Description
This Slow Cooker Black Beans recipe offers a hearty and flavorful way to prepare tender black beans with minimal effort. Using a slow cooker, the beans are simmered gently with onions, garlic, and a touch of heat from green Tabasco sauce, resulting in a rich, savory dish perfect as a side, over rice, or as a base for many meals. The recipe includes simple ingredients and an optional lime juice finish to brighten the flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound black beans
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 onions, chopped
- 6-8 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon green Tabasco sauce (optional, omit if you don’t want heat)
- Juice of 1 lime (optional)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and Sort Beans: Place the black beans in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water, removing any stones or shriveled beans you find.
- Soak Beans Overnight: Transfer the beans to a large bowl, cover with at least 2 inches of cool water, and soak overnight to soften.
- Drain and Rinse: In the morning, drain off the soaking water and rinse the beans again to refresh them.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the soaked beans into the slow cooker, add the low-sodium chicken broth, chopped onions, smashed garlic cloves, and green Tabasco sauce if using. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook Beans: Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 4-6 hours, adjusting time as needed depending on your slow cooker model and elevation. The beans should be tender and flavorful when done.
- Add Finishing Touches: Once cooked, add the juice of one lime if desired and season with salt and additional Tabasco sauce to taste.
- Serve: Serve the beans hot as a side dish, over rice, or use anywhere you would use canned black beans. This recipe yields about 6 cups or twelve 1/2-cup servings.
Notes
- Slow-cooked black beans are simple, healthy, and packed with flavor.
- They can be enjoyed on their own or incorporated into many dishes.
- Adjust the heat level by adding or omitting Tabasco sauce.
- Soaking beans overnight helps reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
- Use low-sodium broth to control added salt content.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 78 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
