Black bean soup is a simple recipe you can make in one pot with everyday ingredients and a bold, smokey flavor.

If you love black bean recipes, try our black bean salad, veggie burgers, vegetarian chili, and Mexican rice.

Black bean soup topped with pico de gallo and sliced avocado
Healthy Easy Black Bean Soup That Wows

Mexican Flavors in One Pot

Louise and I have a soft spot for cozy, plant-based meals that pack a punch of flavor.

This Mexican-Inspired Black Bean Soup is one of our absolute favorites.

The flavor begins with a fragrant soffritto of onion, garlic, and cumin.

Add in the cooked black beans, a bit of smokiness from the chipotle, and let everything simmer into a rich, satisfying soup that feels like a warm hug.

Top your soup with your favorite Mexican sides. I recommend guacamole, pico de gallo, quick pickled onions, jalapeรฑos, sour cream, and corn tortillas. It’s also delicious with our homemade cornbread.

The contrast of spicy and cool, creamy and crisp, is what makes every bite exciting ๐Ÿ˜›.

And the best part? Itโ€™s incredibly easy to make and wholesome to eat.

Itโ€™s a fiber-rich meal, and low calorie dinner idea (297 calories per portion without toppings!).

It’s excellent for meal prep, and satisfying enough to stand alone as a main course. I hope you love it as much as we do.

Ingredients

ingredients for black bean soup

Find complete ingredient list, quantities, and substitutions in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

  • Olive oil โ€“ or substitute with avocado oil.
  • Carrot, onion, celery, and garlic โ€“ chopped by hand or pulsed in a food processor for the flavor base.
  • Bay leaves and ground cumin โ€“ great for depth; use dried oregano instead of bay leaves if needed.
  • Chipotle powder โ€“ adds a smoky, mild heat. Sub with smoked paprika + red pepper flakes, or use 1 chipotle in adobo + 1 tbsp of its sauce.
  • Black beans โ€“ canned (rinsed and drained) or home-cooked (see our guide on how to cook black beans).
  • Vegetable broth โ€“ low-sodium preferred; chicken broth also works if not keeping it vegetarian.
  • Canned diced tomatoes โ€“ or sub with whole, crushed, pureed, or fire-roasted canned tomatoes.
  • Salt & pepper โ€“ sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Lime juice โ€“ freshly squeezed for acidity; sub with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar.

How to make black bean soup

Step 1: Sautรฉ the Veggies and Spices

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot, and sautรฉ for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the grated garlic, ground cumin, and chipotle powder (or substitute with 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika and red pepper flakes). Cook for 1 more minute, or until fragrant.

Step 1: flavor base with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and cumin

Step 2: Simmer the Soup

Add the vegetable broth, drained and rinsed black beans, canned tomatoes, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.Cover with a lid, bring to a boil, then crack the lid open slightly and simmer on medium heat for about 25 minutes.

Step 2: Soup simmering in a pot.

Step 3: Blend and Finish

Blend 1 to 2 cups of the soup to create a creamy texture, using an immersion blender or standing blender. Stir in the juice of one lime, then taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add more broth if you prefer a thinner soup.

creamy black bean soup

Step 4: Serving Suggestions

We love serving this black bean soup with a variety of toppings and sides to make it a complete, comforting meal. Here are some of our favorites:

  • Fresh cilantro โ€“ adds a pop of color and a fresh herbal note.
  • Guacamole or sliced avocado โ€“ for creamy richness and healthy fats.
  • Pico de gallo โ€“ brings brightness and a little crunch (Louise’s favorite).
  • Tortilla chips, corn tortillas, or tostadas โ€“ perfect for scooping or adding a bit of crunch on top.
  • Sour cream or vegan sour cream โ€“ a cool, tangy contrast to the warm spices.

Sometimes, we pair it with a slice of warm homemade cornbread on the side. It’s SO good ๐Ÿคค.

Black bean soup topped with sour cream and pico de gallo

Tips

  • Start with a flavorful base โ€“ Sautรฉ onion, carrot, and celery (soffritto) to build depth from the start.
  • Toast your spices โ€“ Add garlic and spices after the veggies; a quick sautรฉ boosts aroma and flavor.
  • Blend a portion for creaminess โ€“ Puree 1 to 2 cups of soup to thicken it while keeping some texture.
  • Finish with acid โ€“ A splash of lime juice at the end brightens and balances the flavors.
  • Top with garnishes โ€“ Add cilantro, guacamole, pico de gallo, tortilla chips, or vegan sour cream for texture and contrast. That’s the best part, so don’t forget it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use dried black beans instead of canned?

Yes please! Youโ€™ll need about 1.5 cups of cooked beans for every can the recipe calls for. That’s about 1/2 cup of dried beans. Soak overnight and cook in plenty of water until tender (about 2 hours).

How do you thicken it?

Blend a portion of the soup (about 1 to 2 cups) and stir it back in. This creates a creamy texture without needing cream or flour. To speed things up, you can also blend directly in the pot with an immersion blender.

Is this recipe good for you?

Yes! It’s rich in plant-based protein, high in fiber, low in fat, and naturally cholesterol-free.

How do I store it? And can I freeze it?

Store leftover black bean soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot.

To freeze, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers. It will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.

Can I make black bean soup in an Instant Pot or slow cooker?

Yes, that’ won’t be a problem. Sautรฉ the aromatics first, then cook everything under pressure (about 10 minutes on high) or slow cook on low for 6โ€“8 hours.

More Mexican-Inspired Recipes

If you tried this Black Bean Soup or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!

Black bean soup in a bowl.

Black Bean Soup

5 from 15 votes
Black bean soup is a simple recipe you can make in one pot with everyday ingredients and aย bold,ย smokeyย flavor.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main, Soup
Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired

Ingredients 

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 carrots chopped
  • 1 rib celery chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic grated
  • 2 tsp cumin ground
  • 1 tsp chipotle powder more or less to taste. Sub ยฝ tsp red pepper flakes + 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3 cups vegetable broth or more to taste
  • 3 cans (15 oz each) black beans or 4ยฝ cups cooked black beans
  • 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 4 bay leaves
  • ยฝ tsp salt or more to taste
  • ยผ tsp black pepper
  • 1 lime the juice + more for squeezing on top

Instructions 

  • Sautรฉ the Veggies and Spices โ€“ Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 onion, 3 carrots, and 1 rib celery; sautรฉ for 5 minutes. Stir in 4 cloves garlic, 2 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp chipotle powder (or smoked paprika + red pepper flakes); cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
    Step 1: flavor base with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, and cumin
  • Simmer the Soup โ€“ Add 3 cups vegetable broth, 3 cans (15 oz each) black beans, 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, 4 bay leaves, ยฝ tsp salt, and ยผ tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil, then simmer partially covered for 25 minutes.
    creamy black bean soup
  • Blend and Finish โ€“ Blend 1โ€“2 cups of soup for creaminess. Stir in juice from 1 lime, adjust seasoning, and add broth to thin if needed.
    black bean soup topped with tortilla, pico de gallo, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and lime juice.

Video

Black Bean Soup (healthy & easy dinner idea)

Notes

SERVING SUGGESTIONS
  • Fresh cilantroย โ€“ adds a pop of color and a fresh herbal note.
  • Homemade cornbread
  • Guacamoleย or sliced avocadoย โ€“ for creamy richness and healthy fats.
  • Pico de galloย โ€“ brings brightness and a little crunch (Louiseโ€™s favorite).
  • Tortilla chips,ย corn tortillas, orย tostadasย โ€“ perfect for scooping or adding a bit of crunch on top.
  • Sour cream orย vegan sour cream โ€“ a cool, tangy contrast to the warm spices.
SUBSTITUTIONS
  • Olive oil โ†’ avocado oil
  • Carrot, onion, celery, garlic โ†’ chopped by hand or pulsed in a food processor
  • Bay leaves โ†’ dried oregano
  • Ground cumin โ†’ no direct substitute recommended (essential for flavor)
  • Chipotle powder โ†’ smoked paprika + red pepper flakes, or 1 chipotle in adobo + 1 tbsp sauce
  • Black beans โ†’ canned (rinsed and drained) or home-cooked from dried
  • Vegetable broth โ†’ chicken broth (if not vegetarian)
  • Canned diced tomatoes โ†’ whole, crushed, purรฉed, or fire-roasted canned tomatoes
  • Salt & pepper โ†’ sea salt or kosher salt + freshly ground black pepper
  • Lime juice โ†’ apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
STORAGE
Store leftoverย black bean soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up toย 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot.
To freeze, let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers. It will keep well for up toย 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.
ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 4, Calories: 289kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 1185mg, Potassium: 1014mg, Dietary Fiber: 16g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 7989IU, Vitamin B6: 0.4mg, Vitamin C: 25mg, Vitamin E: 2mg, Vitamin K: 17ยตg, Calcium: 148mg, Folate: 137ยตg, Iron: 6mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 92mg, Zinc: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @theplantbasedschool on Instagram. We love hearing from you โญ๏ธ ๐Ÿ’š.

Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Weโ€™re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy plant-based recipes (vegetarian & vegan) ๐ŸŒฟโœจ.

Welcome to our blog, we are glad you are here.

5 from 15 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




23 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this a few times already! Itโ€™s so tasty & easy! Everyone loves it; even those who arenโ€™t black bean fans.

    1. Fabulous, Deb, that’s wonderful news!!

      Thanks so much for taking valuable time (on a Sunday) to leave a rating here. Kindest,

      Louise