How to Cook Black Beans

Name: How to Cook Black Beans
Prep time: 8 h
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 10 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 pound dried black beans, picked through; 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half; 3 large garlic cloves, peeled and left whole; 2 large bay leaves; 8 cups water for cooking

by Deborah // October 8, 2019 (updated July 16, 2022)

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Learn How to Cook Black Beans like a boss with this easy black bean recipe! Here are a few simple tips for cooking dried black beans on the stovetop using dried black beans, onion, garlic and bay leaves. The beans are slowly simmered on the stove and turn out tender and delicious every time.

Cooking black beans on the stovetop is easy, affordable and they taste superior to canned. Here you can learn How to Cook Black Beans with this simple four ingredient recipe.

Black beans make a perfect side dish to grilled chicken, fish or your favorite Mexican or TexMex dish. They’re also great served alone with Pico de Gallo, avocado slices and plenty of warm flour tortillas!! Like with other dried legumes, dried black beans are a staple in my pantry. They’re inexpensive to buy and can be stored in the pantry for up to a year.

Black Beans Recipe

After soaking time, these black beans come together in about 2 hours. I love everything about this black beans recipe! It’s easy to make, requires few ingredients, and the beans turn out delicious every time!

Dried Black Beans
Onion
Garlic
Bay Leaves

How to Cook Dried Beans

If you’ve ever wondered how to cook dried black beans, it couldn’t be easier. After soaking black beans overnight, they will simmer on the stove for about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Soaking. Soak the dried beans overnight in water. This helps them cook quicker. Reserve half of the water the next day and discard the rest. After beans have soaked, drain and rinse.
Add Beans to Pot. Add pre-soaked beans, onion, garlic and bay leaves to pot.
Cover with water. Cover the beans with water .
Simmer. Simmer on the stovetop for about 2 hours (if you leave the lid on = creamier beans, leave the lid off = richer flavor). Simmer the beans a little longer if you like your beans creamy soft. Stir the beans every 30 minutes or so.
Drain. Drain excess liquid before using.
Season. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper

Do I Have To Soak Black Beans Overnight

You don’t have to soak black beans overnight, but in order for the beans to be fork tender after cooking, they will need to soak for at least 8 hours, or you can give them the quick soak method.

Soaking Black Beans

Place your dried pinto beans in a colander and discard any shriveled and broken pieces, stones and pieces of debris you may find. Rinse under cold water then transfer beans to a large bowl. Fill the bowl with water covering the beans by 2 inches or more. The beans double in size after soaking so give them some room to expand in the water. Let the beans soak in the bowl at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.

Quick Soak Dried Beans

If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to soak your beans overnight – you can do a quick-soak method.

Cover the beans with water (the water should be about 2 inches above the beans).
Bring the water and beans to a rapid boil, then turn the flame off and let the beans sit in the hot water for about an hour.
Then cook as usual, checking on your beans every 30 minutes while they’re cooking and add more water or broth if needed.

How Long Does it Take To Cook Black Beans

There’s two methods of soaking – either in a bowl of water for 8 hours or overnight, or the quick soak method in a pot of hot water for an hour. After they have been pre-soaked they can be cooked in a pot on the stove (I like to use a Dutch oven), in an Instant Pot or in a slow-cooker (Crock Pot).

Cooking Black Beans on the stove. It’ll take between 1-1/2 to 2 hours to cook the beans. If you over-cook the beans, they will start to break apart and if you under-cook them, they will still be firm.
Cooking Black Beans in an Instant Pot. It’ll take about 1 hour to cook the beans in an Instant Pot until they’re tender.
Cooking Black Beans in a Crock Pot. Cook in a Crock Pot for 4 hours on high or between 6-7 hours on low. Stir about every hour and add more water or broth if needed.

How to Serve Black Beans

After you learn how to cook black beans on the stove from scratch, they can be used in a variety of ways.

Add them to your favorite soups and stews
Toss them in salads
Use them as a replacement for meat to make veggie burgers, power bowls, burritos, tacos, and quesadillas
Stuff them inside baked sweet potatoes
Blend them up to make refried beans
Serve them for breakfast as huevos rancheros
Bake with them. Hello black bean brownies
Simply season them and serve them as a side
Add them whenever and wherever you can for the nutritional benefits they provide

Are Black Beans Good For You

Yes! Very!! Black Beans are an excellent source of plant-based proteins. They’re also rich with iron, thiamin, folate, magnesium, selenium, potassium, zinc and quercetin (which is an antioxidant).

Benefits of Black Beans

There are many health benefits of black beans! Consuming black beans on a regular basis may help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and balance blood glucose levels for diabetics. Read more here about the many health Benefits of Black Beans.

Black Beans Nutrition

As with other legumes, black beans are a rich source of fiber and plant protein, making them a good substitute for meat for the vegetarian and vegan diet.

One cup of cooked black beans provides (1):

Calories. 227 calories
Protein. 15.2 grams
Fiber. 15 grams
Folate (vitamin B9). 64% of the RDI
Magnesium. 30% of the RDI
Manganese. 38% of the RDI
Thiamine (vitamin B1). 28% of the RDI
Iron. 20% of the RDI

Black Bean Recipes

After you know how to cook dried black beans, the possibilities are endless for adding them to recipes.

More Legume Recipes

Yield: 8 servings