Easy Black Bean Recipes

by Marsha McDougal
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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville test kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

Black Beans are one of my favorite types of beans to cook because they’re super versatile and they adapt well to different flavors. They’re perfect to use as a meat substitute when you’re on a budget, but they’re still hearty and filling enough for a quick dinner meal. So today we’ve gathered 16 of our absolute favorite black bean recipes including black bean soup recipes, vegan and vegetarian black bean recipes, and easy black bean dinner recipes!

Collage of six black bean recipes with title text in the center.

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1. Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar

Close up overhead view of cowboy caviar in a bowl with chips on the side.
Cowboy Caviar is a deliciously fresh bean salad with a colorful mix of beans and vegetables, plus a zesty lime dressing.
4.88 from 56 votes
$5.30 recipe / $0.53 serving Get the Recipe

Well hello super fresh, colorful and delicious bean salad! Cowboy Caviar is a cross between a bean salad and salsa and it’s perfect served with chips, on top of salads, inside a burrito bowl, or as a simple side dish.

2. Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

A stack of black bean quesadillas on a serving tray
These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
4.90 from 237 votes
$6.61 recipe / $0.66 each Get the Recipe

Prepare to fall head over heels for these hearty and super delicious Black Bean Quesadillas! This is one of those vegetarian black bean recipes that meat-eaters will also love. Promise! ;)

3. Quick Seasoned Black Beans

Quick Seasoned Black Beans

A pot of quick seasoned black beans, with a wooden spoon, jalapeños and green onion on the side
With just a few simple ingredients, these Quick Seasoned Black Beans are a fast and flavorful side dish for your weeknight dinners.  
4.84 from 12 votes
$1.33. recipe / $0.33 serving Get the Recipe

You’ll be surprised by how easy it is to turn a couple of canned black beans into a simple, quick, and flavorful side of Seasoned Black Beans. Enjoy them in your burrito bowls, alongside some fajitas, with fish tacos, or over a bed of hot rice!

4. Crispy Baked Beef Tacos

Baked Beef Tacos

A glass casserole dish filled with baked beef and black bean tacos, with toppings in bowls on the sides
Baked Beef Tacos are a fast and easy way to take Taco Tuesday to the next level and is the perfect fast and easy weeknight meal.
4.95 from 54 votes
$8.88 recipe / $1.78 serving Get the Recipe

Listen, you had me at tacos!! Tacos are one of my absolute favorite foods and these Baked Beef Tacos with seasoned beef and black bean filling takes Taco Tuesdays to the next level!

5. Taco Soup

Easy Taco Soup

One bowl of taco soup with toppings.
This easy Taco Soup recipe is a simple yet flavorful meal in a bowl featuring ground beef, beans, vegetables, and tons of tasty toppings!
4.88 from 8 votes
$11.84 recipe / $1.97 serving Get the Recipe

Now that we’ve established how much I love tacos…let’s talk about this fun, hearty, and super flavorful, Taco Soup! It’s made with seasoned ground beef, lots of beans, veggies, and a generously spiced tomato broth. It’s the perfect way to get your taco fix in a big bowl of soup with ALL the toppings!

6. Cucumber And Black Bean Salad

Cucumber and Black Bean Salad

Cucumber and Black Bean Salad in a bowl with a black spoon
This light and fresh cucumber and black bean salad is the perfect summer side dish. It is refrigerator stable so make it once and snack on it all week!
5 from 20 votes
$3.20 recipe / $0.80 serving Get the Recipe

We love quick and easy salad recipes over here, and this Cucumber and Black Bean Salad is light, fresh, and tossed in a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing.

7. Smoky Black Bean Soup

30-Minute Smoky Black Bean Soup

Two bowls of Smoky Black Bean Soup with various toppings, next to a bowl of sliced green onion and a crumbled corn muffin.
This super fast and easy Smoky Black Bean Soup is rich, filling, flavorful, and waiting to be piled high with fun toppings! An easy vegan weeknight dinner.
4.95 from 34 votes
$4.24 recipe / $1.06 serving Get the Recipe

There’s just something about a pot of soup simmering on the stove that I just absolutely love! This quick and easy Smoky Black Bean Soup is made with canned black beans, veggies, spices, and tons of flavor!

8. Black Bean And Avocado Enchiladas

Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas

These hearty vegan Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas are stuffed with fresh ingredients and drenched in a homemade sauce for big flavor in every bite. BudgetBytes.com
These hearty vegan Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas are stuffed with fresh ingredients and drenched in a homemade sauce for big flavor in every bite. 
4.92 from 123 votes
$7.23 recipe / $1.45 serving Get the Recipe

If you’re looking for a super delicious black bean dinner recipe, look no further. Our popular Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas are filled with a simple black bean and veggie mixture, then covered with a rich homemade enchilada sauce! Yum!!

9. Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls

Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls

Close up overhead shot of a poor man's burrito bowl with melted cheese
These easy no-frills burrito bowls are super fast and affordable. They're the perfect satisfying weeknight meal for times when money is tight!
4.84 from 66 votes
$7.07 recipe / $1.18 serving Get the Recipe

Burrito bowls have become super popular over the past few years, but if you don’t have a lot of money for fancy take-out, you can certainly indulge in these simple, Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls! Simple ingredients, easy to customize, and still very filling.

10. Black Bean Burgers

Homemade Black Bean Burgers

Side view of a single black bean burger on a bun, fully dressed, sitting on newsprint
Black beans, cumin, sriracha, garlic, and fresh red onion make these homemade black bean burgers a flavorful and filling vegetarian meal.
4.83 from 51 votes
$2.57 recipe / $0.43 serving Get the Recipe

Ditch those expensive restaurant veggie burgers and make these Homemade Black Bean Burgers for dinner this week. Top with your favorite toppings and if you have leftovers, just freeze the rest for another day!

11. Black Bean And Roasted Salsa Soup

Black Bean and Roasted Salsa Soup

Side view of black bean and roasted salsa soup in a bowl with a spoon in the center
Colorful oven-roasted vegetables, black beans, fresh cilantro, and lime come together to make a  vibrant soup that's great any time of year.
4.93 from 13 votes
$8.07 recipe / $1.35 serving Get the Recipe

We combined homemade roasted salsa and a few cans of black beans for the ultimate smashup! Serve this Black Bean and Roasted Salsa Soup with some yummy homemade jalapeño cornbread or any of your favorite toppings on top!

12. Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos

Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos

For the perfect Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos, layer your chips and toppings for the perfect chip-to-topping ratio. BudgetBytes.com
For the perfect Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos, layer your chips and toppings for the perfect chip-to-topping ratio. The ultimate comfort food! 
4.95 from 36 votes
$6.36 recipe / $1.59 serving Get the Recipe

Let’s wake up taco night with these Spicy Baked Black Bean Nachos! Crispy tortilla chips are topped with seasoned black beans and your favorite toppings for a simple, easy, black bean recipe that’s perfect for lunch or dinner.

13. Jerk Chicken With Pineapple Black Bean Salsa

Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa

Full of fresh summery flavor, without needing a lot of ingredients, this Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa will become your new go-to easy summer meal!
With just a few ingredients, this Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa is big on fresh summery flavor and will become your new go-to easy summer meal!
4.97 from 31 votes
$10.01 recipe / $2.50 serving Get the Recipe

Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Black Bean Salsa is an easy and simple recipe that’s big on flavor! It includes jerk seasoned chicken breasts with fresh pineapple salsa, and served with rice. This meal works great for weekly meal prep!

14. Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Packed with vegetables, flavor, protein, and fiber, this ultra-flavorful and low-calorie Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup is an all around winner! BudgetBytes.com
Packed with vegetables, flavor, protein, and fiber, this ultra-flavorful and low-calorie Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup is an all around winner!
4.69 from 132 votes
$4.81 recipe / $0.79 serving Get the Recipe

This Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup recipe is perfect anytime of the year, but especially during the hot summer months when you don’t want to heat up your stove. It’s full of veggies, budget-friendly, and can be topped with lots of different toppings!

15. Bean ANd Cheese Burritos

Bean and Cheese Burritos

Perfect for stashing in the freezer, these Make Ahead Bean and Cheese Burritos will save you on busy weeknights!
Perfect for stashing in the freezer, these Bean and Cheese Burritos will save you on busy weeknights!
4.89 from 36 votes
$6.93 recipe / $0.87 each Get the Recipe

Bean and Cheese Burritos are fun, easy to make, and perfect for meal prepping. These simple homemade burritos are made with seasoned rice, canned black beans, cheese, and a little taco sauce and green onions. That’s it!

16. Weeknight Black Bean Chili

Black Bean Chili

Overhead view of a bowl full of black bean chili with toppings.
This easy and comforting black bean chili is rich, full of warm chili spices, and fast enough to pull together on a busy weeknight. 
4.75 from 95 votes
$9.19 recipe / $1.53 serving Get the Recipe

For all of our chili fans out there, this Weeknight Black Bean Chili recipe is easy to make, comforting, super filling, and comes together in about 30 minutes!

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