20 Healthy Black Bean Recipes

Black bean recipes are a weight loss powerhouse! Commonly known as “turtle beans,” these dark legumes pack a punch with 10 grams of protein and seven grams of fiber in just a quarter cup. This means meals and snacks featuring black beans give you an extra energy boost and keep you feeling satisfied for longer.

With their mild flavor, black beans blend seamlessly with any recipe. From breakfast to dinner, snacks to baked goods, these versatile beans add a nutritious boost. Discover our 20 most popular black bean recipes below and start incorporating them into your daily meals for healthier living. Time to fuel up and conquer the day!

1. Black Bean Crust Vegan Pizza

If you love pizza but also want to pack in the nutrition, this Black Bean Crust Vegan Pizza is as satisfying as it is nourishing. Black beans are used to make the crust, so you get lots of protein and fiber. Then you add a layer of fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, plus your favorite non-starchy veggies, such as sweet or hot peppers, mushrooms and spinach. Top it all with vegan cheese and bake until the pizza is warm, fragrant and delightfully gooey.

Get the Black Bean Crust Vegan Pizza recipe.

2. Double Chocolate Black Bean Cookies

Black beans add bulk and nutrition to cookie dough without affecting how the cookies taste. For these sweet treats, the beans are blended with cocoa powder and chocolate chips for extra-rich chocolaty flavor. They come out of the oven soft and chewy in less than 15 minutes. Then they are ready for dunking in a glass of nonfat milk!

Get the Double Chocolate Black Bean Cookies recipe.

3. Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers

Turn an ordinary dinner into a fiesta with this flavorful and filling dish. It features tender white meat chicken, plus tomatoes, corn, onions, brown rice and black beans. Season it to your preferred level of spicy heat. Bump it up another notch with a few squeezes of fresh lime and chopped cilantro.

Get the Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers recipe.

4. Zucchini Enchilada Roll-Ups

Zucchini is one of the most versatile vegetables. Not only can the green summer squash be used to make noodles, but it can also be thinly sliced to make the wrap for these low-carb enchiladas. They’re stuffed with a savory mixture of ground beef or turkey, plus corn, black beans and shredded cheese. It’s all coated in a mildly spicy sauce. The zucchini wrap keeps the filling moist, high in fiber and easy to eat.

Get the Zucchini Enchilada Roll-Ups recipe.

5. Bell Pepper Nachos

Here’s a fresh and healthy take on classic nachos. Instead of salty, greasy chips, we use sweet, colorful bell peppers as the base for the nacho toppings you love. The peppers are sliced in half and loaded with black beans, avocado and pico de gallo (or any type of salsa you like). Cover it all with shredded cheese and broil in the oven until the nachos are warm, tender and ready for scooping up.

Get the Bell Pepper Nachos recipe.

6. Black Bean Brownie Dip

Give fresh strawberries, apple slices, pineapple spears or any fruit you love a burst of chocolate flavor by dunking it in this rich brownie dip. It’s made with super sweet medjool dates, creamy cashew butter, real cocoa powder, chocolate chips and vanilla extract. And of course, black beans add fiber and a smooth texture.

Get the Black Bean Brownie Dip recipe.

7. Easy Slow Cooker Taco Soup with Ground Beef

This dish brings all the flavors you love in tacos together in a hearty, low-calorie soup. It includes seasoned ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, green chile peppers, onions, corn and black beans. Spices like chili powder and cumin provide the zip. For a delicious finishing touch, you can top the soup with diced avocado, chopped cilantro, shredded cheese or fat-free sour cream.

Get the Easy Slow Cooker Taco Soup recipe.

8. Sweet Potato Black Bean Omelet

You can make this complete hearty breakfast (or lunch) all in one pan. The omelet starts with diced sweet potatoes, which are loaded with nutrients and fiber. Egg whites and black beans add protein and bulk, while you get a bit of creamy texture from the topping of avocado slices. We bump up the flavor with sriracha, a mild hot sauce, to be sure your taste buds are wide awake.

Get the Sweet Potato Black Bean Omelet recipe.

9. Brazilian Feijoada

When you are in the mood for a meal that’s a break from the same old dishes, try our version of feijoada (pronounced fay-ZHWA-dah), the traditional Brazilian-style stew. We make it with chicken sausage, so it has zesty flavor but is low in saturated fats. Black beans supply more protein and lots of fiber. It all simmers together in the pot until the flavors have blended and the enticing aromas fill your kitchen.

Get the Brazilian Feijoada recipe.

10. Cowboy Caviar Dip

Caviar sounds fancy and expensive, but we give it the “cowboy” treatment so you can enjoy it anytime. It features the staples of Southwest cuisine, such as fire-roasted tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, black beans and cilantro. They’re tossed in a sweet and spicy dressing made with lime juice, olive oil, honey, chili powder and cumin. Serve the dip with whole grain tortilla chips and saddle up for satisfaction.

Get the Cowboy Caviar Dip recipe.

11. Mexican Zucchini Boats

In this dish, zucchini works as the vessel for a zesty lunch or dinner. The green squash is sliced in half and scooped out so you can fill them with savory blend of black beans, sauteed sweet and hot peppers, and kale. Sprinkle on Mexican spices to taste, add salsa and then top it all with cheese before baking.

Get the Mexican Zucchini Boats recipe.

12. Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Bowl

Shredded jackfruit has a meaty texture and a mild taste that absorbs the flavors you season it with. It can take the place of pork or chicken in many recipes, so it’s popular with people eating a plant-based diet or anyone who’s watching out for saturated fats. You can find fresh jackfruit in the produce section of most grocery stores, but it’s even more convenient to use the canned version. For this simple meal, you sauté the jackfruit with zingy Jamaican jerk spices and then arrange it in a bowl with black beans, mango, cabbage and peppery arugula.

Get the Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Bowl recipe.

13. 4-Step Black Bean Brownie Bites

When you deserve a treat but want to stick to your healthy eating plan, whip up a batch of these extra chocolaty brownies. The black beans give the batter a rich color, firm texture and lots of fiber, but no flavor. That comes from the cocoa powder and chocolate chips, plus vanilla extract and a touch of maple syrup. We like to make these brownies in a muffin tin so they come out in perfect portions for weight loss.

Get the Black Bean Brownies recipe.

14. Black Bean Pumpkin Quinoa Soup

In this hearty soup, sweet and creamy pumpkin is paired with super-nutritious quinoa and black beans. The steaming broth is seasoned with garlic, onions, chili powder and cayenne pepper for a little extra heat. Top each bowl with shredded cheese and you’ve got a high-protein meal that will warm you up from the inside out.

Get the Black Bean Pumpkin Quinoa Soup recipe. 

15. One-Pan Vegetarian Mexican Quinoa

Not only vegetarians will enjoy this delicious dish, it’s perfect for everyone! It fills you up with a savory blend of black beans, quinoa and crumbled veggie burger, plus onions, corn, fire-roasted tomatoes and avocado. The spunky Southwestern flavor comes from spices like chili powder and cumin, along with cilantro and lime juice. It all comes out of the oven together, fragrant and ready to eat.

Get the One-Pan Vegetarian Mexican Quinoa recipe.

16. One-Pot Ground Beef Chili

The whole family will clamor for this hearty dish on a cold day. It includes everything you love about chili, such as lean ground beef, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and black beans. You can spice it as hot or mild as your gang likes it. Once you assemble the ingredients, it takes only about 30 minutes of simmering before you can call everyone to the table.

Get the One-Pot Ground Beef Chili recipe.

17. Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

Taquitos are crispy, rolled-up tacos that are fun to eat. At the popular Mexican chain restaurants, taquitos are often deep-fried in oil. With this recipe, you can make your own with all the flavor and crunch, but far fewer calories and fat. We fill the corn tortillas with shredded white meat chicken, black beans and cream cheese, then we season it Southwest-style. The air fryer is a handy appliance that gets these taquitos crisp without all the grease. Serve them with plenty of salsa (a Free food!) for dipping.

Get the Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos recipe.

18. Black Bean and Cheese Quesadilla

A quesadilla is an ideal lunch for cheese lovers and everyone else who enjoys a simple yet satisfying midday meal. We make it with a spinach tortilla for an extra punch of nutrients. Along with the cheese in the center, we layer in high-fiber black beans, creamy avocado and zesty pico de gallo, so every bite treats you to a blend of pleasing flavors and textures.

Get the Black Bean and Cheese Quesadilla recipe.

19. Morning Tofu Scramble

Launch your day with a hearty breakfast that will keep you energized all morning. It’s made with firm tofu instead of eggs, so you get plenty of protein even if you are following a plant-based diet. Black beans add more protein and lots of fiber to keep you feeling full for hours. Onions, garlic, kale and bell peppers provide flavor and powerful nutrients, and pine nuts give the dish a bit of crunch.

Get the Morning Tofu Scramble recipe.

20. Mini Chicken Taco Salad Bowl

With this simple recipe, you can satisfy a craving for Mexican food and stay on track with your Nutrisystem weight loss plan. It starts with a whole wheat tortilla that you crisp in the oven to form a sturdy bowl. You fill it with salad veggies like tender baby spinach, cherry tomatoes and bell peppers, plus pico de gallo, black beans and chicken breast sauteed with taco seasonings. A simple dressing made with yogurt, cilantro and lime ties it all together into one delicious meal.

Get the Mini Chicken Taco Salad Bowl recipe.