Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published February 25, 2024

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The tastiest Black Bean Soup! It’s a hearty, nutritious soup made with plenty of black beans, a fair amount of veggies, plus bacon for a boost of flavor, and lots of satisfying toppings. This soup is an easy, delicious way to upgrade those otherwise boring and plain canned black beans.

Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (1)

Easy Black Bean Soup

This black bean soup is a must try soup recipe! Sure it may sound meh if you’ve never had it but trust me, if you flavor it right it can become a crave-worthy soup.

Here we add rich bacon, vibrant bell pepper or poblano peppers, fire roasted tomatoes, earthy seasonings including cumin and ancho chili powder and it takes basic bland black beans to an exciting new level.

And let’s not forget to mention those highlighting finishes. Bright fresh lime juice, herby cilantro, creamy avocados and sour cream, and always cheese (cheddar, queso fresco or feta are great).

This may just become a new favorite black bean recipe for you!

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Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (3)

Black Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients and Substitutes

  • Canned black beans: Pinto beans could be a tasty alternative.
  • Bacon: Chorizo would be a nice meaty substitute for bacon.
  • Yellow onion: Red or white onion can be use here as well.
  • Pepper: Bell pepper, poblano pepper or even a few jalapenos for a spicy soup will work here.
  • Garlic: I recommend fresh garlic for the most flavor but in a pinch 1 tsp dried can be used.
  • Low-sodium chicken broth: If you have homemade stock that will make the soup even better. Vegetable broth can be substituted.
  • Canned fire roasted tomatoes: Fresh roasted roma tomatoes are another option.
  • Ground cumin and chili powder: Ground coriander and ancho chili powder will work too.
  • Fresh lime: Lemon would be very similar.
  • Cilantro: Parsley can be used if you have an aversion to cilantro.
  • Salt and black pepper

What are the Best Toppings for Black Bean Soup?

  • Crush tortilla chips or tortilla strips
  • Sour cream or Mexican crema
  • Cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack, queso fresco, feta)
  • Avocado or guacamole
  • Tomatoes
  • Mexican hot sauce

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How to Make Black Bean Soup

  • 1. Place 1 1/2 cans of drained black beans in a food processor along with 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and pulse until well pureed.
  • 2. Rinse remaining 2 1/2 cans of black beans in a colander. Set all black beans aside.

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Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (7)

  • 3. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, tossing occasionally. Transfer bacon to a paper towel lined plate leaving rendered bacon fat in pot.
  • 4. Add in onions and bell pepper or poblano pepper to pot and saute 3 minutes then add garlic, chili powder and cumin and saute 1 minute longer.

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  • 5. Pour in remaining chicken broth (3 cups) black beans, black bean puree mixture, fire roasted tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • 6. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • 7. Stir cooked bacon, lime juice and cilantro and serve warm with desired toppings.

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Storage

  • Black bean soup will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
  • Store it in an airtight container once cooled slightly.
  • It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

What to Serve with Black Bean Soup

  • Tortilla Chips and Salsa
  • Corn Salsa
  • Guacamole
  • Cilantro Lime Rice
  • Quesadillas
  • Homemade tortillas

Can It be Made Vegan?

  • If you want to make this vegan omit the bacon, replace with soy chorizo (use oil to cook it).
  • Omit dairy toppings and replace with vegan alternatives (vegan cheese, vegan sour cream).
  • Use vegetable broth in place of chicken broth.

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More Delicious Black Bean Recipes to Try

  • Black Bean Burgers
  • Black Bean Tacos
  • Roasted Veggie Black Bean Tacos
  • Black Bean Tortilla Soup
  • Black Bean and Corn Salad

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (13)

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Black Bean Soup

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A hearty, nutritious, protein rich black bean soup with lots of delicious flavor! Plus it's brimming with toppings for extra layers of goodness and satisfying textures.

Servings: 6

Prep5 minutes minutes

Cook20 minutes minutes

Ready in: 25 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Toppings for serving (optional)

  • Sour cream , cheese (shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese), diced avocado, diced roma tomatoes, chopped cilantro, tortilla chips

Instructions

  • Place 1 1/2 cans of drained black beans in a food processor along with 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and pulse until well pureed. Rinse remaining 2 1/2 cans of black beans in a colander. Set all black beans aside.

  • Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, tossing occasionally. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate leaving rendered bacon fat in pot.

  • Add in onions and bell pepper or poblano pepper to pot and saute 3 minutes then add garlic, chili powder and cumin and saute 1 minute longer. Stir in remaining chicken broth (3 cups).

  • Pour in remaining chicken broth (3 cups) black beans, black bean puree mixture, fire roasted tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Bring to a boil then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  • Stir cooked bacon, lime juice and cilantro and serve warm with desired toppings.

Nutrition Facts

Black Bean Soup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 452Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 5g31%

Trans Fat 0.04g

Polyunsaturated Fat 3g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 22mg7%

Sodium 1433mg62%

Potassium 1213mg35%

Carbohydrates 57g19%

Fiber 21g88%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 25g50%

Vitamin A 2067IU41%

Vitamin C 48mg58%

Calcium 150mg15%

Iron 7mg39%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Keyword: Black Bean Soup

Author: Jaclyn

This post was sponsored by USAPulses & PulseCanada

Black Bean Soup Recipe - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

How does Martha Stewart cook black beans? ›

Directions
  1. Place beans, oil, 3 quarts water, and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6-to-8-quart pressure cooker.
  2. Stovetop: Secure lid. Bring to high pressure over medium-high heat; reduce heat to maintain pressure and cook 20 minutes. ...
  3. Let beans stand in cooking liquid 30 minutes; drain.
Sep 4, 2018

How do you get rid of the bitter taste in black bean soup? ›

Sometimes black beans can come out tasting bitter. To prevent this, be sure to use an appropriate amount of salt. This recipe calls for a tablespoon, but don't forget to taste for salt when your soup is finished and add more if desired; it will depend on how salty your bacon is, too.

Why did Panera stop selling black bean soup? ›

Panera recently removed Black Bean Soup from their menu, saying it was a seasonal item. I think everyone can agree that Black Bean Soup is an Autumn Soup if anything, and its departure from the chain has impacted many.

What can I use to thicken black bean soup? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

Why do you put baking soda in black beans? ›

Baking soda creates an alkaline environment which reduces soaking and cooking time and preserves the beans' skin. As a result, the old bean's color comes to life, keeping them vibrant instead of dull. Compared to the grainy texture offered by old beans, baking soda beans can yield a creamy and smooth texture.

What happens if you don't soak black beans before cooking? ›

Short answer: They take longer to cook. Long answer: Many people claim that soaking beans is not necessary. The argument for this method is while it does take longer to cook, unsoaked beans end up having better flavor.

Why do my black beans taste bland? ›

Not adding aromatics

Cooking dried beans with just salt and water is fine, but they are going to taste rather plain. The Bean Institute recommends cooking beans with aromatics to get the most flavor out of them. They advise adding onion, garlic, and fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or bay leaf.

Why is my bean soup bland? ›

Garlic and onions will bolster the taste of bean soup. Be sure to take a portion of the beans and mash or purée them for extra texture. Aromatics like celery or carrot will add more complex flavor notes. Despite being expensive, both mushrooms and Parmesan cheese will add some real umami (i.e., mouth feel) to the soup.

Why is my black bean soup bitter? ›

Some varieties of black beans are naturally more bitter than others. Additionally, if the beans are old or have been stored improperly, they can develop a bitter taste. The cooking method can also contribute to the bitterness.

What is the white stuff in Goya black bean soup? ›

The cloudy liquid you find in canned beans is mostly starch and salt that may change the texture or taste of a dish. Most of our recipes call for draining and rinsing the beans to remove the excess salt and starch and improve flavor.

Did Trader Joe's discontinue black bean soup? ›

Trader Joe's discontinued their Latin Style Black Bean Soup.

Why is black bean soup good for you? ›

The fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin B6, and phytonutrient content of black beans, coupled with its lack of cholesterol, all support heart health. This fiber helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood and decrease the risk of heart disease.

What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›

That's what my gram used to do:
  • Gently fry a mixture of paprika, cumin and crushed garlic in olive oil in a small pan. Watch out it doesn't burn. Pour on top of soup when soup is already in serving bowl.
  • Prepare a mixture of freshly squeezed lemon juice and crushed garlic. Texture of the mixture should be pretty thick.

How do you thicken black bean soup without a blender? ›

Addition of Cornstarch or Flour: Create a slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch or flour with water. Stir this mixture into the soup and let it simmer for a few minutes until it thickens. Ensure there are no lumps by gradually adding the slurry while stirring constantly.

How long is black bean soup good for in fridge? ›

You can keep leftover black bean soup in a container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Black bean soup also freezes beautifully. Pour room temperature soup into a freezer container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Make sure you label and date your soup so you know what it is!

Are you supposed to cook canned black beans? ›

You can dress them up as much as you'd like with seasonings and aromatics, or enjoy them as is. Canned beans are technically already cooked, but you may choose to warm them up for hot dishes or just as a standalone side.

Is it better to cook canned black beans? ›

Technically, canned black beans are already cooked, and you can use them right out of the can. Cooking canned black beans will make them taste even better. Here's how to cook beans from a can: Heat a small-sized saucepan on the stovetop over medium-high heat.

Should you rinse canned black beans before cooking? ›

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

What is the proper way to cook beans? ›

Transfer the soaked beans to a large pot and cover them with 2 inches of water. If you're using unsoaked beans, rinse them in a fine mesh strainer before you add them to the pot. Bring the water to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes, discarding any foam that rises to the surface.

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