Recipe
How to Cook Dried Beans: A Slow Cooker Black Bean Recipe
Beans are a staple in my diet. As a plant-based vegan and an endurance athlete, it's important for me to find good sources of protein to maintain a well-rounded diet. Before discovering the magic of making slow cooker black beans from scratch, canned beans were always my go-to; they’re quick, cheap, and more accessible at times. But after tasting beans made in a slow cooker, I can’t go back! Not only do they taste better, but they are also lower in sodium and can be personalized to your flavor preferences.
After doing some searching on the internet, I've quickly learned that I'm late to the slow cooker bean party. There are so many blog posts and magazine articles out there that share different flavor combinations and cooking techniques that I thought I came up with on my own! Little did I know, I'm not very original. But here it goes: my favorite slow cooker black bean recipe!
Note: If you don't have a slow cooker or crock pot, don't worry! You can also use a pressure cooker, an InstantPot, or the stove top to cook these beans to perfection. Click the link here for a recipe on how to cook chickpeas like a pro using an InstantPot.
Slow Cooker Black Beans
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 7 hrs
- Total Time: 7 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried black beans
- 7-8 cups water
- 1 onion diced
- 5-6 garlic cloves halved
- 1/2 jalapeno with seeds diced
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
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Note: If you're not a fan of black beans, they can be exchanged for white beans (Great Northern or navy), pinto beans, or kidney beans. The cooking process is still the same!
#spoontip: after the beans are finished cooking, smash them with a potato masher or with the back of a fork for a refried bean consistency.
The following recipe is extremely versatile; there are many variations that can be made. Personalize this recipe however you like! Instead of using cumin, maybe throw in bay leaves and thyme. Rosemary, sage, paprika, and oregano are also good options as well as chili powder or dried chilies for extra spice.
These beans can also be used in a variety of dishes. You can go a Tex-Mex route and enjoy these slow cooker black beans on nachos or you can spice it up and enjoy them on sopes. There are so many recipes out there to choose from! But if you're desperate, just grab a spoon and eat them by themselves because they're just that good!
If you remember the children's song that goes "beans, beans the magical fruit," then now you know they weren't lying. These slow cooker black beans are certainly magical AND tasty! So get out your slow cooker and start making dried beans from scratch because you'll never want to turn back!