25+ of Our Favorite Ways to Turn Black Beans into Dinner

Kristin Appenbrink

updated Jun 2, 2021

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Credit: Joe Lingeman
Easy 5-Ingredient Black Bean Veggie Burgers

While we’ve always got a mix of canned beans stocked in our pantries for quick and wholesome meals, we often find ourselves reaching for black beans the most. You’ll almost never find our kitchens without at least a can or two.

Black beans stand out from other common varieties like cannellini beans and chickpeas not just because of their striking color, but also because of how rich and practically meaty they are. They’re the ultimate choice if you’re looking for plant-based protein that doesn’t skimp on flavor. This versatile ingredient can be used in so many different ways. From soups and chilis to enchiladas and salads, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Here are more than 25 of our favorite recipes with black beans that show off all it can do.

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Vegetarian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

You will not leave the table hungry after digging into one of these stuffed sweet potatoes. Seasoning the beans with a bit of chipotle in adobe is the secret to making them so smoky and flavor-packed.

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Black Bean Tostadas with Coconut-Corn Salsa

You’ll want to pick up a can of refried black beans for these crispy tostadas. However, if you can’t find them, try blending regular black beans in a food processor with a bit of chili powder, salt, pepper, and a splash of olive oil.

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Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Stuff colorful bell peppers with a savory mix of black beans, brown rice, corn, spices, and cheese and you’ve pretty much got a complete meal on your hands.

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One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

You’ll get lots of cheese pulls out of this super-comforting pasta. While it’s got ground beef tucked inside, the beans alone make it hearty, so feel free to leave the meat out if you’re rather it be vegetarian.

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Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado

While this recipe calls for canned corn in order to make it extra pantry-friendly, feel free to use fresh or frozen kernels, if you prefer. Just quickly sauté them in a little olive oil until tender and let cool before adding to the salad.

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Cuban Black Bean Soup

To make this soup the right way, use dried black beans and let them soak overnight. You’ll also want to give it ample time to cook on the stove so, really, it makes a better weekend recipe. Finally, don’t skimp on the vinegar — it’s what gives the soup that little extra kick.

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Easy 5-Ingredient Black Bean Veggie Burgers

These aren’t just good veggie burgers — they’re good burgers, period! And I’m not just saying that because mashed avocado is used as the binder to hold the patty together.

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Easy Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

These lightened-up enchiladas are ones you can feel good about serving your family. They’re filled with black beans and roasted veggies and topped with a creamy cilantro-lime yogurt sauce.

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10-Minute Black Bean Tacos

Dinner in 10 minutes sounds like just the kind of thing we can get behind on a busy weeknight. These rely on canned beans and a few store-bought condiments to come together fast.

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Roasted Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas

Start with pre-cut butternut squash to make these veggie-filled enchiladas much faster and easier to bring to the dinner table. You can also swap in store-bought enchilada sauce if you’d rather not bother with making your own.

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Loaded Black Bean Nachos

A couple of cans of black beans add protein to this sheet pan full of ooey, gooey nachos. Top everything with a couple dollops of Greek yogurt and you can feel good about eating chips for dinner.

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Chilled Black Bean, Feta & Cucumber Salad

This is one of those salads that actually gets better with more time spent in the fridge to let the dressing work its magic. We recommend making a big batch over the weekend and enjoying it for lunches all week.

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Crunchy Black Bean Tacos

These pan-fried tacos are made with soft tortillas and are somewhere between a taco and a quesadilla. You can fill them with anything you want, and they’re a great way to use up a small amount of leftovers.

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Spicy Salmon Black Bean Salad

Hot smoked salmon is a salty, meaty counterpart to earthy black beans. This is a salad that can be tossed together in minutes and is equally satisfying for dinner as it is for lunch.

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Slow-Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas

Slow cooker enchiladas are a bit magical. They might not be the prettiest meal on the block, but they are one of the tastiest. Plus, they are easily adaptable, so you can basically clean out your fridge and end up with a mouth-watering meal.

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Black Bean Burgers with Chipotle Ketchup

What really makes these veggie burgers stand out is the amped-up ketchup, which is sweet and smoky and dangerously addictive.

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Kale and Black Bean Tacos with Chimichurri

No, chimichurri wasn’t originally intended for vegan tacos, but the garlicky sauce adds a whole new dimension to these tasty tacos. Of course, the big chunks of avocado and sautéed kale don’t hurt, either.

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Baked Black Bean and Avocado Burritos

Somewhere between a burrito and an enchilada, these avocado and black bean delights reside. You can play around with additional fillings, like sautéed peppers or greens; make sure you taste-test the filling to get the spices to your liking.

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Black Bean & Corn Salsa

On nights you don’t feel like cooking, spoon this hearty salsa into a soft tortilla, top with a dollop of Greek yogurt and guac, and you’ve got dinner.

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Southwestern Pizza with Black Beans and Corn

One of our favorite unexpected black bean recipes is this Southwestern pizza. In place of traditional red sauce is a black bean mash. The whole pizza gets topped with corn, peppers, and a healthy dollop of avocado cream.

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Smoky Sweet Potato & Black Bean Casserole

Smoked paprika, fire-roasted diced tomatoes, and smoked mozzarella all join forces here to create a comforting casserole that has serious depth of flavor.

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Sheet Pan Sweet Potatoes and Black Bean Hash

This hearty hash is perfect for feeding a weekend brunch crowd. Everything cooks on one sheet pan, which means you can spend time drinking mimosas with your guests instead of standing over the stove.

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Slow Cooker Black Bean Chili

A bit of unsweetened cocoa power lends deep, rich flavor to this meatless chili. Let it cook slowly while you’re at work and you’ll be rewarded with a comforting meal as soon as you walk through the door.

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Black Beans and Plantains Breakfast Bowl

Make a big batch of these Cuban-style black beans ahead of time and when morning comes all you’ll need to do is fry up a plantain and some eggs while you reheat them.

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Breakfast Burrito Egg Casserole

This super-simple casserole combines everything you love about breakfast burritos — from the eggs, to the potatoes, beans, and cheese — and bakes it up into a total crowd-pleaser. Tortillas optional, but highly recommended.

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Quinoa and Black Bean Salad with Citrus-Coriander Dressing

A quinoa and black bean salad makes an easy, wholesome lunch or a good side for supper. Gluten-free and vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, it’s also an ideal dish to share at potlucks and other gatherings.

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Black Bean Tamales

Tamale-making is a food ritual that has been part of Mexican life since Mesoamerican times. They date as far back as 5000 BC and are perhaps the best example of Mexican communal cooking. These black bean tamales might be time-consuming, but they are worth the effort.

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