How to Cook Black Beans – Vegetarian Black Beans

One of our favorite, easiest and most economical meals is a pot of beans. If you’re looking to stretch a dollar or enjoy a filling meal (without a lot of calories) cooking beans is the way to go. Today I’m sharing how to cook black beans. Whether you use the stovetop, slow cooker, pressure cooker or Instant Pot this blog will tell you everything you need to know about how to cook black beans!

Today I’m sharing three ways to cook black beans.

At the first of the year Dan and I both set a goal to lose fifteen pounds by March 31st. We were going to do it simply – making better choices, eating smaller portions and exercising more. Dan’s temptations come in the form of sweets. My weakness is savory bites like potato chips (specifically Ruffles…) and tortillas with cheese…. things like that.

We both have our challenges! Figuring out how to make a change was easy enough. I just went to the web and found an app – I took my weight, my how much weight I wanted to lose and my goal date to be at that weight. From there I learned I should eat 1800 calories a day to lose fifteen pounds. 1800 calories is quite a bit. I portioned it out to just under 300 calories for breakfast, 500 for lunch and the rest was left for a snack during the day and dinner.

To date, Dan has lost eleven pounds and I’ve lost nine. We are well over halfway to our goal and are both excited about our accomplishment thus far!

We haven’t felt deprived either. One thing that has really helped, is not eating empty calories. This is why I’m sharing my recipe today for Vegetarian Black Beans!

Cooking beans is easy, you can use the stove top, slow cooker, pressure cooker or Instant Pot.

How do you cook black beans?

• Soaking the beans the night before speeds up the cooking process.
• Rinse the beans thoroughly.
• Add to a large pot.
• Fill with water to one inch over the beans, soak overnight

How long does it take to cook black beans?

• Cooking the beans on the stove top will take anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the size and variety of beans.
• Cooking black beans in the slow cooker takes about four hours on high.
• Cooking black beans in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker will take just 45 minutes.

I’ve used all three of these ways to cook black beans and by far my favorite is using my Instant Pot, surprise! 😀

If you’re looking to cook black beans fast, my recommendation is using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

Here’s why – 

I wish I was a meal planner.

I wish that I would sit down on Sunday and plan out the week and our meals and life and all that stuff.

It just doesn’t happen and probably never will – getting too old to teach this dog new tricks! 😊

In reality, about two o’clock, I’ll look up and think, oooh! I need to make something for dinner! (Like this is a surprise every day? I don’t know, I don’t get it either.) and I dash into the kitchen…

Making this black bean recipe is super easy 

1. The first thing you’ll do is chop and onion and mince some garlic.
2. Sauté  the onions for just a couple of minutes in the Instant Pot
3. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute then in go the spices, beans and liquid.
4. Cover and seal the top, move the valve to seal. Change to manual and set the timer to 45 minutes. The Instant Pot does the rest!

Vegetarian Black Beans are creamy, flavorful and easy to make. They are a super affordable side dish, serving alongside delicious Chicken Fajitas they are a great party food! I’ve also topped off tortillas with black beans, cheese and jalapeños and baked them making healthy taquitos!

Black beans are delicious over a tortillas to make homemade baked taquitos!

Black beans are delicious in Soup and my recipe for Skinny Taco Salad is topped off with cooked black beans. Using canned beans is an easy shortcut, but making your own is so easy. They freeze great too – why not give this recipe a try!

I know the Instant Pot is still a fairly new kitchen device and many of you do not have it yet, but when you’re ready, it’s a piece of equipment I definitely recommend purchasing.

I hope you are enjoying the blog! If you do, please share it with your friends that are looking for easy and delicious recipes! If you have some suggestions – please pop me an email at debra@bowl-me-over.com I would love to hear from you!

Speaking of love….If you enjoy this recipe as much as I do, please give it a five star rating below! I’d love to hear from you!

Vegetarian Black Beans are creamy, flavorful and easy to make. A pot of beans is a super affordable side dish too. If you’re looking to stretch a dollar or enjoy a filling meal (without a lot of calories) cooking beans is the way to go. Learning how to cook black beans is easy. Whether you use the stovetop, slow cooker, pressure cooker or Instant Pot this blog will tell you everything you need to know about how to cook black beans!

Print Recipe

5 from 9 votes

How to Cook Black Beans - Vegetarian Black Beans

Vegetarian Black Beans are creamy, flavorful and easy to make. Enjoy a filling meal (without a lot of calories) or pair them with tacos for an easy side dish. Learning how to cook black beans is easy. Whether you use the stovetop, slow cooker, pressure cooker or Instant Pot this blog will tell you everything you need to know about how to cook black beans!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Total Time1 hr

Course: Vegetables and Side Dishes

Cuisine: Vegan and Vegetarian

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 18kcal

Author: Souper Chef Deb

Ingredients

• 1 pound black beans dried
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 4 cups vegetable stock or water
• 1 to 1 1/2 tsp salt do not add salt until the beans are completely cooked
• green onions, cheese, sliced jalapeños for garnish as desired optional garnishes

Instructions

• Pour the dried beans into a colander. Carefully pick thru them, removing any rocks, dirt clods or blemished beans.
• Rinse thoroughly under cold water until the water runs clear, set aside.
• Peel and dice the yellow onion, mince the garlic.
• Set your Instant Pot on sauté and allow to heat for one minute.
• Add the olive oil and diced onions, sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add the clove of garlic and sauté for another minute or so, just until the garlic becomes fragrant. 
• Add the remaining ingredients except the salt and enough liquid to cover 1 inch above the level of the beans.
• Add the Instant Pot lid and seal. Turning valve to seal. Change to manual setting and set timer for 45 minutes.
• When the timer is done, natural release (NR) for 10 minutes.
• Check seasoning - this is the time to add salt. You'll need to add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to taste. 
• Top with sliced jalapeños, salty cojita cheese and sliced green onions.

Notes

If you add salt at the beginning of the cooking process the texture of the beans becomes tough. Do not add salt until the beans are completely cooked and then add salt accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 53mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 7.4% | Vitamin C: 1.8% | Calcium: 1.7% | Iron: 6%

More delicious recipes using homemade black beans? Check out – Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos from A Mindfull Mom. The Pioneer Woman serves up a delicious Black Bean Soup Recipe and lastly, one of my favorites from the blog Black Bean Corn Salad.

Learn how to cook black beans – stovetop, slow cooker, pressure cooker or Instant Pot – homemade beans are a great side dish – economical and delicious!