The Most Delicious Mexican Black Beans Ever
Black beans taken to the next level with bold Mexican flavors all from ingredients you have around the house! Sometimes black beans become a forgettable side dish, but not these! They will be the highlight of your meal!
Easy Black Bean Side Dish
We just barely survived an extremely stressful summer. Before I get into the details, let me just say that these Mexican black beans from scratch came from some friends who had us over for dinner one tonight. They were the best black beans we have ever had!
All you need are a few simple ingredients and you’ll be in the middle of a Mexican black bean fiesta! Ole! Serve these alongside our pork carnitas or either one of our chicken or beef fajitas!
Okay, so this summer we made a major mistake. Well, not a mistake, but we went through an incredibly stressful summer and it was all at our own doing. We chose to completely gut our kitchen and three of our bathrooms.
You guys, I know that seems like it’s not that big of a deal, but have children, have your job be completely centered around cooking, and then take away the sinks, anything with cooking, showers and toilets and then fill the whole house with endless people, dust, dirt, and chaos.
That is stress.
One thing after another fell apart, the kitchen backsplash tile was accidentally installed in the shower, the cabinets were late, and then late again, and then wrong. The floors were ruined, which we hadn’t planned to replace.
WE FOUND MOLD.
I mean, the list literally goes on for another mile and we were stretched beyond our own capacity. It was so hard living off of protein bars and cereal in plastic bowls and I’m not kidding, that’s what we ate. We aren’t the type to say, hey folks, we could use a dinner or heck a plate of cookies because we are drowning!!!!! But we have two friends who reached out and cooked us a meal at one point.
One of those meals involved these easy black beans and although they filled our spirits and we knew, we knew it was such a crazy tender mercy that day, they also happened to be the best, the most delicious Mexican Black Beans Ever!
What’s Needed for Mexican Black Beans?
To make this simple black bean side dish, you need just a handful of mostly pantry ingredients. Here’s what goes into this easy recipe:
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Canned black beans
- Tomato sauce
- Fresh cilantro
The measurements of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make Mexican Black Beans
Don’t you love when a recipe is out-of-this-world delicious and also incredibly simple to make?! That is the best of both worlds! So many nights, I’m so focused on getting the main dish on the table that the side dishes become an afterthought. This recipe is so easy, three simple steps is all you need:
- Bloom the spices: heat a sauce pan on medium heat on the stove with the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the cumin and garlic to bloom the flavors and stir until they become fragrant (about 30-60 seconds). Blooming means to gently fry in oil, and it deepens the flavor of spices.
- Combine and mix: add the black beans, tomato sauce and cilantro to the sauce pan and stir everything together.
- Simmer: turn the temperature down to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for about 30-40 minutes or until your desired thickness. Add more cilantro if desired.
That’s all I got! So easy and I know you’re going to just love these!
FAQ
Are Black Beans Good for You?
This is one of the best things about black beans! They are so healthy! They are loaded with protein and fiber and low in fat. And just when you didn’t think they could get any better, they also contain important nutrients like phosphorous and magnesium.
Are Black Beans and Kidney Beans the Same?
No, they are not the same at all. Kidney beans are quite large, reddish in color and kidney shaped and black beans are small, oval and black (imagine that!). Black beans are also a little harder in texture while kidney beans are quite soft. They are fairly similar in nutritional value. That being said, you could use kidney beans in place of the black beans in this recipe if you need to. Pinto beans would also be great!
Can You Use Dry Black Beans?
Yes, absolutely! We love using dry beans! They just take a little planning ahead. They need to soak overnight in water. Place the beans in a bowl and fill the bowl up with water until there are about 4 inches of water over the beans.
After they have soaked over night, drain and rinse them and then place them in a pot. Cover them with enough water to cover the beans and be about 4 inches above the level of the beans. Bring the beans to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow them to simmer for about an hour.
When they are tender, drain them and add them to the skillet and follow the instructions for this recipe.
Do Black Beans Need to Be Refrigerated?
If the black beans are stored properly in an airtight container. Leftovers will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Can Black Beans Be Made Ahead of Time?
Black bean recipes are great for making ahead of time because they reheat so easily and retain their delicious flavor and texture. This recipe can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and reheated on the stovetop before serving.
How Do I Reheat Black Beans?
Blacks heat up really well in the microwave. Place them in a microwavable bowl and cook for 2 minutes. Give them a stir and if they still aren’t hot enough, cook them for another minute. Heat them in 1 minute intervals with a stir in between until they are the temperature you want.
You can also reheat them on the stove top. Place the beans in a sauce pan and turn the neat on medium. Stir them occasionally until they are the temperature you are after. If they thicken up too much, add a little chicken or beef broth to thin it out.
Tips for Making the Best Black Beans
Tomato sauce: This recipe originally called for tomato juice, but I always grab tomato sauce on accident, so we usually just use that now. Both taste delicious and the only difference is one makes a thicker bean side dish than the other.
Garlic: We LOVE garlic, but you really do need just two cloves for this recipe. Don’t add extra garlic, otherwise it will overwhelm the dish.
To make it spicy: We think this dish is perfect as is, but if you like your Mexican black beans on the spicy side, try adding diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes to the recipe.
Lunch: When we have leftovers of these beans, sometimes I just warm them up and top them with tomatoes, avocado (or guacamole if I have it), cheese and a squeeze of lime juice or salsa verde. I makes the most yummy and healthy lunch!
What to Eat with Black Beans
This Mexican black bean recipe is a great side dish for just about any Mexican inspired main dish. Here are a few ideas:
It is also the perfect topping for burrito bowls, taco salad, nachos, etc. Here are a few options…
These Mexican black beans are about to be your go-to side dish and the the star of your next Mexican meal! They will have you up and doing the salsa all around your kitchen!
More MEXICAN RECIPES You Should Try:
Print
Mexican Black Beans
Description
Perfectly flavorful Mexican Black Beans but it's only using a few flavors that you always have around the house!
Course 200+ Easy Side Dish Recipes Every Mom Needs
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword black beans, mexican, side dish
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Servings 6
Calories 236kcal
Author Sweet Basil
Heat a saucepan over medium heat with the olive oil, cumin and garlic, stirring continuously until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 2 teaspoons Cumin, 2 Cloves Garlic
Add the black beans, tomato sauce, and cilantro.
2 Cans Black Beans, 1.5 Cans Tomato Sauce, 1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro
Turn the heat down to medium and simmer until thickened to desired consistency, seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. We like about 30-40 minutes, but less is great too.
Serve with a little extra cilantro.
Tomato sauce: This recipe originally called for tomato juice, however I always grab tomato sauce on accident, so we usually just use that now. Both are delicious and the only difference is one makes a thicker bean side dish than the other.
Storage instructions: Black beans will keep for 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 1437mg | Potassium: 1019mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 795IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 5mg
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