Want to make black bean soup and don’t have time to cook dried beans? Try this Quick Black Bean Soup recipe! Using canned beans makes it possible to whip up this tasty soup in 30 minutes. It’s creamy, garlicky and hearty, and a big bowl feels positively restorative. Top it with pico de gallo for a bright and zingy contrast in flavors. Then take it over the top with crushed tortilla chips and pickled peppers, or serve it with a baked quesadilla.
Ingredients in this black bean soup recipe
Many black bean soup recipes use dried beans: and they’re incredibly delicious. If you’ve got time, we highly recommend a recipe cooked from dried beans. But if you’re in a hurry, canned beans make deliciously creamy soup. In fact, you can use the can liquid to make the soup lusciously creamy. Here’s all you need for the base recipe of the soup:
Olive oilVegetables: onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeño pepper (optional)Canned black beansCumin, oregano, fennel seed, saltVegetable brothButterLime zest
Tips for making it creamy
This black bean soup recipe is ultra creamy because it uses a few tricks! Here’s what to know about the secrets behind the creamy body:
Use the can liquid from 3 cans black beans. In fact, we recommend canned beans for this recipe! The can liquid is very thick, which makes the perfect thickener for a soup. Pulse with an immersion blender a few times (or normal blender). It’s optional, but you can pulse with an immersion blender to make it even thicker. Just blend until some beans puree but most are still whole. You can also use a standard blender: just be careful not to over-blend.
Toppings for black bean soup
This black bean soup recipe looks pretty monochrome as is. So make sure to step it up with garnishes and toppings when you serve it! The pico de gallo or salsa fresca is required in our opinion: it adds just the right zip to the flavor. We’ve got a few more ideas for decking it out with toppings. Here are the toppings we recommend:
Pico de gallo, aka salsa fresca: This is required. Find it in the refrigerated section at most grocery stores, or you can make your own homemade pico. (Or for a cheater version, chop tomatoes and a little onion and add cilantro and a squeeze of lime.)Cilantro: Torn fresh leaves add just the right fresh flavorCrushed tortilla chips or strips: Make Tortilla Strips for a little crunchPickled peppers: Use Pickled Jalapenos for spicy or Pickled Banana Peppers for mild (we had a jar of banana peppers on hand and it was perfect)
Is this a spicy black bean soup?
This black bean soup recipe is not spicy, but it can be! The base recipe is very mild, even though it calls for ¼ jalapeno pepper (it’s just enough to add flavor but not heat). If you’d like a spicy black bean soup, here are a few things you can do to bring the heat:
Use a whole jalapeño pepper with seeds, instead of 1/4Add 2 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo (this also adds more flavor nuance)Load on the hot sauce, which is the easiest way to customize the heat level
Make it a meal! Sides to serve
This black bean soup is pretty filling, but we’d suggest adding a few side dishes to make it into a full meal.
Quesadillas: Try Easy Quesadillas, Quesadillas in the Oven, or a Superfood Veggie Quesadilla. Or just make a quick cheese quesadilla and cut it into strips for dipping. Salad: This Mexican Chopped Salad would pair well, or a Simple Avocado SaladChips and salsa: Try Homemade Tortilla Chips warm from the oven if you’re feeling fancy
More bean soup recipes
A few cans of beans make dinnertime easy! Here are a few more soup recipes we love featuring other types of beans:
Try Cozy White Bean Soup or Cabbage Soup with White BeansOpt for Italian-style Pasta e Ceci (Italian Chickpea Soup)Go for black beans with Vegetarian Tortilla SoupTry Easy Black Bean ChiliBrowse seasonal winter soup or fall soup recipes
This black bean soup recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. No reviews **Pico de gallo aka salsa fresca is sold in the refrigerated section at most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, make Homemade Pico de Gallo or a cheater version: top with minced tomato. white onion and cilantro, spritzed with a little lime juice.
