Easy Mexican Black Beans

These Mexican Black Beans are easy to make and full of flavor!  This recipe is a great way to liven up canned beans and make them taste so good!  These black beans can be used as a side dish or the main ingredient in so many recipes.

 As a vegetarian, beans make up a large part of my diet.  They’re super versatile and can be used in so many different kinds of recipes.  Black beans have always been a favorite of mine so today I’m showing you my easy way to spice up canned black beans.  After you try these Mexican Black Beans you will never want to eat plain beans again!

I’m always telling myself that I should start cooking my own beans, but canned beans are just so easy and convenient to have around.  Canned beans don’t usually have much flavor though, but luckily it can easily be added in!

Mexican Black Bean Recipe Ingredients

There aren’t many ingredients in this Mexican Black Bean recipe and most of them you probably already have in your pantry.

• Black Beans – We are using canned black beans for this recipe.  I like to buy organic beans and either the low sodium or no salt added kind.  We use the bean liquid in this recipe so that its why I like the lower sodium version.  You want to make sure to taste everything before adding too much additinoal salt because the liquid will add some as well.
• Onion & Garlic – I do use granulated garlic and onion in this recipe but I also like to use the fresh stuff!  Fresh garlic and onion have some nice aromatics and add a lot of flavor to these black beans.  I love onion so I used a good amount, but you can cut down the amount of onion and garlic if you like.
• Spices – I like to add cumin, paprika, smoked paprika, granulated garlic and onion and then salt and pepper, to taste.  If you can’t find smoked paprika, you can just omit it, or add a pinch of chipotle power to add a nice smoky taste.  Feel free to use less or more than the amounts of I listed in the recipe.

How To Make Easy Mexican Style Black Beans

This recipe is very easy to make and there are only a few steps.

1. Start by heating a large pot or pan over medium heat and cooking the onions with a little bit of olive oil.  You want them to be softened and even a little browned.  Then, add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
2. Next, add in the black beans.  I do like to drain off just a tablespoon or so of bean liquid from each can because I don’t want my beans to be too soupy.  Add all the spices and stir well.
3. Lastly, let the beans cook together with the onions, spices and bean liquid so the flavors can really develop.  I like to cook everything for 5-10 minutes or so.  I then take a potato masher or a large wooden spoon and mash down some of the beans.  You don’t want to mash all of them, unless you want to make refried beans, but it does give the sauce a nice creamy texture.
4. Once you’ve added all the spices in, you can season with salt and pepper, to taste!

Suggestions On How To Enjoy These Delicious Mexican Black Beans

These Mexican Style Black Beans can be used as a side dish or they can be used as a main ingredient in your recipes!  Here are a few suggestions on how to use them up:

• Use them as a topping for nachos.
• Filling for black bean tacos.
• Filling for burritos.
• Spread them on tostadas.
• A rice and bean bowl.

How do you like to enjoy your black beans?

Mexican Black Bean Frequently Asked Questions

• How long can these be stored in the refrigerator?  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
• Can I freeze them?  Yes, freeze in an airtight freezer friendly container for about 3 months.  Thaw in the refrigerator or on the counter before using.
• Can I use a different kind of bean for this recipe?  It is a black bean recipe, but if you want you could use pinto beans instead.  I wouldn’t really recommend using any other kind of bean.
• Are all the spices necessary?  They all help build the delicious flavor that these Mexican Black Beans have, but of course you can leave some out if you don’t like them or don’t have them. 

Do you have a question that I didn’t answer above?  Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP!

Looking For More Mexican Style Side Dishes?

Best Easy Guacamole Recipe

Homemade Pico De Gallo

Black Bean Mango Salad with Avocado

Green Rice with Black Beans and Sweet Potato

Tex Mex Tater Tots

Easy Mexican Black Beans

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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

• Author: She Likes Food
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6-8 1x
• Diet: Vegan

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Description

These Mexican Black Beans are perfectly seasoned and go great with so many recipes!

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Ingredients

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• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 (15 oz) cans black beans, don’t drain the liquid!
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add olive oil, diced onion and a pinch of salt.  Cook until onion is soft and beginning to brown.  Add in minced garlic and cook for another minute or so.
2. Pour the cans of beans plus bean liquid into the pan.  I like to drain off just a tiny bit of liquid from each can but keep most of the liquid in there.  Add in all the spices and stir well.
3. Let beans cook for 5-10 minutes, just to make sure you get as much flavor as you can from the spices.  This step is optional, but I like to take the back of my wooden spoon, or a potato masher and give the beans a light mash.  You don’t want to make refried beans but I think it creates a nice sauce if some of them are mashed up.
4. You can always add extra bean liquid or water if you want the to be soupier.  If you want them to have a thicker consistency, cook them a bit longer and mash them up more.

• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins
• Category: Side, Vegan
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: Mexican Black Beans