Fast and easy way to cook and season canned black beans to make a tasty and healthy side dish. Enjoy with tacos, enchiladas, and burritos, or any other Tex-Mex dish.
You only need a can of black beans and some basic ingredients like tomatoes, onions, and garlic to make this quick and tasty side dish!
Although canned black beans are already cooked, they can taste better if you add a few simple spices and ingredients to them instead of eating them plain.
Canned beans are a pantry staple that makes whipping up quick meals a breeze. But eating them straight from the can can leave you wanting more in terms of flavor. With just a few extra steps, you can easily transform canned beans into a delicious stove-cooked dish.
Read on to learn how to coax the most flavor out of your canned beans using simple stove-top techniques.
Why Cook Canned Beans on the Stove?
Cooking canned beans on the stove offers several benefits
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Boosts flavor Sautéing and simmering develops deep, robust bean flavor
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Lets you personalize: Customize beans with herbs, spices, veggies, broth.
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Improves texture: Stove heat evenly softens and removes tinny taste.
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Adds versatility: Turn beans into soups, salads, sides, tacos, more.
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Saves time: No overnight soaking like with dried beans.
With just 20-30 minutes of hands-on time, you can enjoy beans that taste like you cooked them from scratch.
Helpful Tools and Ingredients
Equipping your stovetop bean kitchen with these handy items will make cooking easier:
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Medium pot with lid for simmering
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Nonstick pan or skillet for sautéing
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Wooden spoon and rubber spatula
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Strainer or colander
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Olive oil, butter, or oil spray
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Aromatics: onion, garlic, celery
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Herbs and spices: cumin, oregano, chili powder
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Liquids: broth, water, tomato sauce
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Salt and pepper
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps for stove-cooked canned beans bursting with flavor:
1. Drain and Rinse Beans
Pour beans into a colander and rinse under cool water. Draining removes extra sodium and liquid.
2. Sauté Aromatic Veggies
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, celery until softened.
3. Add Beans and Toast
Add drained beans to the pan. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes to toast and heat them.
4. Season Beans
Stir in desired herbs, spices, salt and pepper. Cumin, oregano, and chili powder are classic choices.
5. Add Liquid and Simmer
Pour in broth, tomatoes, or water just to cover beans. Simmer 20-30 minutes.
6. Finish and Serve
Once heated through and seasoned, beans are ready to eat! Use in tacos, over rice, or enjoy as-is.
Flavor Variations
Customize your canned beans by playing with different seasonings:
- Mexican – cumin, chili powder, garlic, cilantro
- Italian – basil, oregano, rosemary, red pepper flakes
- Southern – smoked paprika, mustard, onion, pepper
- Indian – curry powder, turmeric, ginger
- Thai – coconut milk, lime, red curry paste
- Cajun – onion, celery, black pepper, thyme
Quick and Easy Stove-Top Bean Recipes
Once you master the basics, try one of these flavor-packed canned bean dishes:
Mexican Black Beans
Sauté onion, jalapeño, garlic. Add black beans, cumin, cayenne, cilantro. Simmer in tomato sauce.
White Bean Ragout
Cook onion, carrot, and celery. Add cannellini beans, rosemary, sage, broth. Simmer 20 minutes.
Curried Chickpeas
Sauté onions. Add chickpeas, curry powder, garlic, ginger. Stir in coconut milk. Simmer.
Southern-Style Baked Beans
Sauté onion, bacon. Add pinto beans, barbecue sauce, mustard, brown sugar. Simmer.
Italian Cannellini Beans
Sauté garlic and tomato paste. Add cannellini beans, basil, fennel seeds, broth. Simmer until thickened.
Tips for Stove-Top Bean Excellence
Follow these pro tips for the most flavorful canned beans:
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Sauté aromatics thoroughly to build maximum flavor.
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Use broth, tomatoes or coconut milk for fuller taste instead of water.
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Add a splash of acid like lemon juice or vinegar at the end to brighten flavor.
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Mash a portion of beans against the side of the pot for a creamier texture.
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Let bean mixture sit for 5-10 minutes after cooking to thicken and allow flavors to meld.
Enjoy Endless Meal Options
The possibilities are endless when you cook canned beans on the stove! Enjoy them:
- As a side dish
- In soups, stews, and chilis
- In burritos, enchiladas, and tacos
- Over rice, quinoa, or pasta
- In salads
- As a vegetarian entrée
- As a snack
- Puréed into dips and spreads
So grab those cans from your pantry and get cooking! With a few easy steps, you’ll transform canned beans into rich, savory stove-cooked delights.
Ingredients you’ll need to transform canned black beans
- 15-ounce can of black beans; I suggest the salt-free kind This lets you better manage the amount of salt in the recipe and keep the sodium level from being too high, like in some canned foods.
- The cooking oil I used was olive oil, but you could also use avocado oil, coconut oil, canola oil, or any other fat you like.
- Onions, tomatoes, and garlic: The trifecta of flavor. These are sauteed until softened and fragrant.
- Jalapeño (optional): Adding this pepper is totally optional. If you don’t want any spice, leave it out. Take out and throw away the seeds and veins if you don’t want it spicy. If you like it spicy, keep them in.
- To make it taste better, I mixed in some ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Lime juice: Add some lime juice at the end to give it a little acidity that goes well with the strong flavors of the beans and spices.
- Adding cilantro is optional, but it’s one of my favorite ways to dress up food. It tastes great with lime juice and goes well with a lot of different Latin dishes.
How to cook canned black beans
To cook, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and add the onions, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeños (if using), and seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes. This will soften the onions and tomatoes substantially and really help to infuse all those delicious seasonings.
Then add in the canned black beans and bring to a simmer. I like to use the whole can, even the liquid that the beans are in, because it has a lot of flavor! I suggest getting canned black beans that don’t have any salt added and come in a BPA-free can. It’s better for your health and tastes better when you eat it straight from the can.
Once the beans are simmering, remove them from the heat and stir in some lime juice. Taste and season with salt if needed. Place cilantro on top and enjoy! If the beans are too thick and you want them to be more soupy, add some water or broth until you get the right consistency.
In just 8 minutes, you can make beans that taste much better than beans from a can. You can eat them with tortilla chips and cheese, serve them with Mexican rice, or put them on top of steak fajitas or chicken tacos.
How to Cook Canned Black Beans
FAQ
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