Cuban Black Beans Recipe

These quick and easy Cuban black beans are fast to prepare, yet packed with bold flavor and taste like you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen! Made with canned black beans, which means NO soaking is required, and ready in 25 minutes or less, this simple recipe for black beans will become a staple in your house! (Healthy, Vegetarian, Vegan)

Update: This post was originally published in February 2019. I’ made updates to the post below to include a recipe video to show you how easy these canned Cuban Black Beans are to make at home! 

Hey there, friends! While today’s recipe may look humble and unassuming, it is one of my all-time favorite sides. Hands down!

I kid you not, I make these black beans at least once a month… and sometimes as much as once a week. No shame.

Fast and easy to prepare, yet packed with ALL the flavor, these beans deserve a weekly spot on your dinner menu rotation!

About this Cuban black beans recipe

Savory, tender black beans cooked to perfection in a thick, flavorful, silky sauce studded with pungent onions, fragrant garlic, slightly spicy jalapeños, mild bell pepper and fresh scallions.

Dusted with chopped cilantro and finished with a generous squeeze of acidic fresh lime juice or a drizzle of vinegar, these Cuban black beans are packed with incredibly delicious, bold flavor!

With all the flavor happening in these beans you would think they take hours in the kitchen to prepare, but these Cuban black beans utilize canned black beans and are ready in 25 minutes or less!

And, another great thing about these beans? The leftovers are even better since the flavors have a chance to develop and really shine!

These epic beans are the perfect side dish, and after one bite you’ll want to triple the recipe and stash these beans in the freezer to always have on hand!

What are Cuban black beans?

Cuban black beans, also known as frijoles negros, are a classic Cuban side dish. Black beans are a stable in Cuban cuisine and while everyone adds their own special touch or ingredient to the dish, a vital element of Cuban black beans is a sofrito, which is a mixture of onions, green bell pepper and garlic. The sofrito adds a delicious depth of flavor to Cuban black beans.

While most recipes finish the dish with vinegar and sugar, others add a squeeze of lime juice and plenty of fresh cilantro.

As well, some Cuban black bean recipes are soupy in consistency while others call for mashing some of the beans so the dish is thicker in consistency.

How to thicken black beans?

While there are a few ways you can thicken Cuban black beans, the absolute best way is to mash some of the beans to form a paste.

Mashing the beans can be done two different ways:

• Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, mash them with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon or fork, and stir them back into the pot.
• Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, transfer them to a food processor, process until a paste forms and then add them back to the pot.

What goes with Cuban black bean?

These quick Cuban black beans pair perfectly with a wide range of dishes – from plain grilled chicken and pork to Cuban main dishes and rice! If you are looking to meal plan, below are some delicious options to serve with these Cuban beans!

• Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef)
• Jerk Pork or Carnita Pork
• Eggs or scrambles
• Enchiladas, Burritos and Slaw Bowls
• Tostadas, Chicken Tacos, Fajita Beef and Chicken Fajita Casseroles
• Tortilla Soup or Chicken and Bean Soup
• Grilled chicken, pork or steak
• Cauliflower Rice
• Fried plantains
• Mexican chopped salad or taco salad
• Mojitos

What can I do with leftover Cuban black beans?

I definitely recommend making a big batch of these quick black beans to have on hand! Below are delicious ways to use leftover Cuban Black beans:

• Mash the Cuban black beans and turn them into refried beans
• Add them to salads for a quick boost of protein and flavor
• Add them to chilis or soups
• Sir them into egg scrambled
• Add them to burritos, enchiladas, tacos or nachos
• Add a heaping spoonful to Tex-Mex lunch bowls or grain bowls
• Stir in some pico de gallo and turn into into salsa

Can you freeze Cuban black beans?

You can easily freeze Cuban beans! While these black beans are quick and easy to make, I normally triple the recipe and freeze leftovers to have on hand when I’m in a hurry to get dinner on the table.

To freeze, allow the beans to cool completely before transferring them to an air-tight container or freezer-safe zip-closure bag.

Cooked Cuban black beans will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Pro-tip:  Freeze the Cuban black beans in cup-sized portions for easy re-heating and serving!

To reheat, you want to make sure you avoid the black beans turning to mush by reheating them on the lowest temperature possible, while still maintaining a very gentle simmer.

Are black beans good for you?

Black beans are a great, healthy addition to your diet!

Rich in iron and fiber, plus packed with protein and low in fat, black beans can help keep you full for long periods of time.

Black beans also contain key minerals and vitamins that contribute to maintaining bone strength and support heart health.

This quick Cuban black beans recipe also contains finely chopped vegetables such as bell pepper and onion, so they are a great way to sneak veggies onto a picky eater’s plate!

Tips for making the best black beans from a can

1. To thicken Cuban Black Beans, mash them! Mashing the beans can be done two different ways:
   • Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, mash them with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon or fork, and stir them back into the pot.
   • Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, transfer them to a food processor, process until a paste forms and then add them back to the pot.
2. Cuban black beans are traditionally finished with a drizzle of vinegar and a small sprinkling of brown sugar. This step is completely optional and should be done to taste!
3. Cuban black beans will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the beans to cool completely before transferring them to an air-tight container or freezer-safe zip-closure bag.

Quick and easy to make, yet packed with bold, savory flavor, these Cuban Black Beans are the perfect side dish!

Until next week, friends, cheers – to next level canned beans!

Cheyanne

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More recipes using a can of beans!

• Black Bean Chicken Soup
• Mexican Bean Salad
• Baked Bean Recipe with Bacon
• Black Bean Burgers

The best Cuban Black Beans recipe plus step-by-step recipe video👇

Print Recipe

4.94 from 16 votes

Quick & Easy Cuban Black Beans

These quick and easy Cuban black beans are fast to prepare, yet packed with bold flavor and taste like you spent hours slaving away in the kitchen!  Made with canned black beans, which means NO soaking is required, and ready in 25 minutes or less, these beans will become a staple in your house!  (Healthy, Vegetarian, Vegan)

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time25 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Cuban

Keyword: Black Beans, Easy, quick

Servings: 12

Calories: 73kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Equipment

• Dutch Oven or Large Pot

Ingredients

• 1 TBS Olive Oil
• 1 small Onion – small dice (white or Spanish onion)
• 4 Scallions - thinly sliced (green and light green parts)
• 1 large Jalapeno - seeded, ribbed & small diced (optional - SEE NOTES)
• ½ Cup Green Bell Pepper – seeded & small diced (about ½ a large pepper)
• 4-5 cloves Garlic – minced
• 1 tsp Cumin
• ½ tsp EACH: Oregano & Ground Coriander
• 1/8 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 2 (15 ounce) cans Black Beans – do NOT drain
• 1 cup Water
• 2 small Bay leaves
• 2-3 TBS Fresh Cilantro – chopped
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• For serving: White Rice, Lime Wedges, Tabasco or Cayenne Pepper
• Optional to finish: 1 TBS White or Red-Wine Vinegar + 1 tsp Brown Sugar, or more to taste (SEE NOTES)

Instructions

• Saute vegetables: Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, scallions, jalapeno and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add seasonings: Add in the garlic, cumin, oregano, coriander and smoked paprika. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add beans + liquid: Add in the beans, water and bay leaves. Season again with salt and pepper.

  Bring beans to a boil and immediately reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. 
• Remove cover + simmer: Remove cover and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until most of the water has evaporated. TIP: If you would like your black beans to have a more “soup-y” appearance, adjust consistency with a bit more water. If you would like to thicken the black beans, you can use a potato masher or spoon to mash some (about 1/4 to 1/3rd) of the black beans.
• Add herbs: Stir fresh cilantro into beans. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper, plus vinegar and sugar if using. 
• Serve with lime wedges over rice. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

1. Traditional Cuban black beans do not have jalapenos.  If you would like this to be a more authentic recipe, feel free to omit the jalapeno peppers!
2. To thicken Cuban Black Beans, mash them!  Mashing the beans can be done two different ways:
   • Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, mash them with a potato masher or the back of a large spoon or fork, and stir them back into the pot.
   • Remove a cup (or a 1/3^rd) of the beans, transfer them to a food processor, process until a paste forms and then add them back to the pot.
3. Optional to finish beans: Cuban black beans are traditionally finished with a drizzle of vinegar and a small sprinkling of brown sugar.  This step is completely optional and should be done to taste! 
4. Storage: Cuban black beans will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.  Allow the beans to cool completely before transferring them to an air-tight container or freezer-safe zip-closure bag. Pro-tip:  Freeze the Cuban black beans in cup-sized portions for easy re-heating and serving!
5. To reheat, you want to make sure you avoid the black bean splitting or turning to mush by reheating them on the lowest temperature possible, while still maintaining a very gentle simmer.

Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 12 servings.  Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 189mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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