Discover four budget-friendly, delicious black bean recipes that are perfect for lunch or weeknight dinners, plus how to best cook dry black beans.
Looking for cheap, healthy, and flavor-packed meals? Black beans are your new best friend in the kitchen! Whether you’re cooking dry beans in a large pot or grabbing a can of black beans for a quick recipe, these budget-friendly black bean recipes are perfect for busy weeknights and full of lots of flavor.
Today I’m sharing four of my favorite recipes that use black beans that my family loves—and I know yours will too!
But first, let’s talk about how to cook black beans from scratch (because trust me, home-cooked black beans are so much yummier than beans from a can!)
How to Cook Black Beans from Scratch
Cooking dry beans at home is an easy way to save money and control the flavor. Here’s how I cook a pot of beans for my family.
Ingredients:
- 1 bag of dry beans (black beans are my favorite, but pinto beans are another great option!)
- Cold water (enough to cover beans by 2–3 inches)
- 1–2 tablespoons salt
- Optional: bay leaf, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion or onion powder, chili powder
Instructions:
- Sort and Rinse: (Optional) Look through beans to remove debris or tiny rocks. Rinse under cold water.
- Quick Soak: Add beans to a large pot, cover with cold water (about 2–3 inches of water above beans), and bring to high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat, cover, and let soak for 1 hour.
- Cook: Drain soaking water, refill with fresh water (or chicken broth if you prefer) and bring to a light simmer over medium-low heat. Cook 2–3 hours, adding more liquid if needed. Season with salt, onion powder, and your favorite spices.
- Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze in batches.
Need a shortcut? You can use a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time dramatically—or stick with canned beans for convenience!
1. Black Bean Salsa
This colorful black bean salad is the perfect side dish or light lunch. It’s made with simple ingredients and packed with flavor. My sister shared the recipe with me and it’s definitely a keeper!
Ingredients:
- 1 can of black beans, drained (or the same amount homemade)
- 1 cup corn
- 1/2 of a red onion, diced
- 2 jalapeños, diced
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
- 1 tomato, diced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- Optional: Diced avocado
Mix everything in a large bowl and chill before serving (or serve right away!) This makes a great light lunch served with tortilla chips, or a great side with quesadillas, tacos or any of your favorite Mexican recipes.
2. Crispy Chicken & Black Bean Burritos
These burritos are hearty enough for a main dish and easy to throw together with pantry staples.
Ingredients:
- Cooked white rice or brown rice
- Cooked chicken
- Black beans
- Shredded cheese
- Spices: chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt
- Optional: cilantro
- Tortillas
- Butter (for cooking on the skillet)
Mix your filling, wrap in tortillas, and crisp on a griddle with butter. Serve with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole for a dinner that’s always a win!
3. Black Beans and Rice with Corn
This is a staple “cheap meal” in our house. Quick, easy, and filling, sometimes a simple bowl of homecooked rice and beans really hits the spot. We top our bowls with corn and my husband Pablo adds salsa on top as well.
Ingredients:
- Cooked white rice or brown rice
- Home-cooked black beans
- Corn
- Optional: Salsa
This makes a great fast lunch or an easy dinner. Want to make it a bit fancier? Try it with cilantro lime rice or add sautéed bell peppers and onions.
4. Mexican Shredded Chicken Casserole
This dump-and-go bake is like a warm dip for dinner—super easy and a favorite for my family! We like to eat it by scooping it up with tortilla chips, and I top mine with sour cream.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup black beans
- 4 cups cooked chicken
- 1 can corn or the equivalent amount frozen corn (can also be served on the side which is what my kids prefer)
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
Mix everything together and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes—just enough cooking time to melt the cheese and heat it through. Serve with chips and sour cream. Yum!
Final Thoughts
These easy black bean meals are made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. They’re affordable, healthy, and most importantly—delicious. Whether you’re making a big pot of beans for the week or have a lot of canned black beans you want to use up, these are my favorite black bean recipes for a reason. 🙂
What are your favorite meals to make with black beans? Drop them in the comments below—I’d love to try them!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today—I’ll be back soon with more family-friendly meal ideas!
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