20 Black Bean Recipes Packed with Flavor and Protein

Black beans are a fantastic ingredient that can make your meals healthier, heartier, and a lot more interesting to eat. These recipes show how black beans can be the main star in all sorts of dishes, from burgers to even desserts. They add a good amount of protein and fiber without changing the great taste of your food. Whether you are vegetarian or just trying to eat better, these ideas prove black beans can be delicious in many different meals.

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Crema de Frijol Negro (Black Bean Cream Soup)

Crema de Frjiol Negro served in a blue bowl and topped with queso fresco and bacon crumbles. — Crema de Frijol Negro. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Blended black beans turn into the creamiest soup you have ever tried in this Crema de Frijol Negro, which has just the right amount of garlic flavor and is fancy enough for company but easy enough for any weeknight dinner.
Get Recipe: Crema de Frijol Negro

Halloween Taco Dip

Black beans layer with other tasty ingredients to make a spooky Halloween Taco Dip that looks like a graveyard, which is fun to make with kids and even more fun to eat with chips at a party with friends.
Get Recipe: Halloween Taco Dip

Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers

A vegan burger with a whole wheat bun, lettuce, tomato slices, a plant-based patty, and creamy sauce, served on a white plate alongside a portion of seasoned French fries. The background is a dark textured surface. — Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers. Photo credit: A Plantiful Path.

These Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers mix together for a patty that is crispy on the outside and soft inside, with a nutty and satisfying taste, and you can make a bunch to freeze for quick dinners.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa and Black Bean Burgers

Black Bean and Corn Dip

A bowl of creamy bean dip topped with black beans, corn, cilantro, and sliced jalapeños, surrounded by tortilla chips and fresh cilantro on a rustic wooden surface. — Black Bean and Corn Dip. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

This Black Bean and Corn Dip is full of big flavors and is incredibly easy to make for parties or for game day, and it is perfect for serving with a big bowl of your favorite chips.
Get Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Dip

Black Bean Mango Salad

A vibrant, colorful bowl of freshly chopped ingredients for a salad, including red bell peppers, yellow corn, black beans, cilantro, onions, mango, and avocado. A dressing is being poured over the mix, enhancing the fresh and appetizing appearance. — Black Bean Mango Salad. Photo credit: Sunglow Kitchen.

A Black Bean Mango Salad combines sweet mango, crunchy peppers, and black beans with a lime dressing for something that is fresh and filling, which is great with tacos or just by itself for a light meal.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Mango Salad

How to Cook Canned Black Beans

A white bowl with black beans and a spoon surrounded by sliced jalapenos. — How To Cook Canned Black Beans. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You can turn plain canned beans into something awesome with this method for How to Cook Canned Black Beans, using just a few spices and lime juice to have tasty beans ready for tacos or rice bowls in minutes.
Get Recipe: How to Cook Canned Black Beans

Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies

A close-up view of sliced brownies with a swirled pattern on top. One brownie is lifted out, revealing a rich, dense, and fudgy interior. The surface texture shows a mix of dark chocolate and a lighter, possibly peanut butter or caramel, swirled through. — Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies. Photo credit: Life Around The Table.

These fudgy Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies hide a secret ingredient, as they are made with black beans, and the peanut butter swirl makes them extra tasty so you would never guess they are actually good for you.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies

Tostaguac (guacamole tostada)

A colorful plate holds a crispy tostada topped with layers of guacamole, black beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, onions, fresh cilantro, and dollops of sour cream. The vibrant ingredients create a visually appealing and appetizing dish. — Tostaguac. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Crunchy tostadas get topped with smooth guacamole and seasoned black beans for a Tostaguac, which has the perfect mix of textures and is like eating nachos and tacos at the same time for a snack or light meal.
Get Recipe: Tostaguac

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

A vibrant bowl of taco soup is filled with ground meat, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. The soup is paired with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and a halved avocado. A blue and white patterned cloth napkin is placed beside the bowl. — Pumpkin Turkey Chili. Photo credit: Busy Family Recipes.

Black beans and pumpkin make this Pumpkin Turkey Chili extra thick and creamy, with the pumpkin adding a sweetness that balances the spices perfectly for a great meal on game day or for a simple dinner.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Black Bean Chile Rellenos

A black bean chile relleno drizzled with crema mexicana served on a white plate. — Black Bean Chile Rellenos. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Roasted Poblano peppers are stuffed with cheesy black beans and baked until bubbly for these Black Bean Chile Rellenos, which are so filling and flavorful that even meat lovers will ask for seconds at dinner.
Get Recipe: Black Bean Chile Rellenos

Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup

A close-up of a colorful soup featuring chunks of butternut squash, corn kernels, red kidney beans, and onions, garnished with fresh cilantro, served in a decorative bowl. A spoon is placed in the soup, capturing a blend of the ingredients. — Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup. Photo credit: The Food Blog.

This Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup is smooth and naturally sweet from the roasted sweet potatoes with a little spice to keep things interesting, making it the ultimate comfort food for dipping bread into for a meal.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Black Bean Soup

Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)

A bowl of black beans served over white rice, garnished with fresh cilantro. Sliced avocado and lime wedges are placed on one side of the bowl. The colors are vibrant, featuring dark beans, white rice, bright green avocado, and lime. — Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros). Photo credit: Gypsy Plate.

These slow-cooked Cuban Black Beans soak up all the good flavors from garlic, onions, and spices, and they are perfect for serving over rice for a simple but super tasty meal that makes your house smell amazing.
Get the Recipe: Cuban Black Beans (Frijoles Negros)

Copycat Chili’s Black Bean Burger

A close-up of two gourmet veggie burgers with sesame seed buns on a newspaper-style wrapper. Each burger is stacked with lettuce, a veggie patty, slices of tomato, and red onion, and topped with a dollop of creamy sauce. A jar of pickles is in the background. — Copycat Chili’s Black Bean Burger. Photo credit: Watch Learn Eat.

You can make restaurant-style black bean burgers at home with this Copycat Chili’s Black Bean Burger recipe, which gives them a smoky flavor and holds together perfectly on the grill so no one will miss the meat.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chili’s Black Bean Burger

Southwestern Black Bean Burgers

A plate with an open veggie burger topped with corn, bell pepper slices, sautéed onions, and cilantro, accompanied by a side of corn and fresh spinach. Surrounding the plate are ingredients including red bell pepper, cilantro, and a bowl of guacamole. — Southwestern Black Bean Burgers. Photo credit: Serene Trail.

These Southwestern Black Bean Burgers pack a smoky and spicy kick from chipotle peppers and sweet corn, and they stay together perfectly on the grill while tasting amazing with all your favorite burger toppings for a summer meal.Get the Recipe: Southwestern Black Bean Burgers

Fudgy Vegan Black Bean Brownies With Mint

Three pieces of rich, gooey chocolate brownies with chocolate chips are stacked on a white plate. The brownies have a dense and fudgy texture, and the chocolate chips are visible throughout, adding to their decadence. — Fudgy Vegan Black Bean Brownies With Mint. Photo credit: Hassle Free Vegan.

These Fudgy Vegan Black Bean Brownies With Mint have a cool mint swirl and are full of protein from the black beans, and they are so good you will forget they are actually good for you too.
Get the Recipe: Fudgy Vegan Black Bean Brownies With Mint

Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Creme

A baked sweet potato filled with black beans, chopped green onions, cilantro, and a creamy dressing, garnished with a lime half on the side. The dish is displayed in a white container. — Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Creme. Photo credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

Roasted sweet potatoes are stuffed with spicy black beans and topped with a creamy avocado sauce for these Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, which look fancy but are actually super easy to make for a healthy dinner any night.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Creme

Chocolate Black Bean Cake

A close-up of a slice of rich, moist chocolate cake on a white plate. The cake is topped with a smooth, glossy layer of chocolate frosting, highlighting its decadent texture. The dessert looks appetizing and indulgent. — Chocolate Black Bean Cake. Photo credit: A Sweet Alternative.

This Chocolate Black Bean Cake is a super moist dessert that uses black beans instead of flour, making it so rich and delicious that no one will guess it is actually gluten-free and packed with fiber.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Black Bean Cake

Lentil Chili With Black Beans

Two bowls of hearty chili are topped with shredded cheese and fresh herbs. The chili includes ingredients like beans, corn, and tomatoes. Spoons are placed in each bowl, and tortilla chips are scattered around the bowls on a dark surface. — Lentil Chili With Black Beans. Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

A hearty Lentil Chili With Black Beans is thick, spicy, and full of protein, and you can make a big pot on the weekend to have lunches ready for the whole week ahead at work or school.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Chili With Black Beans

Edible Brownie Batter

A close-up of a chocolate dessert garnished with a sliced strawberry and a few chocolate chips. The rich, dark chocolate looks creamy and smooth, contrasting with the fresh red and white of the strawberry slices. The background is subtly out of focus. — Edible Brownie Batter. Photo credit: A Grateful Meal.

An Edible Brownie Batter is a chocolatey dip made with black beans that is safe to eat straight from the bowl, and it is perfect with fruit or pretzels when you want something sweet without baking.
Get the Recipe: Edible Brownie Batter

Homemade Vegan Black Bean Dip

A glass bowl filled with black bean dip, garnished with sliced green jalapeños and a small flower. The bowl is placed on a white plate alongside triangular pieces of pita bread. — Homemade Vegan Black Bean Dip. Photo credit: A Sweet Alternative.

This Homemade Vegan Black Bean Dip is a creamy dip with smoky spices that beats anything from the store, and you can keep it in your fridge for quick snacks when friends come over to visit you.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Vegan Black Bean Dip