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 for many of us. They’re affordable convenient, and versatile. However, let’s be honest – canned beans often lack flavor and end up tasting dull or bland on their own. The good news is that with a few simple additions you can easily transform canned beans into something delicious!
Here are 18 ways to add flavor to canned beans:
1. Sautéed Onions and Garlic
Sautéing some diced onion and garlic in olive oil or butter will add a flavor base to your beans The sweetness of the onions combined with the aroma of garlic makes an excellent starting point.
2. Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika packs a flavor punch and gives your beans a delicious, smoky flavor Start with 1 teaspoon and add more to taste Just a pinch can be enough to impart a subtle smokiness.
3. Fresh Herbs
Herbs like cilantro, parsley, oregano, and basil brighten up canned beans. Roughly chop them and stir into your beans. You can also add whole sprigs of herbs while cooking and remove before serving.
4. Jalapeños
For some heat, dice up some fresh jalapeños and sauté them with the onions and garlic. You can add as much or as little as you like, depending on your spice tolerance.
5. Lime Juice
A squirt of lime juice at the end adds brightness and acidity. The tart, citrusy flavor pairs perfectly with beans.
6. Cumin
A sprinkle of cumin adds warmth and complexity. You can add the ground spice, or toast whole cumin seeds and grind them up for even more flavor.
7. Curry Powder
Warm spices like curry powder add an exotic flavor and aroma. Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon and adjust according to your taste preferences.
8. Chicken or Vegetable Broth
Instead of water, use broth to add savory flavor to your beans as they cook. Opt for low-sodium if you want to control the salt content.
9. Crumbled Bacon
The smoky, salty flavor of bacon goes so well with beans. Cook the bacon first, then crumble it up and mix it in.
10. Bay Leaf
Adding a bay leaf or two to the beans while cooking infuses them with herbal notes. Just remember to remove the leaf before serving!
11. Hot Sauce
Put out some hot sauce like Tabasco, Cholula, or Tapatio so people can spice up their beans to their desired level.
12. Balsamic Vinegar
Drizzle on some balsamic vinegar at the end for a sweet, tangy flavor. It also adds nice texture to the beans.
13. Mashed Avocado
For a Mexican style take, mash up some avocado with lime juice, cilantro, and salt. Mix into the beans for creaminess.
14. Feta Cheese
Crumbled feta cheese adds a delicious salty, tangy flavor and contrasting texture.
15. Canned Tomatoes
Mix in some canned diced tomatoes for sweetness, acidity, and color. Roasting the tomatoes first makes them even tastier.
16. Salsa
Stirring in some salsa adds lots of flavor. Try mild, medium, or hot varieties depending on your preferences.
17. Chopped Chili Peppers
For extra heat and a slow-building burn, add some finely chopped peppers like serrano, jalapeño, or habanero.
18. Canned Chipotle Peppers
Chipotles in adobo sauce pack a smoky, spicy punch. Chop them up and add to taste. Start with just 1 or 2 peppers.
With just a few simple additions, canned beans can transform into something you actually look forward to eating! Experiment with different add-ins and spice combinations to find your favorite flavors.
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.
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.
BAKED BEANS RECIPE: TURN CANNED INTO WOW! – COOKING ESCAPADES
FAQ
How to jazz up a can of beans?
How do you spruce up a can of beans?
What can I add to beans to make them taste better?
How to make a can of baked beans taste better?
What can I add to canned beans?
Fresh vegetables: I like to add some chopped onion, fresh garlic, and chopped red bell pepper to canned beans. Simply chop vegetables, sauté in a bit of olive oil for a few minutes to soften, then add the canned beans. Sweetener: If you like your baked beans on the sweet side, add a pinch of brown sugar, some maple syrup or honey.
What is the best way to eat beans?
The best way to eat beans is to first cook them in a large pot of water, about 4 cups of water to every 1 cup of beans. Adding lemon grass or other herbs to the water can improve the flavor. Once beans are cooked the best thing to do is combine them with cooked rice, this is because beans are low in methionine and rice is low in lysine, so combining them makes a more complete protein.
What can you eat with canned beans?
Casseroles and comfort food go hand in hand. Canned beans, canned tomatoes, canned salsa verde, southwestern spices, plus lots of fresh veggies make a delicious casserole. Topped with cheddar cheese biscuits, it’s a comforting meal all in one dish. If you love beef tacos, you’ll love this soup.
What spices should I use to season Canned beans?
Warming spices such as cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice are a good place to start, especially since failing to season canned beans is one of the biggest mistakes everyone makes. Unless you get a low-sodium version, beans usually contain salt, water, and bean starch, so the rest is up to you.