The BEST Copycat Chipotle Black Beans Recipe (Prepped In 10 Minutes)

This copycat Chipotle black beans recipe is not only super delicious, but it's also super easy to make. It combines black beans with an assortment of spices and fresh ingredients to make a flavorful side dish that the whole family is guaranteed to love. And, best of all, only 10 minutes of prep work is all that's needed to make 'em!

The Best Chipotle Black Beans

I may be alone here, but I really think the black beans are one of the best things on Chipotle's menu. I mean, not only are they loaded with flavor, but they pair perfectly with anything they're served alongside.

Anyway, you guys know by now I have a bit of an obsession with Chipotle, and I've come up with my fair share of copycat Chipotle recipes. But honestly, this copycat black beans recipe might be one of my best ones yet!

These copycat Chipotle black beans are perfectly tender and filled with so much flavor that you can honestly just eat them alone. But, again, they go so well with a ton of other things too.

Now, another thing that I love about this copycat black beans recipe is how effortless it is to whip up. You basically just cook some onions and garlic together, then add in the beans with some spices and water, and simmer everything together. Then, from there, you simply strain the beans and serve them with some fresh lime juice and lemon juice.

All in all, you only need to get your hands dirty for about 10 minutes or so, then the rest of the time is just letting the beans simmer to tender perfection.

By the way, since this recipe is basically all passive cooking, you'll have plenty of time to work on the main course! I recommend serving the black beans in a burrito bowl with some cilantro lime rice and either this Chipotle steak or Chipotle chicken.

Ingredients

Now, the ingredient list for these Chipotle black beans is pretty simple. Honestly, most of them are kitchen/pantry staples. In fact, I'm willing to bet you already have most - if not all - of them at your house already.

Anyway, here's everything you'll need to make these beans:

• 1 tablespoon olive or rice bran oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoon garlic paste
• 0.5 lb. black beans, soaked overnight, rinsed and drained
• 2 tablespoon adobo sauce
• 2 jalapenos, sliced
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 3 cups water
• 1 tablespoon lime juice, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, or to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Not too shabby, eh?!

By the way, if you have any leftover beans, then you should definitely use them to make this Mexican chicken casserole recipe next! It'll add even more flavor to an already delicious casserole recipe.

Ingredient Substitutions And Suggestions

While I recommend making these homemade Chipotle black beans with the ingredients listed above, there are some ways you can put your own spin on the recipe and possibly save yourself a trip to the store as well.

With that said, I'll go over some of my favorite ideas to try below.

Swap Dried Beans For Canned Beans

In my opinion, nothing beats making beans from scratch. That said, if you want to save some time, then you can easily swap the dried beans for canned black beans instead. I've used canned beans on more than one occasion when I'm short on time, and they still turn out super tasty.

Experiment With Different Spices

As for additional spices, if you want to make spicy black beans, then you can add a little chili powder or chopped chipotle peppers. With that said, though, be sure to go easy on adding extra spices since they can easily overpower the beans.

How To Make Chipotle Black Beans

Even if you've never cooked black beans from scratch before, I guarantee you'll have no problem following this recipe.

You basically just cook your fresh vegetables, then add in your soaked beans, spices, and water, and let the beans simmer away until they're done cooking. After that, all that's left to do is serve 'em and enjoy 'em. Yup, it's that simple!

So, let's stop wasting time and make some copycat Chipotle black beans, shall we?!

Step 1: Cook The Onions And Garlic

First, you'll want to cook the onions and garlic to give the beans their base flavor.

So, to do that, you'll want to take out a saucepot, add the oil to it, and heat it over medium-high heat.

Then, once the oil is hot, you can add the onions to the pot and allow them to cook - stirring them frequently - for about 5 minutes. Once the onions are slightly translucent and fragrant, you can add the garlic paste and cook the two together for 30 seconds or until the garlic becomes aromatic.

Step 2: Add The Spices

Now that the garlic and onions have cooked for long enough, you can add the soaked beans, adobo sauce, jalapeños, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf to the pot as well.

Then, after you've got those ingredients situated in there, you can add the water to the pot, cover the beans, and give everything a stir to combine them all together.

Step 3: Cook The Black Beans

Now you'll want to bring the black beans and spice mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Then, after you've done that, you'll want to let the beans simmer for 1 ½- 2 hours. From there, you can remove the beans from the liquid, transfer them to a bowl, and then squeeze a bit of fresh lemon and lime juice over 'em.

Finally, once the beans are all done, you can serve them with some rice, guacamole, sliced peppers, or really anything else, and enjoy 'em!

How To Store Chipotle Black Beans

This recipe for Chipotle's black beans makes about 8 servings, so it should be the perfect side for a big family dinner! And depending on how hungry everyone is, you may end up with some leftovers.

As for leftovers, just let the black beans cool completely and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Stored this way, the Chipotle black beans should last in the fridge for about 3-5 days.

Alternatively, if you want to store your cooked black beans for even longer, you can freeze them. Just transfer the cooled beans to an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - and your beans should last in the freezer for up to 6 months.

How To Reheat Chipotle Black Beans

When you're ready to enjoy your black beans again, you can eat them cold or reheat them. I think they're best enjoyed warm though.

So, to reheat the beans, I recommend transferring them to a saucepot, adding a little water to 'em, and then setting them over low heat. Then, after you've done that, you'll want to allow the beans to warm slowly - stirring them frequently - until they're hot.

Alternatively, to warm your beans up even quicker you can microwave them. Just microwave your leftover black beans in 15-second intervals - stirring between each one - until they're fully reheated. If you go this route, I recommend placing a plate on top of the bowl of beans, just in case the beans pop. That way, they won't make a mess.

Wrapping It Up

Well, that's how to make Chipotle's black beans at home!

Honestly, I really think this copycat Chipotle black beans recipe is just as good as the restaurants. I don't know if it's the perfect texture or the balance of spices that makes them taste so good - I just know this recipe is a pretty darn good replica if I do say so myself!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this Chipotle copycat recipe as much as I/we do.

As always, if you end up making it, be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how it went!

More Chipotle Recipes

If you enjoyed this black beans recipe, we have a ton of other delicious Chipotle copycat recipes for you to try next!

Here are some reader favorites:

• Chipotle pinto beans
• Chipotle corn salsa
• Chipotle hot salsa
• Chipotle carnitas
• Chipotle barbacoa
• Chipotle guac

Oh, and as always, make sure to check us out on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok! We post new recipes on them every day.

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