs are.
