Easy Tex Mex inspired Canned Black Bean recipe

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 We have a variety of eaters gathering around our dinner table every night and one of them is a long time vegetarian. On evenings when I want to serve up a fast dinner with a little Mexican flare I can whip up this easy Tex Mex inspired black bean recipe. This 2-ingredient recipe comes together in about 10 minutes, but tastes like it has been simmering on the stove all day long. As far as recipes for black beans go this one is a REAL winner with minimum ingredients and maximum flavor!

Why are black beans good for vegetarians? 

My husband has been a vegetarian since he was a teenager and black beans are hands down his favorite plant based protein! Black beans are a great source of dietary fiber, which is an essential key to good health.

Just one cup of canned black beans will give you almost half of what the USDA has determined as your daily fiber need. But that’s not all, according to Weight Watchers,  “...black beans are loaded with protein, folate, magnesium and antioxidants — about 10 times the antioxidants of oranges!” WHOA! 

Are black beans a pantry staple I should always have on hand?

We have been on the black bean bandwagon in our house for quite some time! Which means I cook with them ALL the time, so I have some really great ideas for easy, delicious ways you can use canned black beans too.

First though, let’s talk about how easy canned black beans are on my grocery budget shall we?! One (15.25 oz) can of cooked black beans costs about $0.63. Which means one ½ cup serving of canned black beans only costs $0.18! Talk about economical pantry choices!!! 

Here are some of our favorite canned black bean recipes..

Do you always use canned beans in this recipe or can I use dried beans?

Although black beans are available dried, most of us use canned beans more on a day to day basis. And why not? They don’t require much effort, they’re super versatile, and they can be enjoyed hot or cold. 

Sometimes though, I too love to simmer a pot of beans low and slow on the stove all day or in my Instant Pot! So when I have those on hand I substitute them for the canned black beans in this recipe. It’s a super simple swap, just use 1 ¾ cups cooked black beans in place of the canned black beans in the recipe below.

Can I only use black beans in this recipe or can I use other types of beans too?

This recipe could work with literally any type of bean! However we really are keen on black beans and pinto beans. 

Now we’ve covered all the basics of canned black beans, let's talk about enchilada sauce!

This easy recipe for canned black beans was actually inspired by my Shredded Instant Pot Mexican Chicken which I've linked below for you! I needed a fast vegetarian dinner option to serve alongside our shredded chicken for my veggie loving husband one night. 

So, I tossed canned black beans in a small pot with the extra enchilada sauce that was left in  the can and let it all simmer for 10 minutes or so until the sauce was nice and thick. I served the cooked black beans all wrapped up in a burrito with rice and salsa. I honestly was just hopping he would think it was a decent burrito, but to my delight  he seriously RAVED about how delicious it was for 2 days straight!

What is enchilada sauce made of?

Enchilada sauce is such an overlooked pantry staple, and happens to be one of my secret (#pantrypower) weapons! Red enchilada sauce is a thick sauce that is made up of chili powder simmered in a sultry broth with garlic, onion, tomato paste/sauce and thickened with either flour or cornstarch. Enchilada sauce is a flavor bomb for your taste buds and hands down the easiest way to get dinner on the table!

Are all brands of enchilada sauce gluten free?

Unfortunately, no! Many enchilada sauces may contain wheat or malt as a thickening ingredient, but there are quite a few household brands that boast naturally gluten free enchilada sauce, so it is key to read the labels when shopping. Alternatively, if you aren't in a time crunch or you are just feeling EXTRA, you can make your own homemade enchilada sauce! It is actually a pretty quick process and even more delicious than using store bought, canned enchilada sauce.

If you’ve made this Easy Tex Mex inspired Canned Black Bean recipe I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below!

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