Smokey and spicy sautéed Adobo Black Beans – it’s a simple recipe made quickly and easily on the stove top with a can of black beans, chipotle peppers, garlic and a few herbs and spices! Top with fresh herbs for an extra boost of flavor and serve! | Gluten Free + Vegan
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✓ Easy to make! Prep time is quite minimal and cook time super fast. Everything cooks all in one pot or pan in under 15 minutes.
✓Healthy! Black beans are an excellent source of plant based protein, dietary fiber and antioxidants. So not only are they good for you, but they’re super satiating!
✓ A great meal prep recipe! These beans reheat well and pack in so much flavor – they make a great addition to burrito bowls to make ahead for lunches and meals throughout the week.
Adobo Black Beans Ingredients List
For the most part, these beans are made with fairly simple ingredients. Chipotle chilies in adobo might be the trickiest to find in grocery stores depending on your location, but nothing a quick Amazon shop can’t fix
- Black Beans: Try using beans in unsalted water and BPA free. This way you can control the sodium content of the beans without the additional salt often found in canned goods.
- Olive Oil: I used extra-virgin olive oil, but feel free to use a different cooking oil of your choice like avocado oil or vegetable oil. I don’t recommend coconut oil though as it will impart a coconut flavor.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is best. It adds so much punch and flavor! I recommend about a tablespoons worth which is around 2-3 cloves garlic.
- Chipotle chilies in adobo: You’ll find these sold in cans or jars. They’re chipotle chilies that have been rehydrated in a spicy adobo sauce. If you can’t find them in your local grocery store you can try online retailers. I buy mind from Amazon because Mexican ingredients are really tricky to find here in the UK. You can also use chipotle paste which I do find much easier to find!
- Herbs & Spices (Cumin, Oregano, Smoked Paprika, Salt, Black Pepper): These are all spices typical in Mexican cooking. They each add a warmth, earthy, smoky flavor to help balance and highlight the sweet and spicy flavor of the chipotle.
- Lime Juice: Brighten everything up with a squeeze of fresh lime juice at the end.
Optional But Recommended Additions
- Fresh Cilantro: Stir in a handful of fresh cilantro at the end to add a fresh, peppery, citrus-like pop of flavor!
- Spring Onions: Sliced spring onions add a slightly sweet and pungent (in a good way) punch to these beans.
How to Make this Sautéed Adobo Black Beans Recipe
- In a medium saucepan or skillet, sauté garlic in oil over a medium-low heat until fragrant.
- Add chipotles, beans (including the liquids from the beans) and spices and cook over a medium-high heat. Bring the liquids to a simmer. For saucier beans, add about 1/2 cup water or stock.
- Tip! Smash some of the beans for a thicker sauce.
- Keep simmering until you get your desired consistency.
- Taste and season with additional salt and spices as you see fit.
- Top with fresh herbs, spring onions and lime juice (if using) and enjoy!
FAQ’s & Helpful Tips Before You Begin
How long does it take to sauté black beans?
Canned black beans are already cooked so you don’t need to worry about cooking for any specific length of time. The main thing to factor in is how saucy you want your beans and how quickly it takes your stove top to heat up. Altogether it will take somewhere between 10-15 minutes from start to finish.
Do I need to drain and rinse the beans first?
Nope! Use the whole can, liquid and all. The liquid will carry in some of the flavor of the beans and saves you from needing to add additional water.
If you do end up throwing out the liquid, no worries! Just add about 1- 1 1/2 cups of water (or stock) to the pan and simmer that down.
Can I make this using dried black beans?
You can use beans you cooked from dried if they’re already cooked. Just add extra water to simmer the sauce and you’re good to go.
I will be working on making a recipe for making this in an instant pot with dried beans, but I don’t have any recommendations yet.
Can I Make a Double Batch?
Absolutely! This is a great recipe to double up! Simply use a large pot instead and increase the overall cooking time. With the extra liquids, you’ll just need to simmer a little bit longer to reduce the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with another side like this Mexican Rice (Arroz Rojo) or Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Pick a protein: try these Mojo Chicken Thighs or keep it plant based with the Vegan Jackfruit Carnitas.
- Add a sauce or dip like this roasted chipotle salsa or homemade guacamole. Not quite a dip, but this guacamole salad is also a great addition!
- Top with tortillas! If you’ve got the time and willing, you’ll love these homemade corn tortillas. Once prepared you can always slice them up and fry them to make tortilla chips!
Sautéed Adobo Black Beans
Made quickly and easily on the stove top with a can of black beans, chipotle peppers, garlic and a few herbs and spices! Top with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lime juice for an extra boost of flavor and serve!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
- 3 cloves garlic or 1 heaping tablespoon
- 2-3 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, diced or 2-3 teaspoons chipotle paste
- 1 can unsalted black beans - do not drain (15 oz/5about 3/4 00g)
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt + more to taste
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (15 ml or about 1/2 a lime)
Optional Additions
- 3 spring onions, ends removed and sliced
- small handful fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan or skillet, warm the 2 tablespoons olive oil over a medium low heat. Add the garlic and gently sauté about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the remaining ingredients except lime juice: chipotle chilies, entire can of black beans (including the liquids), and spices. Stir to evenly mix the beans and spices. Adjust to a medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer the beans, about 5 minutes. Use the back of spoon to gently smash up some of the beans to create a thicker sauce. For soupier beans, add about 1/4-1/2 cup water or broth and simmer to your preferred consistency.
- Remove from the heat. Stir in the lime juice. Taste and season with more salt and seasoning as needed.
- Stir in fresh cilantro and/or spring onions if desired, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- In place of chipotles in adobo sauce: use 1 tablespoon chipotle paste.
- Try to use an unsalted can of black beans (not in brine) so you can control the saltiness of these beans. I also recommend using a BPA free can on beans if possible.
- For soupier beans: add a little extra water or broth to the beans and cook down to your desired bean consistency - up to 1/2 cup should be more than enough water or broth. If you add extra water you may find you need to add a little more salt to beans as well. You can also dissolve a small amount of stock cube in water for more flavor. Beef and chicken stock are great options, but make sure to use vegetable broth if you need to make this for vegans.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size:
about 3/4 cups Calories: 175Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 6gShop this Post
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Deena Gonzales says
Question regarding the 2-3 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce. I don’t see mentioned anywhere if they get cut up or not. Do you just throw them in whole? I do have these at my store so finding them is not an issue in Florida and I love them. Thank you!
Sarah Nevins says
Hi Deena, thanks for pointing that out! I recommend chopping them up before adding to the pan so they mix in better with everything else. Hope you enjoy the beans!