Seasoned Black Beans (EASY Canned Bean Recipe)
Seasoned Black Beans are made by simmering a can of black beans with flavorful herbs and spices for a quick and easy stove-top side dish!
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get our best recipes every week!
When I need a lightning-quick side dish to accompany a variety of entrees, it doesn't get any easier than jazzing up a plain ol' can of beans. And these Seasoned Black Beans are one of my go-tos!
Ingredients
I love that I can make Seasoned Black Beans at a moment's notice since I always keep canned beans and a variety of spices in my pantry.
- Canned black beans. Make sure not to get canned black beans with seasoning already added, like "spicy black beans." And if you prefer to have complete control over the total sodium in your Seasoned Black Beans, start with low-salt or no salt added black beans.
- Chili powder. Chili powder is a ground up blend of chili peppers and other spices. Most "regular" chili powders are pretty mild. However, some specialty chili powders may be ground from extra spicy chili peppers and boast some extra heat. I use "regular" chili powder in my Seasoned Black Beans. If I want to make them spicy, I simply stir in a bit of chipotle chile pepper powder in addition to the chili powder and other spices.
- Other spices. Namely, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano.
- Salt + freshly ground black pepper. To taste. As always, I prefer using fine sea salt.
The above spices give these Seasoned Black Beans a Mexican or Tex-Mex flavor profile.
However, the beauty of this recipe is that you can tweak the seasonings to your liking. Use more, use less, add extra herbs or spices that you like, or omit those that you don't.
So consider this recipe a starting point...and feel free to add your own flair!
How to Make Seasoned Black Beans
(The below photos are intended to be helpful, but please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for FULL DIRECTIONS.)
It only takes a couple minutes to get this recipe going!
- Pour your canned black beans into a pot, pan, or skillet...no need to drain them. Measure out the seasonings and stir 'em in.
- Bring the beans to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, for several minutes until they're heated through.
Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding more salt, pepper, or individual spices, if you like.
Serve warm and enjoy!
If you have enough time, feel free to cover and cook your Seasoned Black Beans over low heat for longer than 10 minutes for more infused flavor.
However, keep an eye on them and stir frequently so they don’t stick!
Modifications
I already mentioned that you can adjust the spices of your Seasoned Black Beans to your liking...
Swap out the regular oregano for Mexican oregano. Stir in a bit of coriander or smoked paprika for extra flavor. Add some cayenne for heat or chipotle chile pepper powder for smoky heat.
But you can also stir in some tasty add-ins to make this recipe your own! A few ideas:
● Salsa.
● Hot sauce (we like Cholula).
● Freshly-squeezed lime juice.
● Minced fresh cilantro.
● Sour cream.
Yield + Storage
When I make this recipe as written using one can of beans (to yield about 4 servings), I make it in a small saucepan.
However, this recipe can easily be doubled (or tripled! or quadrupled!) using a larger saucepan, pot, or skillet.
Leftover Seasoned Black Beans will keep in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
So whether you need a side dish for King Ranch Chicken Casserole, your next burger night, or Taco Tuesday...these Seasoned Black Beans are the ticket!
Simple. Effortless. Tasty.
Side dishes don't get much better than that! 🙂
More Tasty Bean Side Dishes
- Slow Cooker Charro Beans
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Easy Baked Beans
- Slow Cooker Ranch Style Beans
- Southern Baked Beans
Seasoned Black Beans (EASY Canned Bean Recipe)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, undrained
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- OPTIONAL ADD-INS: salsa, lime juice, hot sauce or chipotle chile pepper powder (for heat), fresh minced cilantro, sour cream
Instructions
- Pour the beans into a small saucepan along with their juices. Stir all of the seasonings into the beans.
- Heat over low to medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes or until beans are heated through.
- Adjust seasonings to taste, adding additional salt and/or pepper, if necessary.
- Serve hot with a slotted spoon.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- I often start with low-sodium beans. The canned beans you use will dictate how much additional salt you need to add.
- Reduce the heat if the beans are sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- If you have time, cover and cook your Seasoned Black Beans over low heat for longer than 10 minutes for more infused flavor. However, keep an eye on them and stir frequently so they don’t stick.
- This recipe may be doubled, tripled, or quadrupled in a larger saucepan, pot, or skillet.
- Leftovers will keep in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
