Grab a can of black beans and turn it into a hearty and delicious meal! These recipes pair canned black beans with vibrant veggies, wholesome grains and other tasty ingredients. From our 20-Minute Black Bean Soup to our Crispy Sheet-Pan Black Bean Tacos, each dish proves that a can of beans is all you need to build a healthy meal with plenty of plant-based protein. Whether you’re craving zesty salads, cozy soups or even rich desserts, you’ll find nourishing options that keep budgets in check and bellies satisfied—so go ahead, grab that can and start cooking!
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Five-Bean Salad
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.
This vibrant salad is a refreshing, protein-packed side that’s as flavorful as it is colorful. A zesty lemon-herb vinaigrette coats a hearty mix of five different beans, along with crisp bell pepper and red onion for crunch. Easy to make ahead, it tastes even better after chilling, which allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchilada Skillet
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Josh Hoggle.
Tender cubes of butternut squash and hearty black beans are simmered in green enchilada sauce, with tortilla strips stirred in. A layer of melted cheese ties everything together for a satisfying, vegetarian-friendly dish.
20-Minute Black Bean Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless.
This effortless soup takes only 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Canned black beans help speed things up, and taco seasoning and fire-roasted tomatoes help build rich, savory flavor, while cream cheese adds a silky texture.
5-Ingredient Black Bean Patties
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These super-easy, super-savory black bean patties will please vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The larger patties are perfect for burger buns topped with your favorite additions and condiments, while the smaller patties can be enjoyed as a salad topper or sandwiched inside pita bread.
Crispy Sheet-Pan Black Bean Tacos
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
Baked to crispy perfection on your trusty sheet pan, these tacos are packed with seasoned black beans and melty cheese and served with a creamy chipotle crema, making them a fuss-free meal the whole family will love!
Black Bean & Pepper Jack Quiche
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless.
This savory quiche features a creamy egg filling packed with black beans, sweet peppers and spicy pepper Jack cheese for a flavorful kick. If you want to tame the heat, Monterey Jack cheese can be used in its place.
High-Protein Black Bean Salad
Photographer: Brittney Cottrell, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.
In this high-protein salad, black beans take center stage. As the main source of plant-based protein, they make the salad satisfying, with their creamy texture pairing perfectly with sweet potato, crisp veggies and a citrusy dressing.
No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowls
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.
These satisfying bowls feature hearty black beans, veggies and zesty toppings layered over crispy cabbage and lettuce. The lime crema adds a tangy, creamy finish that brings all the flavors together.
5-Ingredient Taco Stuffed Peppers
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle.
These five-ingredient stuffed peppers are a simple, satisfying twist on taco night with all the flavors you love. Sweet bell peppers act as the perfect vessel for a filling of lean ground beef, black beans, salsa and melty cheese. Serve them with a dollop of sour cream, sliced avocado and/or fresh cilantro for a little extra flair.
Sweet Potato-Black Bean Tostadas
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
These tostadas pack in plenty of plant-based protein, combining hearty black beans and nutrient-packed sweet potatoes for a satisfying and flavorful meal.
High-Fiber Black Bean Brownies
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
These black bean brownies are everything you could possibly want—moist, rich and fudgy with big chocolate flavor. Black beans not only enhance the texture but also give these brownies a nutritional boost! Packed with protein, fiber and essential vitamins, black beans make this dessert satisfying.
Chicken Fajita Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
The vibrant, smoky flavors of traditional fajitas are just as delicious when turned into a comforting soup. To kick up the heat, add a chopped jalapeño to the veggie mixture. You can swap out the rotisserie chicken for another protein or make it vegetarian by using no-chicken broth and subbing tofu.
Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Bowls
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
These hearty bowls featuring sweet potatoes, poblano peppers and red onion are bursting with bold flavors. Add a tangy scoop of guacamole, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and more of your favorite toppings and you’ll have a vibrant, satisfying dinner for your regular rotation.
Sweet Potato-Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
These delicious stuffed peppers are an easy anti-inflammatory meal, thanks to the combination of sweet potatoes, black beans and bell peppers, which are all packed with antioxidants. This vegetarian dish calls for microwaveable brown rice for ease, but you can also use leftover brown rice if you have it on hand.
Trail Mix Energy Bites
photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle
These trail mix energy balls are made with black beans for a delicious, nutritious twist on a classic snack. Black beans add plant-based protein and fiber, while also acting as the perfect binder to keep the ingredients together. Dates and apricots add natural sweetness to the mixture.
Fajita-Stuffed Mushrooms
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This flavorful vegetarian dish fills roasted portobello mushroom caps with fajita-style veggies and black beans, giving them a boost of fiber and protein. Top it off with melted cheese and Greek-style yogurt for a satisfying dinner.
High-Protein Enchilada Skillet
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This enchilada skillet is a one-pan meal packed with plant-based protein. Crumbled tofu soaks up the sauce, while corn tortillas soften into it for a rich, satisfying filling. Black beans add protein and fiber, and a sprinkle of cheese on top adds melty goodness to every bite.
Breakfast Stuffed Peppers
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Kick-start your weekend with these breakfast stuffed peppers filled with eggs, hearty beans, kale and taco seasoning.
No-Cook Black Bean Salad
The dressing for this vegan black bean salad gets its creaminess from blended avocado. Any mix of salad greens will work well, but try arugula if you want to give this hearty salad a peppery kick.
Roasted Vegetable Breakfast Grain Bowl
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This colorful, satisfying breakfast grain bowl is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with ingredients like black beans, roasted broccoli and beets that help fight inflammation to start your day. The egg is cooked just right—firm egg whites with a slightly jammy yolk. This grain bowl is vibrant and interesting with plenty of textural contrast, and we know you won’t be able to stop making it.
Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili Mac
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Chili meets mac and cheese in this fix-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker dinner. Hot tomato sauce, a Mexican canned tomato sauce that also includes spices and chiles for heat, kicks up the flavor.
Cheesy Beef & Black Bean Skillet Casserole
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Think of this creamy skillet casserole as a one-pan taco. The corn tortillas crisp up under the broiler, adding crunch to go with the creamy filling. If you enjoy a bit of spiciness, opt for hot salsa or chipotle salsa for some smoky undertones.
Steak Burritos
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser
These steak burritos are inspired by San Francisco’s super burritos, which come packed with meat, beans, rice, cheese, guacamole and salsa. We’ve kept this homestyle version a bit simpler to make and a whole lot healthier with brown rice, whole-wheat tortillas and a more reasonable serving size.
High-Protein Black Bean Breakfast Bowl
Ali Redmond
This savory breakfast bowl includes black beans, yogurt and Monterey Jack cheese, providing 18 grams of protein to keep you feeling full and energized throughout the morning.
Black Bean Enchilada Skillet
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
This easy version of black bean enchiladas only needs one pan and skips the hassle of stuffing and rolling corn tortillas. We use mild enchilada sauce to keep the spice level suitable for everyone, but if you prefer more heat, using medium or hot enchilada sauce will add extra zest to your meal.
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This hearty sweet potato and black bean chili has a delightful balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Swap out regular chili powder for chipotle and ancho chile powder, or try using reduced-sodium taco or fajita seasoning for a unique twist.
