Slow Cooker Black Beans

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Experience the incredible taste and convenience of slow cooker black beans! Perfect for any occasion, homemade slow cooker black beans can be prepped in no time with little effort. Get ready to savor the flavor that only slow-cooked black beans can bring!

A scoop of black beans being lifted out of the slow cooker.

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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.

When made in the slow cooker, black beans become infused with flavor and develop an incredibly creamy texture. Also, slow cooker black beans are a healthy and versatile dish that can be used in a variety of recipes, like burritos, tacos, salads, soups, stews, and more!

If you love making black beans with your own added flavors, you'll especially enjoy these with my Sweet Potato & Black Bean Nachos or this tasty Black Bean Salsa!

Large serving bowl of freshly cooked black beans.

Ingredients

Dried black beans - Before adding your beans to the slow cooker, rinse your dried beans and remove any bits that don't belong.
Seasoning Ingredients - A delicious combination of herbs, spices, broth, and veggies make these black beans really stand out. For this recipe, you'll need chicken broth, olive oil, cumin, oregano, onion, jalapeno pepper, garlic, bay leaves, and salt and pepper to taste.

Tools needed for this recipe

Slow Cooker
Knife and cutting board for vegetable prep.

How To Make Slow Cooker Black Beans

Place the sorted and rinsed black beans in the slow cooker.

Add the chicken broth, water, olive oil, cumin, and oregano and stir. Lay the onion, jalapeno, and bay leaves on the beans.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until the beans are tender.

Black beans and spices having been cooked over time still in the slow cooker.

Once the beans are cooked, remove the bay leaves, onion, jalapeno, and smashed garlic.

Freshly cooked black beans in the slow cooker with extra ingredients removed.

Serve and enjoy!

How To Store Crock Pot Black Beans

Storing black beans: Let the black beans cool to room temperature before storing them. Transfer the black beans to an airtight container. Store for up to 5 days.

Freezing black beans: Allow them to cool to room temperature before transferring the black beans to an airtight freezer-safe container. Before freezing, divide your cooked beans into separate servings and transfer each one into separate freezer bags or containers. Place them in the freezer, and store them for up to 6 months!

How To Serve Black Beans

As a side: Serve with rice, chicken, peppers, and onions for a quick fajita.

As a topping: Serve seasoned slow cooker black beans on top of nachos, a crisp salad, on top of rice

A tasty spread: Use refried black beans as a spread on your avocado toast and eggs for breakfast.

As a yummy addition to recipes: Use these black beans in dishes like my Jamaican Rice & Beans or Black Bean Salsa.

FAQ's

How long does it take to cook black beans in a slow cooker or crockpot?

It usually takes 6-8 hours on low heat to cook black beans in a slow cooker or crockpot, but this time can vary based on the size of your slow cooker.

Can I use canned black beans instead of dried beans?

Yes, if you are short on time you can replace the dried beans with 2 cans of precooked and unseasoned black beans that have been drained and rinsed.

Do I need to soak my black beans first?

Nope, after rinsing toss the beans into the slow cooker and start cooking.

Do I need to add any water when cooking the beans?

Yes, you need to add enough water so that the beans are covered by at least 1-2 inches of liquid while they are cooking.

How many cans of black beans does 1 pound of dried beans equal out to?

One pound of dry black beans makes roughly 3 to 4 cans of cooked black beans.

Notes

Rinse the beans thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt or debris.
Check on the cooked beans regularly and add more liquid if needed.
Adjust the seasonings as you need. Taste and re-season them with pepper, cumin, chili powder, garlic, and onion powder.
Add salt at the end of cooking to control the salt content. The saltiness of the broth will increase as it cooks. Salt to taste at the end.
For a savory flavor profile, add smoked meats like bacon, ham hock, or smoked turkey. Add these meats at the beginning of the slow cooking process.

Looking for more slow cooker recipes? Try these out:

If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

Tanya