Vegan Black Beans

Turn any night of the week into an instant fiesta with these quick-cooking Vegan Black Beans bursting with aromatic and savory flavors. Perfect for topping tacos, building burritos, or assembling your favorite bowl, this recipe turns a pantry staple into a star.

If you’re looking for a delicious way to add additional fiber and protein into your diet, these budget-friendly gluten-free black beans are it. Naturally gluten and dairy free they’re also completely vegan. So pile up those tortillas or top off your favorite rice because this is a recipe you can feel good about serving your family that they’ll all love. Don’t forget the Restaurant Style Guacamole!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy Process - Using canned black beans makes this black bean recipe both easy and quick to cook. There’s no need to soak dry beans overnight!
• Budget Friendly - Not only does using canned black beans make this quick cooking, but it also makes this an affordable dish to prepare. You can serve it as a side dish or use it as part of your main course. The choice is completely up to you. 
• Meal Prep - Go ahead and make extra! Not only can you use this in various ways throughout the week, but beans also freeze well. 
• Customizable - These vegan black beans are perfect on their own but also a canvas to add additional flavors. Like heat? Throw in a minced jalapeno or serrano pepper. What these a little smoky? Add smoked paprika or minced chipotle pepper. Have fun making these your own.

Ingredients

• Black Beans - These firm and meaty beans are a great meat replacement. Not only are they packed with protein and fiber but they’re also rich in potassium, magnesium, and iron. Unlike other foods high in carbs that cause spikes and blood sugar, studies have proven the opposite with black beans. 
• Cilantro - Fresh is best for this recipe! Adds a citrusy herbaceous note. 
• Sweet Peppers - These add both a sweet and savory back note to the beans without bringing any heat. 
• Onion - Adds a mild sweet and savor note. 
• Green Olives - Adds a briny, salty, savory note. Even if your family thinks they don’t like olives, there are only a few finely minced olives to add that salt content. 
• Salt - Enhances all of the natural flavors of the other ingredients. 
• Garlic Powder - Adds that sharp bite of garlic without overpowering the overall flavor profile.  
• Paprika - Gives these beans an earthy note. 
• Garlic Olive Oil - Costabile 100% certified organic garlic infused olive oil is 100% Italian. It’s non-GMO, chemical-free, and doesn’t contain any additives. The olive oil is extracted the same day that the olives are harvested giving you the most incredible flavor. (use code 15GOLDENGK for 15% off)  
• Vegetable Broth - This allows the beans to simmer and not become dry while also adding a layer of flavor.

How to Make Vegan Black Beans

• Rinse and drain your black beans. Set them aside.
• Finely chop your onions, sweet peppers, cilantro, and olives.
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add your olive oil and allow it to heat through.
• Add your sweet peppers and onion. Let them cook for one minute until fragrant.
• Add the rest of your ingredients and stir to combine. Let the beans come to a boil. Allow them to boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring the entire time.
• Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid. Allow the beans to simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and reduced.

Expert Tips

• To control the sodium content of this recipe, you can use low-sodium beans in this recipe.
• Make sure to fully rinse the beans and allow them to drain well. 
• If you don’t have sweet mini peppers you can dice up a red, yellow, or orange bell pepper. You will only need about ⅓ cup. 
• Skip the fresh oregano for this easy black beans recipe, but don’t skip the fresh cilantro!

Storage

Storage

To store these gluten-free black beans in the refrigerator, allow them to cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container. They will last for up to five days in the refrigerator. To reheat them simply add them back to a saucepan on low, stirring occasionally. They can also be reheated in the microwave.

You can also freeze these easy black beans. Let them cool completely before transferring them to freezer-safe bags. Seal the bags, pressing out all of the air. They will keep for up to three months in the freezer. 

Flavor Variations

Spicy - Finely dice a jalapeno or serrano pepper and add your sweet peppers and onions to saute. You can always control the heat by removing the seeds. 

Smoky - Add a pinch of smoked paprika or chipotle powder. You can also add a diced chipotle or two. 

Meaty - These beans are completely vegan. However, you can add meat if desired. Start by sauteing a couple of chopped pieces of bacon. Remove the crispy bacon from the saucepan along with most of the bacon grease. Saute the onions and peppers in the remaining bacon fat and oil and then continue on with the recipe. Stir in the crispy bacon at the end. You can also use chicken broth if desired. 

Pinto Beans - Not a fan of pinto beans? You can make this same recipe with canned drained and rinsed pinto beans. 

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📖 Recipe

Vegan Black Beans

1x2x3x

Turn any night of the week into an instant fiesta with these quick cooking Vegan Black Beans bursting with aromatic and savory flavors. Perfect for topping tacos, building burritos, or assembling your favorite bowl, this recipe turns a pantry staple into a star.

5 from 32 votes

Nicole Kendrick

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

1x2x3x

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6

Calories 137 kcal

Equipment

• ▢
  Medium Saucepan
• ▢
  Colander
• ▢
  cutting board
• ▢
  Sharp knife

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cilantro fresh
• ▢ 3 sweet peppers mini and diced
• ▢ 4-5 green olives
• ▢ 1 tablespoon onion minced
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon oregano
• ▢ 1 tablespoon organic garlic olive oil  (use code 15GOLDENGK for 15% off)
• ▢ 2 ¼ cups vegetable broth

Instructions

 

• Rinse and drain your black beans. Set them aside
• Finely chop your onions, sweet peppers, cilantro, and olives.
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add your olive oil and allow it to heat through.
• Add your sweet peppers and onion. Let them cook for one minute until fragrant.
• Add the rest of your ingredients and stir to combine. Let the beans come to a boil. Allow them to boil for 3-4 minutes, stirring the entire time.
• Reduce the heat to low and cover the saucepan with a lid. Allow the beans to simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and reduced.

Notes

Top tips:

• To control the sodium content of this recipe, you can use low-sodium beans in this recipe.
• Make sure to fully rinse the beans and allow them to drain well. 
• If you don’t have sweet mini peppers you can dice up a red, yellow, or orange bell pepper. You will only need about ⅓ cup. 
• Skip the fresh oregano for this easy black beans recipe, but don’t skip the fresh cilantro!

Nutrition: 

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. The owner of this site is not responsible for nutrition facts.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 137kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 8gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gSodium: 785mgPotassium: 433mgFiber: 9gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2073IUVitamin C: 76mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 2mg

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