Black beans straight out of the can are pretty darn good, but please let me show you the BEST How to Cook Canned Black Beans on the Stove! It’s easy and those canned black beans will be seasoned perfectly!
Here's how to turn a can of black beans into one of your favorite recipes! Plus, who doesn't want to know how to cook pinto beans in the crockpot, in the oven, in a microwave, the instant pot (pressure cooker), as well as how to cook a can of beans on the stove.
When you don't need beans so quickly, let me show you a great way to cook dried beans, I encourage you to look at The Secret to Perfect Old Fashioned Pinto Beans which includes saute onions, dry beans, bell pepper and red pepper flakes for old fashioned goodness.
How To Cook Canned Black Beans
To Cook Canned Beans of ANY kind, first, discard the liquid in the can and rinse the beans if the liquid is thick. While this canned cooking liquid won’t hurt you, it doesn’t taste good. Add back ½ cup of water or broth and heat for at least 30 minutes on low to allow the flavors to marry.
Be sure to add your favorite seasonings and some fat (like olive oil) to make the beans taste perfect. If this is your first go, you’ll want to follow the recipe below.
How To Cook Canned Black Beans
For the easy way to cook canned black beans, you’ll want to drain the beans first. Place the beans in a medium saucepan and over medium-high heat and add chicken broth back to the beans. Cook the beans on medium and then season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and a pinch of cayenne. Add a little fat and you’ll be in business.
The cooking time is a little less important since the beans are already cooked. They make a delicious side dish and are a perfect plant-based protein.
WHAT ARE BLACK BEANS?
These delicious beans, also called black turtle beans are a smaller black colored bean that is popular in Latin cooking and are perfect with white rice, corn, on salads, in burritos or on sandwiches.
They have a wonderful slightly nutty taste that make them a preferred bean for eating as a topping on another dish. Often, black beans taste best with a little spice (like chili powder).
The black beans in a can are simply the most easy recipe to use.
DO YOU NEED TO RINSE THE BLACK BEANS?
There is some degree of disagreement regarding this in the food community, but I say, “No need to rinse the beans”. Instead, I instruct that you SHOULD DRAIN your black beans before starting to cook.
Simply strain them through your fingers and you’ll be ready to start cooking.
IF you have the already SEASONED BLACK BEANS, do not pour off the liquid in the can because this liquid contains a lot of the spices for your dish.
ARE BLACK BEANS IN THE CAN ALREADY COOKED?
There is the technical answer and the practical answer.
The answer is, “yes, it is fine to eat the beans straight from the can”. But, “Are the black beans in the can already cooked?” is especially relevant and The answer is no, they have been slightly precooked and then canned.
DO BLACK BEANS NEED TO BE SOAKED BEFORE COOKING THEM?
First of all, Check the kind of beans you have..
- Canned black beans do NOT need to be soaked before cooking them.
- DRY black beans, then YES, they do need to be soaked before cooking them.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED BLACK BEANS ON THE STOVE
- First of all, Drain the water from the can off of the beans before starting your cooking project
- If you have SEASONED CANNED BLACK BEANS, don’t do anything to them except open the can and dump it in the sauce pot to heat.
- Great paired with cilantro lime rice.
- Black Beans are terrific added to a burrito or taco, added to a salad, mixed with corn, mixed with rice, as a side to chicken or even eaten plain.
- Cayenne pepper (just a pinch) and ground cumin is the best way to add a lot of flavor (yes, it's a hot sauce spicy type flavor), but is a favorite black bean recipes for busy weeknights.
- PRO TIP: Our favorite way to enjoy black beans is seasoned as per the recipe below and then add a dollop of sour cream and a little fresh cilantro and then a sprinkle of fresh lime juice.
- To deal with leftover black beans, place leftover beans in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 5 days. Then rewarm using a low simmer over low heat.
- To make some refried black beans recipe using cans of black beans, simply mix the ingredients from the recipe together and use a potato masher and enough water to make the right consistency to smash about half of the beans.
HOW TO COOK CANNED BLACK BEANS IN THE OVEN
Using the recipe listed below for stovetop direction, drain your beans. Spray a baking dish with non stick spray.
Cook your onions and bacon together in a frying pan over medium heat on the stove top. Then, Mix all of the ingredients together well in a small baking dish (about 1-2 quart size).
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, preheat the oven to 350, place the baking dish on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes until the beans are bubbling hot.
HOW TO COOK CANNED BLACK BEANS IN THE Slow Cooker
Prepare a 4 quart Crockpot with cooking spray.
Then Mix all of the ingredients, including the beans together in a medium sized bowl.
Pour the ingredients together into the crockpot and place on low. Beans will be ready in 4 hours.
HOW TO COOK CANNED BLACK BEANS IN THE MICROWAVE
Cook the bacon on a paper towel in the microwave first, then break it into pieces and mix together with the rest of the ingredients. Delete the onions and substitute 1 teaspoon of onion powder.
Then, simply place all of the ingredients together in a medium sized microwave bowl and microwave on high at first for 2 minutes. Stir, then heat in 1 minute intervals checking and stirring until heated through.
How To Cook Canned Black Beans in the Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)
Using the sear function, cut the bacon into small pieces and cook bacon and onions till done.
Mix the ingredients together as directed in the recipe below. Increase the chicken broth to 1 cup. Set the time for 1 minute on full pressure cook. Release the pressure as soon as one minute has passed. Serve hot.
More Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
5 days if kept covered in the fridge.
Yes. Store in a freezer safe container, remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to 3 months.
Watch Me Make These Canned Black Beans
YA’LL HELP ME OUT NOW, YA HEAR?
Please leave me a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!
I can't wait!
Ya'll know I love your comments!!
How to Cook Canned Black Beans on the Stove
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs butter
- ½ slice bacon cut into small pieces
- 2 slices onion chopped
- 15 oz can unseasoned black beans. Drained
- ½ Cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- ½ teaspoon granulated white sugar
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium sized saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter until just soft.
- Place the small pieces of bacon into the butter and cook until softened. Add the chopped onion and continue cooking until the onion is soft.
- Add the drained beans all at once followed by the chicken broth.
- Add the garlic powder, taco seasoning and sugar.
- Heat over medium heat until the beans are bubbly and fragrant.
- Taste and add salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish as you please with jalapeno, cilantro or serve beans with rice, chicken, corn or in a burrito, taco, over a salad, etc
Notes
- Drain the water from the can off of the beans before starting your cooking project
- If you have SEASONED CANNED BLACK BEANS, don’t do anything to them except open the can and dump it in the sauce pot to heat.
- In addition, Black Beans, like most things in the kitchen improve with the addition of salt, spicy heat, acid, fat and smoke and that is why the ingredients for the recipe are as they are.
- Once your canned black beans are cooked on the stove, they will be ready for any dish you want to add them to OR you can simply eat them plain.
- In addition, Black Beans are terrific added to a burrito or taco, added to a salad, mixed with corn, mixed with rice, as a side to chicken or even eaten plain.
Nutrition
This article originally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on July 8, 2018 and has been updated with new photos, updated text, recipe changes, equipment and more tips and tricks.
A VERSE TO SHARE
I asked Google to help me find Bible verses about depression. Google came back with this. Interesting.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly
Aletha Cates says
I tried your recipe without rinsing the beans and I loved how my beans came out. Thank you for sharing and God bless!
Wendi Spraker says
I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Laura says
Yummy! I made the vegan version, without bacon, and used fresh garlic instead of powder and stevia instead of sugar. Very tasty with my vegan tacos!
Wendi Spraker says
Wonderful Laura!
KATHERINE CHADWELL says
GONNA TRY TO COOK DRYED BLACK BEANS
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Katherine, Let me know how it turns out!
Dolores Donnell says
Thank-you to help me cook my can of seasoned black beans...I am more confident now... I'll go and do it...love del
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Del, Thanks for leaving a comment and I hope your beans were all that you expected and wanted! 🙂
Tracy says
I often relish black beans sweet soup and ever added seasoning as well as a little fat. Maybe this recipe is suitable in the main course, not a dessert. Such a great recipe for my family. Thanks a lot!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Tracy, Thanks for leaving a comment. No, I wouldn't consider it a dessert for sure. Glad you enjoyed it.
Heather Martin says
I GREATLY enjoyed and appreciate your site and outstanding information on cooking canned black beans. I have recently learned my glucose is somewhat high, so I began researching as to what foods are recommended to lower it through nutrition, exercise, and foods. Black beans rank high on the list of recommendations, and your upbeat and jovial site was well organized, thorough, and informative. I will tomorrow try the recipe you have shared. Thank You so Very Much!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Heather! What a blessing you are! Thank you so much for the sweet comment and I hope you LOVE the beans!
Erin Zebroski says
SOOOO good!! I used black beans that had jalapenos mixed with them, and the recipe was PERFECTION! It was a great side dish for chicken and spanish rice!! It was even picky hubby approved!!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Erin, Thanks for coming back and leaving a comment, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
BettyF says
Wendi... dont drain the black beans! Just add some salt! Delicious with white rice, chicken or fish... and a salad uhm.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Betty, Thanks for leaving a comment! I have to say though that we will just have to disagree about draining black beans (or any beans), unless the beans have an added flavoring I always drain them. I think the juice has a "can" taste and prefer to rinse it off. But I agree that black beans are delicious with all kinds of things and your suggestions for what to have them with are on point.
Diya says
I just made your recipe and we loved it! Thank you 🙂
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Diya, Thank you so much for leaving me a comment, I appreciate it more than you can know! I'm tickled that you loved the beans! Have a wonderful weekend!
Erika says
These sound really good, I’ve always liked black beans but have never been able to make them myself!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Erika, I feel super confident that you can whip these up in a few minutes and feel like a cooking princess! Have a go!
Marl says
As a Jew, I am offended by your banquet b.s.
First of all, Jesus was a Jew - and he would not have said or done a lot of what Christians choose to believe.
As a Jew, I believe that G-d DID say "you shall have no other gods before Me!" He did not say "except for ..."
Too many "Good Christians" have called me terrible names ...and antisemitism continues to grow - probably because of comments like yours!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Mari, I am sorry that you are offended. Can you help me understand why you bring up "you shall have no other God's before Me!" in association with this passage and why you feel that I am calling you terrible antisemitic names? In this particular story in the Bible, the table at the banquet was set for a Jews. When the people who were invited refused to attend, the people from the streets were invited. I mean, did I read it wrong? Mari, I would NEVER ever call you any name and I wouldn't tolerate anyone calling you names either. Hopefully, we can pray for peace and meet in the middle somewhere.
Vince says
Thanks for your cooking techniques, perfect I learned a lot today!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Vince! Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Sharren( like Sharon) says
You make it fun. Thank you.
Wendi Spraker says
lol. Thank you Sharren! Ya'll take a note from Sharren out there having fun cooking her beans! 🙂 (((hugs)))
Helene Mitauer says
Thanks for all the wonderful advice and help cooking this amazing.bean!!
Wendi Spraker says
Helene, I’m so glad it was just the thing! Happy Holidays! Come back for Christmas recipes and every day recipes too!
Moxie says
Black beans with taco seasoning are probably the very best thing ever!
Wendi Spraker says
I think they are good - you give them a try and let me know!