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.
Read on to learn how to turn black beans into everything from a Black Bean Coconut Stew, Sweet Potato And Black Bean Tamales, and Black Bean Fritters.
If you want to make a Ghanaian recipe with your black beans, give Akara a try.
It is usually eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
The beans and other ingredients combine to create a soft mixture, and that mixture is deep-fried.
This classic Venezuelan dish is comforting and delicious.
These particular arepas are called “Domino” due to a combination of white cheese and black beans in the filling.
In addition to those black and white ingredients, the filling also contains garlic, sweet chili, paprika, cumin, onion, and red pepper.
These are a perfect choice for a tasty lunch or a snack.
This canned black beans recipe will transform a simple can of black beans into something tasty and versatile.
Garlic, onion, cumin, chili powder, coriander, and oregano compliment the flavor of the canned black beans while adding a delectable spice level.
Use the result of this recipe in other dishes, such as nachos, casseroles, or paired with rice.
Make this delicious salad for your next BBQ.
It brings a brightness that balances anything you are throwing on the grill while providing you with some protein.
Bell peppers, red onions, parsley, and corn all bring brightness to balance out the earthiness of the beans.
A simple dressing of olive oil and red wine vinegar is easily added to bring the whole thing together.
While this salsa is great as a snack, it can also do well as a side along with meats or other dishes.
Thanks to the red, yellow, and purple of the tomato, corn, and red onion, this is a beautiful bowl of color to add to your table.
If you have a lot of dried black beans that you want to get rid of, this may be a great recipe for you.
Use an Instant Pot for this recipe in the interest of efficiency and a nicely blended flavor.
There is also a stovetop version of this recipe if you prefer that method.
Either way, the coconut milk, garlic, sweet potato, and black beans come together with a mix of spices to make a delicious bite.
Enchiladas is one of the best recipes using black beans.
What could be better than a mix of black beans, corn, and peppers, wrapped in a tortilla and topped with enchilada sauce and melted cheese?
Make this meal any day of the week for dinner or lunch.
There are many recipes with black beans where the black beans are the only star.
In this recipe, black beans co-star with miso.
You can eat this dish alongside rice, quinoa, or other grains.
If you want a new take on nachos, use your black beans to make this tasty black bean nacho gratin.
Red bell peppers, zucchini, black beans, and corn provide you with a ton of vegetables in combination with chips and cheese.
Choose this recipe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
It is an especially great choice if you have a family to feed but you are short on time.
Pickled onions bring a lot of unexpected flavor to this skillet.
To add some bulk, feel free to pair this dish with rice, quinoa, or some other grains.
This soup includes all of the classic ingredients in a good black bean soup, including onion, bell peppers, garlic, and cumin.
However, it also showcases smoked sausage, and this adds a whole new level to this cozy soup.
Choose this recipe for a fast and easy weekday meal or an impressive dinner party dish.
If you have ever tried black bean sauce at a Chinese restaurant, you may not think that you can recreate this sauce.
While this dish traditionally uses fermented soybeans, this recipe uses salted black beans.
Combine the beans with soy sauce, rice wine, green onion, ginger, and garlic.
You can use this recipe in combination with plenty of vegetables, noodles, or meat.
This dish is another black bean salsa that is a great addition to tacos or just paired with chips.
What makes it unique is the addition of sour cream and mayonnaise.
As a result, you get the brightness of vegetables balanced with a creamy taste.
Discover how much flavor you can pack into a can of black beans with this recipe.
Cook your beans with garlic, scallions, bell pepper, cumin, oregano, and red wine vinegar.
The whole dish takes less than half an hour.
These beans can be paired with almost anything or enjoyed on their own.
Eat these beans alongside rice or quinoa or with some meat.
If you are trying to choose from these meals with black beans, try making these black bean burgers.
These are made with a few simple ingredients, and they are truly easy to make.
Pair the burgers with some delicious topping such as red onion, spinach, and a homemade sauce.
The great thing about these bowls is that you can stick to this amazing recipe, or you can make your modifications.
To emulate the original recipe, use sweet potatoes, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, and rice.
If you want to try a classic Brazilian dish, try this stew recipe.
The name of this dish comes from the Portuguese word for “beans.”
While other versions of this recipe are more time and labor-intensive, this is a somewhat simplified version.
The orange in this dish is key to its uniqueness.
To serve this dish traditionally, give it to a big group of people or a family.
Quesadillas are a fantastic choice if you want an easy-to-make dish that you can eat for any meal.
These are also a great choice if you want something you can easily make with children.
The quesadillas can freeze very easily.
The classic pairing of black beans and corn complements red onion, cilantro, and cheese.
This canned black beans recipe will transform a simple can of black beans into something tasty and versatile in minutes.
Thanks to the coconut milk, this recipe is a bit lighter than some of the other soup recipes on this list.
Make this recipe if you want plenty of vegetables in a short amount of time.
This recipe does also include stovetop instructions if you do not have an Instant Pot.
Hand pies make a great lunch or snack on the go.
Pair these pies with a salad or other side dish to create a balanced meal.
The light pastry provides a perfect balance to the flavorful bean and corn filling.
The filling uses several spices that contribute to a flavor inspired by Mexican cuisine.
You can also modify this recipe a bit to suit your tastes.
It’s simpler than you think to decide what to do with black beans.
This dish does not have a ton of ingredients, but every component plays an important role.
The cilantro in this recipe brings out some floral flavor of the black beans.
Meanwhile, the cumin brings brightness, and garlic and onion offer aromatic flavor.
Bean burritos are a classic way to use black beans.
Add a bit more dimension by using miso and kale in this recipe.
The result you get is a light but hearty meal that makes a great dinner or lunch.
Black beans and sweet potatoes are a fantastic combination.
This recipe offers some of the same experience of eating nachos but with more heartiness, thanks to the presence of the rice.
Lime, salsa verde, spices, and green chilis provide plenty of brightness to balance out the depth of the beans, rice, and sweet potatoes.
Another recipe that is simple and yields complex, spicy black bean soup is perfect for any time of the year.
A few simple ingredients come together to bring out the delicious flavor and texture of the black beans.
While you can have this soup without blending, the recipe suggests blending part of the soup so that you get a creamier texture.
Black bean dip is a welcome addition to a meal.
It provides protein and plenty of flavors.
Pair this dip with chips and vegetables such as peppers, carrots, and cabbage.
Our Black Bean Lettuce Wrap would go together nicely with this dip.
Black bean dinner recipes are tastiest when the bean is combined with ingredients that can stand up to the deep black bean flavor.
The coconut milk and spinach lend support to the black beans, and the spices bring the dish together into a curry.
Tamales are an important part of Mexican cuisine.
They can be filled with several different foods, but these black bean-filled tamales are especially delicious.
The tamal masa itself is combined with sweet potato to add a bit of dimension.
This recipe is more technical than some others on this list, but the result is very rewarding.
Make these tamales for a special occasion.
Here we have 19 complementary side dishes to serve with your tamales.
This recipe may be fast to make, but it tastes far more complex than what you would expect for 15 minutes.
Stock the ingredients for this in your pantry so you can always make it at the last minute.
The canned tomatoes and chilis, as well as the beans and lentils, can all be from the pantry.
Quinoa and black beans make a great combo.
They provide a hearty meal when put together with corn, avocado, and great aromatics.
Choose this dish if you need an easy meal with plenty of protein.
Many black beans recipes are great to eat no matter the time of year.
This recipe is delicious and hearty in the Fall and Winter but also refreshing in Spring and Summer mornings.
Using a skillet is a great way to infuse a lot of flavor into your meal using a very simple cooking process.
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.
Whether you are in the mood for stew, tamales, a skillet, or a party dip, you are sure to find the right recipe for you.
The 30 BEST Ways To Cook Black Beans
Whether you’re in the mood for stew, tamales, or a party dip, our list of Black Bean Recipes can help with that!
Ingredients
- Akara–Black Bean Fritters
- Arepas Stuffed With Black Beans And Cheese
- Best Ever Canned Black Beans
- Black Bean And Corn Salad
- Black Bean And Corn Salsa
- Black Bean Coconut Stew
- Black Bean Enchilada
- Black Bean Miso With Smoked Salt
- Black Bean Nacho Gratin
- Black Bean Skillet With Pickled Onions
- Black Bean Soup With Sausage
- Chinese Black Bean Sauce
- Creamy Black Bean Salsa
- Cuban Style Black Beans
- Easy Black Bean Burgers
- Easy Veggie And Black Bean Pantry Bowls
- Feijoada, Brazilian Black Bean Stew
- Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Black Bean Stew
- Mexican Black Bean Hand Pies
- Mexican Black Beans Recipe
- Miso, Kale, And Black Bean Burritos
- Southwest Sweet Potato, Black Bean, And Rice Skillet
- Spicy Black Bean Soup
- Spicy Vegan Black Bean Dip
- Spinach, Coconut, And Black Bean Curry
- Sweet Potato And Black Bean Tamales
- Vegan Chili Recipe With Black Beans
- Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
- Zucchini, Black Bean, And Rice Skillet
Instructions
- Have a look at our list of Black Bean Recipes.
- Choose the dish you want to recreate.
- Start cooking your newly found recipe!
- Share your insights on our Facebook page!