Black bean soup is the meal to have on those busy days and you are short on time! It has easy pantry staple ingredients, simple to make, and is a fulfilling dinner everyone loves. This is a smooth and creamy textured soup with all the flavor. Kids to adults love this soup! Hearty and satisfying, this black bean soup can be thrown together in under thirty minutes but tastes like it’s been simmering all day. My family likes to add their own individual favorites like avocado, sour cream, cheese, or tortilla crisps to the top, but I love it just the way it is. Warm, soothing, simple, the perfect busy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients for Black Bean Soup
With little ingredients, this black bean soup is so simple to make and comes together quickly and easily! Kids to adults rave about this soup and will be begging for it over and over again. You will love how fast it is to make for a simple dinner that everyone loves!
Black beans – This is the main ingredient and the one you need to make this black bean soup happen! Beans are full of protein and good for you. Chicken broth – Helps enhance the flavor of the soup as well as adds liquid to the soup base. Rice – Cooked the rice ahead of time. This adds texture and thickness to the black bean soup. Avocado – Slice the avocado and add to the top as a garnish. Cheese – Shredded cheese melts into the soup giving it a cheesy goodness! Tortilla chips – Add strips of tortillas or tortilla chips to give a crunchy texture. Sour cream – Place a dollop on the soup for a creamy taste! Cilantro – Perfect for garnish!
Steps to Make Black Bean Soup
In three simple steps, you will have the best black bean soup! Blend the beans together, cook them, then serve! It is that easy to make and a perfect dinner soup everyone loves!
Tips for Black Bean Soup
You can’t go wrong when making this black bean soup from scratch! Learn the best types of beans, blender, and what rice to use. Follow these easy tips to help make your black bean soup even better!
Beans – Sure, you could soak beans overnight and then cook them and all those pesky steps, but for this recipe just toss in a couple of cans of beans. They are so tasty and bulk up this soup and so many other recipes. You don’t even need to drain the beans; just throw it all in and let the extra juices add to the flavor of this delicious soup. Blender – Use a blender or immersion blender to combine some or all the beans and chicken broth into a creamy texture. My kids love this since some of them have sudden aversions to “lumpy” foods. Heaven help them. I like to keep a few beans out of the puree party because I happen to enjoy a few lumps in my food, especially rich buttery black beans. But you can puree the whole thing if you like. Spice – For added heat, you could add some chili powder, cumin, or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the soup. I’ve even tossed in a palmful of taco seasoning a few times and that gives it just enough kick for me and my husband and without making the children complain that it’s too spicy (they also suddenly think everything is “spicy”). Type of rice – Use any kind of rice you like! I prefer quick-cooking white rice but you could try brown rice too. Types of cooking – This soup can be made either on the stovetop or the slow cooker. If using the slow cooker, simmer on low for about five hours. It’s dreamy!
Variations for Black Bean Soup Recipe
These variations are the perfect way to add more protein, make it vegan, or garnish with all the right toppings. Pick and choose which variations, toppings, or seasonings each time you make black bean soup. The variations are endless!
Chicken – Add shredded chicken while cooking or to the top for extra protein and heartiness. Fried Egg – Add some extra creaminess with an over-easy fried egg. Southwest-Style – Pile your bowl of black bean soup high with slices of fresh avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, and salsa for a Southwestern flair. You can even add a teaspoon or two of your favorite taco seasonings, salsa, adobo sauce, or hot sauce to the soup for an extra kick. Nacho Topping – I like to use this soup as a nacho topping. Assemble a plate of tortilla chips, then drizzle the soup over the top along with cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and our Best Guacamole Ever and you have a show-stopping plate of nachos! Hot Bean Dip – You could also use this soup as a dip! Warm flour tortilla strips, chips, bell peppers, celery, carrots, or just about anything tastes delicious dipped in this warm bean and rice mixture. Vegan Style – Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and you have a tasty vegan soup! Lime – Fresh limes or lime juice can be squeezed into the soup or sliced for a pretty appearance. Garlic – Fresh or roasted garlic cloves minced and added into the soup give the black bean soup that extra flavor. Veggies – Sautéed onion or red bell peppers are sliced and cooked for an extra texture and flavor. Root vegetables – Roasted butternut squash or sweet potato are always an added twist! Spices or seasonings – A bay leaf, oregano, ground cumin, paprika, and/ or fresh ground black pepper are all tasty stir-in ideas.
Storing Leftovers
Black bean soup makes for delicious leftovers! It will keep in the fridge for up to four days. Freeze in freezer-safe bags or jars for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator, then microwave, stirring often. You may need to add a little extra chicken broth if the soup is too thick.
More Hearty Soup Recipes
Sometimes your day just calls for a big steaming bowl of savory, flavorful soup. Soup days are my favorite, because the kitchen becomes all warm and homey, smells permeate the house, and everyone just seems a bit more relaxed and comforted. Try a few of our very favorite soups!
How to Make Black Bean Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup
Hearty Beef Stew
Broccoli Cheese Soup
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