60 Vegetarian Black Bean Recipes (2024)

ByBecca Heyes

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If you like black beans, you’ll love this bumper collection of more than 60 vegetarian black bean recipes – including casseroles, stews, burritos, burgers, salads, and lots more!

60 Vegetarian Black Bean Recipes (1)

I love making these little recipe round-ups. Sometimes I can get into a rut of always using certain ingredients in the same way, so it’s always fun to realise quite how many different ways something can be used – and black beans are one of the most versatile ingredients in my kitchen!

From hearty casseroles and stews to fresh salads and burgers, and of course all of my Tex-Mex favourites – here are 60 (yes, sixty!) vegetarian black bean recipes that will inspire you to get straight into the kitchen. Make sure you bookmark this list so you can work your way through alllll of these vegetarian black bean recipes at your leisure!

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What are black beans like?

Black beans are undoubtedly my favourite type of bean – they’re small and soft, and add a nice richness to your cooking. I find they have more flavour than most other types of beans.

They’re perfect as the star of the show or merely in the background, and they go perfectly in one of my favourite cuisines – Mexican!

Plus, like other beans, they’re full of fibre and protein, and low in fat – the perfect little nugget.

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Canned black beans

I exclusively use canned black beans in my cooking. You can buy tins that are basically just black beans in water, so health-wise it’s much the same as cooking your dried black beans from scratch. Just be aware that some brands will have salt added to the water, which you might want to avoid, or at least bear in mind while you’re cooking.

Cooking dried beans from scratch will be cheaper than using canned black beans, but obviously soaking and boiling them also takes a bit more effort. It also requires some forethought – you can’t let it get to 7pm and then suddenly decide you want to soak some dried black beans for 6 hours before dinner.

So, it depends on what you’d prefer to prioritise – cost or convenience. All of my vegetarian black bean recipes use canned beans, but feel free to soak and cook dried black beans from scratch if you prefer, then cook the recipe as written.

Without further ado…

60 vegetarian black bean recipes

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Black bean soups and stews

Vegetarian savoury mince [vegan]
15 minute black bean soup [vegan]
Mushroom and black bean chilli
[vegan]
Creamy three bean stew
Vegan taco soup with crispy tortilla strips [vegan]
Spicy bean hotpot with crispy potato topping
Slow cooker three bean enchilada chilli[vegan]
Veggie-packed slow cooker black bean soup [vegan]
Black bean and walnut tacos [vegan]

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Black bean salads and salsas

Sweet potato quinoa salad with tahini dressing [vegan]
Roasted black bean taco salad with avocado lime dressing
[vegan]
Black bean and walnut taco-style lettuce wraps[vegan]
Southwestern black bean salad
from Skinnytaste[vegan]
Southwestern pasta salad with creamy avocado dressing from Two Peas and Their Pod
Strawberry black bean salad from An Edible Mosaic
Black bean salad with corn, red peppers and avocado from Once Upon A Chef[vegan]

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Black bean burgers, etc.

Vegetarian nacho burgers with nacho cheese sauce
Black bean and lentil vegetarian koftas [vegan]
Nutty pumpkin seed baked veggie burgers [vegan]
Carrot and black bean sausages from Tinned Tomatoes[vegan]
Cajun spiced black bean and sweet potato burgers from Tinned Tomatoes[vegan]
Southwestern black bean and brown rice burgersfrom Veggie Belly[vegan]
African-inspired sweet potato and black bean burgers from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen[vegan]
Easy double bean burgers with avocado basil cream from How Sweet It Is

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Black bean casseroles

Enchilada stuffed pasta shells
Mexican bean lasagne
One pot vegetarian chilli and rice bake
Cheesy bean bake
Mexican black bean casserole
Nacho pasta bake
Stacked roasted vegetable enchiladas from Two Peas and Their Pod
Southwestern quinoa and black bean casserole from Pinch of Yum

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Black bean burritos and tacos

Mushroom and black bean smothered burritos
BBQ bean burritos
Veggie burrito bowls
Slow cooker burrito bowls
Crispy black bean tacos from Domestic Superhero
Roasted veggie and black bean burritos from Aggie’s Kitchen
Crispy black bean quinoa burritos from Two Peas and Their Pod

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Other black bean recipes

Enchilada noodles
Vegan loaded sweet potatoes [vegan]
Mexican rice with cilantro pesto [vegan]
Taco frittata
Cheesy bean roast
Smoky black bean breakfast bowls
Mexican black bean stuffed potatoes

Ricotta and black bean stuffed peppers

Mexican inspired rice with coriander pesto and black beans
Cheesy Tex Mex tortilla roll-ups
Crunchy veggie and black bean spring rolls from Foxes Love Lemons [vegan]
Lime spiked black bean dip from Fabtastic Eats [vegan]
Cheesy black bean dip from Lil’ Luna
Sweet potatoes stuffed with chipotle black bean and corn salad from Alaska From Scratch [vegan]
Black bean and cheese nachos from Tide and Thyme
Mexican roasted corn and quinoa stuffed squash from Pinch of Yum

Well there you have it – more than 60 vegetarian black bean recipes! Which is your favourite?

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Becca Heyes

Vegetarian Food Blogger

Becca Heyes has been a vegetarian food blogger, recipe developer and cheese eater extraordinaire since 2011. She's been a vegetarian for significantly longer, after having stopped eating meat out of pure stubbornness at the tender age of 9. She spends her life testing recipes, sharing them with fellow veggie-lovers, and trying to think of new ways to say 'cheesy'.

Leave a Reply

  1. I would like to eat more vegetables and reduce the amount of meat that I eat.

    Reply

    1. You’ve come to the right place! :)

      Reply

  2. I see that you have bean very busy! Thanks for the recipes they are great, delicious and healthy.

    Reply

    1. You’re welcome :)

      Reply

  3. I love your Black Bean soups recipes, but they all use canned black beans and I want to use the dried beans. One of your recipes calls for the liquid to be used as well. How do I do that with dried beans. What would the equivalent be for a 15 oz can in the dried. I am so looking forward to trying these soups.

    Reply

    1. Thanks! Just use an extra dash of water instead – the liquid is quite thick to keeps things nice and rich, but it doesn’t matter too much if you skip it :)

      Reply

  4. Hi what you all forget when preparing your recipes is the fact that some one like me who cant afford to eat like this my shopping budget £20a fortnight I struggle to eat herbs spices other add in cost more than my budget just to make one meal at this rate om living mainly off beans on toast or cheap sausage casserole I wish sum one would devise a cook book that easy and cheap I dont like avacado mushrooms olive tomatoes goat and feta nor torfu which most recipes add these your a dying vegetarian

    Reply

    1. Hi Jay, I’m sorry I can’t offer what you’re looking for! I tend to focus on simple recipes rather than budget recipes, but hopefully you’ll be able to find something here that suits!

      Reply

    2. A good vegetarian sandwich recipe: crusty bread, flour tortilla, or any solid bread will do. Boil some green lentils in water and vegetable broth or (chicken broth), and spices( optional) till soft. boil until there’s barely any water left. It should be stewy. Put tth mixture between some bread add some grated cheese of your choice. Melt the cheese or grill sandwich like a grill cheese. And there you go. I do this often it tastes great.

      Reply

    3. Jack Munro produced a book called “A Girl called Jack” with budget recipes. She fed herself and her 2 year old son on £10 a week. She grew her own herbs on a window ledge, bought spices when she had any spare cash and I think is great example of inventive budget cookery.

      Reply

      1. I have her book its fantastic!

        Reply

60 Vegetarian Black Bean Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How long to soak black beans before cooking? ›

First, rinse and sort the dry black beans. Remove any debris such as stones. If soaking, cover black beans in water by about 4″ and soak for 8-24 hours. They'll soak up quite a bit of liquid.

Are black beans healthy for weight loss? ›

Canned black beans are a versatile, ready-to-use ingredient that you can use to boost the nutrient content of many dishes. They're a rich source of plant-based protein and fiber. This makes them a weight-loss-friendly food that may also help you manage blood sugar levels and lower your risk of heart disease.

Are black beans considered a vegetarian option? ›

They have a dense, almost meaty texture that makes them a popular source of protein in vegetarian dishes. If you are using canned black beans, be sure to select those with no added sodium and to drain and rinse them.

Are black beans good for cholesterol? ›

Adding black beans to your diet may help lower blood cholesterol and high blood pressure levels. For example, saponin compounds in black beans act as antioxidants with cholesterol-lowering capacities. The beans' fiber may also help reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels ( 4 ).

What happens if you don't soak black beans before cooking? ›

Short answer: They take longer to cook. Long answer: Many people claim that soaking beans is not necessary. The argument for this method is while it does take longer to cook, unsoaked beans end up having better flavor.

What happens if you don't soak beans before cooking? ›

Modern cooking websites often say it doesn't matter. In a way, they're both right. Soaking beans can help improve the texture of the final product once the beans are cooked and reduce the gas produced when the food is being digested. But it isn't necessary to soak them.

Which beans burn belly fat? ›

In terms of specific types of beans, research has shown that black beans, lentils, and navy beans may be particularly beneficial for weight loss and reducing belly fat. This is likely due to their high fiber content, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite.

Do black beans burn belly fat? ›

Black beans as part of a healthy weight loss diet can help you lose weight. Beans of all types are high in fiber and low in fat. They keep you full for long periods of time and help keep your blood sugar stable.

Is it OK to eat black beans everyday? ›

Heart Health

Studies show that eating beans can lower the total amount of cholesterol and levels of “bad” cholesterol in your blood. This may reduce your risk of developing heart disease. One study showed that eating a single serving of dried beans per day can reduce the risk of heart attack by up to 38%.

Do black beans help hair growth? ›

Like oysters, beans are a good source of zinc, which aids the hair growth and repair cycle. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of black beans provides up to 14% of a female's daily zinc needs and 10% for males ( 30 ). They also provide many other hair-healthy nutrients, including iron, biotin, and folate ( 30 ).

How to eat black beans for weight loss? ›

Here are some ideas for incorporating black beans into your diet:
  1. add them into your salad.
  2. mix them with ground beef or turkey for tacos.
  3. add them to your chili.
  4. make black bean soup, or add them to a chicken tortilla soup or vegetable soup.
  5. make a side dish with roasted corn, onions, diced peppers, tomatoes, and cilantro.

What is the healthiest bean to eat? ›

The 7 Healthiest Beans to Eat, According to Dietitians
  1. Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. ...
  2. White Beans. ...
  3. Black Beans. ...
  4. Chickpeas. ...
  5. Pinto Beans. ...
  6. Red Kidney Beans. ...
  7. Lupini Beans.
Aug 14, 2023

Are canned black beans healthy? ›

The nutrition profile of black beans is impressive. Black beans are naturally gluten-free and vegan, and high in both protein and fiber. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and have been linked to reductions in disease risk, according to a 2022 review in Nutrients.

Are black beans anti-inflammatory? ›

Overview. Black beans are a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food that are an essential addition to any arthritis diet. Packed with disease-fighting antioxidants, they have anti-inflammatory properties, and are also a great source of fiber, iron and protein.

Are black beans good for your gut? ›

Black beans are a high-fiber, gut-healthy food.

Fiber helps us to maintain healthy digestion and regularity. Black beans are especially high in a specific type of fiber called prebiotics that are essential for optimal gut health.

Is 4 hours long enough to soak black beans? ›

Bean Soaking Recommendations

The general recommendations for each bean type vary. For instance, if you are making black beans, you should soak them for 4 hours, whereas great northern beans should soak for much longer – 8-12 hours.

Can you soak black beans too long? ›

Beans soaked longer than 12 hours can absorb too much water and lose their characteristic texture and flavor. If you plan to cook beans for dinner and you want to use the long-soak method, start soaking in the morning.

How long to soak black beans to reduce gas? ›

Beans: An overnight soak can reduce gas.

How long do you really need to soak beans? ›

To soak beans the traditional way, cover them with water by 2 inches, add 2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 tablespoon fine salt) per pound of beans, and let them soak for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Drain them and rinse before using.

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