Copycat Chipotle Black Beans Recipe
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My copycat Chipotle Black Beans Recipe is the perfect addition to your next at-home Mexican-inspired feast!! Made with incredibly simple pantry ingredients that you likely already have on hand, they come together so easily. Pair them with more Chipotle copycats, or enjoy them with another one of your favorite mains!
Chipotle Black Beans Recipe
I’m slowly but surely bulking up my collection of copycat recipes, and this Chipotle black bean recipe is the latest addition!
Seriously at this rate, I could practically open my own restaurant… but I definitely do NOT have time for that!!
One of my favorite places to go when I’m craving Mexican is for sure Chipotle. Would you guys even consider it a “fast food” place?! I probably wouldn’t.
They use such fresh ingredients, and the core components of all of their dishes are assembled fresh on the spot.
An ingredient that I never skip is Chipotle black beans. I add them to my burritos, bowls, and salads, and sometimes I’ll ask for an extra serving!
They’re tender, flavorful, and packed with protein so I know I’ll walk away satisfied.
And what do we do when we find a restaurant-quality dish we love? We recreate it, of course!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Black Beans – I wanted to make this copycat Chipotle black bean recipe as simple as possible, so I’m using canned beans!
You could go all out and use dried beans instead, but that will add hours (seriously!) to this recipe.
Make things easier on yourself and use canned too!
- Vegetable Oil – To cook the onion and garlic and toast the spices. I typically use regular vegetable oil, or sometimes canola.
- Onion & Garlic – This is a savory recipe, so you guys know I’m kicking things off with sautéed onion and garlic!
These flavor starters add so much to the overall taste of your Chipotle black beans recipe. - Chicken Stock – Though canned black beans are already cooked, I like to cook them a second time with sautéed onion and garlic and some stock to inject even more flavor. It also helps give everything a creamier texture!
- Seasonings – You’ll need ground cumin, dried oregano, chili powder, bay leaf, and salt to taste — plus some fresh chopped cilantro for a garnish!
Tips and Tricks to Make Perfect Chipotle Black Beans
- Toast the seasonings.
After the onion and garlic have gone translucent and become aromatic, add the cumin, oregano, and chili powder directly to the hot oil.
Toasting the spices for a few minutes will help them shine. This process is sometimes called blooming — it causes the flavor to “bloom” so they’re even tastier.
This will also ensure that the flavors are evenly distributed throughout your Chipotle black bean recipe!
- Crank up the spice levels.
For an even spicier kick, you can always add a dash of cayenne pepper or a finely chopped jalapeno pepper to the beans while they simmer.
Chipotle black beans are fairly mild at the restaurant, so here’s an opportunity to tailor them to your specific taste preferences!
- Dry beans? No stress.
If the beans start to dry out during the cooking process, don’t hesitate to add some more chicken stock — or even some water — to the pot.
The goal is to create a creamy texture, and some extra liquid can be helpful. It also keeps the beans from becoming too thick or sticking to the pot.
- Don’t forget to mash!
Once your Chipotle black beans recipe is ready to serve, grab a wooden spoon and lightly mash some of the beans against the side of the pot.
This will give you that creamy texture you’re looking for while also maintaining the shape of most of the beans.
That’s how Chipotle does it!
Prep Ahead
- Drain and rinse the beans
- Chop the onion, garlic, and cilantro
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Cutting Board – A big solid cutting board makes prepping a breeze. I use mine daily, so it’s worth the investment to get a good quality one.
- Medium Saucepan – Heats evenly and is easy to clean too.
- A Sturdy Wooden Spoon – Preferably one with a rounded handle for easier mashing.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this black bean recipe from Chipotle immediately! These are definitely best enjoyed warm. They work well as a side dish, burrito filling, or even a topping for nachos!
Create your own Chipotle feast at home and pair them with my corn salsa copycat, slow cooker carnitas, Chipotle Rice, and a healthy helping of guac on the side, of course!
Otherwise, Chipotle black beans pair wonderfully with cornbread, grilled chicken (which just happens to be another copycat!), and grilled vegetables like sweet potatoes.
Storing, Freezing, and Reheating
You can store leftover black beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in 30-second bursts with your microwave, or in a saucepan over medium heat.
You can also freeze these for busy weeknights when you don’t feel like cooking! Simply let them cool to room temperature, then place in a freezer-safe airtight container.
They will keep for 3-6 months — be sure to let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Chipotle Black Bean Recipe FAQ
Chipotle doesn’t list its preferred brand on its website, but it does indicate the different varieties of black beans it uses: Condor, Blackhawk, Domino, Valentine, and Black Magic.
You can make my black bean recipe from Chipotle with regular canned black beans you find at the supermarket!
Yes, which is exactly why I was inspired to recreate them myself at home! I used the power of my taste buds to figure out what they added… and came up with onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and oregano.
I add an extra bay leaf and some cilantro on top, but otherwise, this is an authentic Chipotle black beans recipe!
You’ll find black beans and pinto beans. Luck for you, I have copycat recipes for both! You can try the pinto beans next.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Copycat Chipotle Black Beans Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 30 ounces black beans, rinsed and drained , 2 (15-oz) cans
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion, (about ½ medium onion)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- salt to taste
- freshly chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic, ground cumin, dried oregano, and chili powder. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in the drained black beans and chicken or vegetable broth, then add the bay leaf.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the beans start to dry out, you can add a splash more broth or water as needed.
- Once the beans are tender and the flavors have melded, use the back of a spoon to lightly mash some of the beans against the side of the pot to create a creamy texture, while still leaving some beans whole.
- Season the black beans with salt to taste, and remove the bay leaf.
- Garnish the black beans with freshly chopped cilantro before serving. Enjoy!
Donna’s Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published June 2024
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These black beans turned out amazing! Tasted just like Chipotle’s.
Hi Audrey!
We’re so glad you enjoyed.
TSRI Team Member,
Devlyn