27 Black Bean Recipes for Easy, Hearty Meals
This collection of black bean recipes means that if you have a can of black beans—or a bag of dried black beans—in your pantry, you're not far from a cozy, hearty meal. Napped in a broth of chipotle peppers and garlic, they'll turn into a warming soup; puréed and layered in a flour tortilla with bacon and creamy scrambled eggs, they'll be the star of your breakfast burrito. Scroll down for crowd-pleasing homemade veggie burgers, loaded nachos, and sweet potatoes piled high with toppings, plus a few of our favorite vegetarian-friendly chili recipes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/27Vegan Chili
Inaugurate Dutch oven season with this hearty meatless chili, which leans on a mix of black beans and kidney beans, plus a half cup of bulgur in the pot.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich4/27Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
This black bean chili is weeknight-friendly, since you aren't waiting around for any meat to cook. You'll simmer the black beans and a can tomato sauce with chili powder, garlic, cayenne, and cumin, then top with grated Monterey Jack, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez5/27Stuffed Sweet Potatoes With Beans and Guacamole
Here at Epi, we're on Team Sweet Potato. We love them for lunch, we love them for dinner, we even love them for breakfast. This black bean recipe is one of our favorite ways to fancy up a spice-rubbed sweet potato, complete with all of our favorite burrito toppings.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce8/27Slow Cooker Black Velvet Beans
Dried black beans sip up the flavors of avocado leaves, epazote, garlic, chipotle, and cumin while they soften in your slow cooker. You'll stir in sour orange juice at the last minute for brightness.
Photo by Jennifer Davick13/27Here Comes the Sun Breakfast Bowl
For a breakfast that'll keep you powered throughout the day, try this bowl piled high with roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed kale, black beans, and farro, wild rice, or freekeh.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova17/27One-Pan Chicken Drumsticks with Rice and Beans
This one-pot chicken dish pairs drumsticks with rice and your choice of legumes: chickpeas, white beans, and black beans all work.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce18/27Huaraches de Nopal
Instead of the classic masa base, these huaraches start with a griddled (or grilled) cactus paddle, strewn with an assortment of flavorful toppings.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson21/27Vegetarian Three-Bean Chili
Photo by Charles Masters, prop styling by Sarah Cave, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer22/27Instant Pot Refried Black Beans
You'll save at least an hour or two of cooking time when you make black beans in an electric pressure cooker. Serve at brunch alongside chilaquiles or layer into a torta.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson23/27Black Bean Smash Burger
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks26/27Spicy Black Bean and Corn Tacos
When corn is in season, you don't need to cook it to add to these quick black bean tacos.
