These Mexican black beans are a savory, vegan, high-protein side dish that pairs perfectly with so many meals! I love how quickly they come together, and you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry right now. The onions and spices make the perfect sauce to keep everything together. If you want to add a little bit of spice, feel free to add some chopped jalapeno or diced green chiles with the garlic at the beginning.Making Mexican black beans is an easy side dish that can go with any Mexican dish! They are the perfect way to complete any meal. The delicious flavor of the beans is great on enchiladas and tacos or as a side dish on its own with tortilla chips. These Mexican black beans are so quick and easy to make you will be having them weekly!
Ingredients for Mexican Black Beans
The ingredients to make these Mexican black beans are easy to find at most grocery stores! Each ingredient has a unique flavor and taste that makes it stand out. When combined they create the best Mexican black beans!
Oil – Extra-virgin olive oil coats and gives the black beans a smooth and silky coating while sautéing. Yellow Onion – Onions add a savory flavor and enhance the other spices. Garlic – Minced garlic cloves add flavor and help with the aroma of the Mexican black beans recipe. Cumin – This is a slightly sweet and warming flavor that has a brown coloring to the seasoning. Black beans – A can of black beans that is not drained. The liquid in the canned beans will help build on the base of the side dish. Salt – A pinch of salt will help balance all the flavors. Cilantro and Cotija Cheese- For some color and garnish!
Additional Optional Flavors
You are going to love these extra spices, fresh lime juice, onions, and herbs! Mix and match these optional flavors for more ways to enjoy Mexican black beans. The options are endless and the flavors are delicious!
Spice – Add in more spice with chili powder, cayenne pepper, or sriracha sauce to the canned beans mixture. Even a taco seasoning packet is always a great way to add in the Mexican flavors. Lime – A squeeze of fresh lime juice over the Mexican black beans tastes refreshing and delicious! Herbs – A dash of oregano gives this side dish just the right amount of green!
Step by Step Instructions for Mexican Black Beans
You will love how simple this recipe is. It is almost foolproof, but I can walk you through the steps just in case! Kids love these Mexican black beans. They are simple to make and come together quickly and easily!
Steps to Making Mexican Black Beans
We use canned black beans in this recipe but if you want to make your black beans from scratch you can follow these easy instructions!
What to Serve with Mexican Black Beans
Black beans are typically served, alongside white rice or flavored rice (our favorites are Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice), as a side dish for Mexican-inspired meals. They can also be served as a dip alongside your favorite salsa and guacamole. You can also serve them with your favorite Mexican-style main dish. Here are some of our favorite Mexican-inspired dishes: Read Next: 33+ Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
Homemade Enchiladas
Steak Street Tacos
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Burrito
Beef Birria (Birria de Res)
Cafe Rio Inspired Recipe
This recipe originally came from our collection of Cafe Rio-inspired dishes. Cafe Rio is a beloved Tex-Mex chain that serves burritos, tacos, salads, and more! We were obsessed but some of us didn’t have a location near our house. Craving Cafe Rio helped us create the complete meal right at home! We started trying to recreate Cafe Rio recipes at home. Those recipes helped us get on the map as recipe bloggers and they are some of our most popular posts to this day! Check out the collection here: Cafe Rio Copycat Recipes – All the Best in One Place.
Storing and Reheating Mexican Black Beans
Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To reheat, place beans in a microwave-safe container and reheat for 30 seconds at a time until heated through. Add a little water if necessary to get the right texture while heating.
More Recipes with Black Beans
How to Make Mexican Black Beans
Homemade Veggie Burger
Black Bean Tacos
Black Bean Soup
Steak Fajita Bowls
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