Black Bean Soup Recipe: Simple and Delicious

Simple to make, bursting with flavor, and fully plant-based. This Black Bean Soup tastes like you’ve been slaving in the kitchen for hours!

I’m gonna be frank, I’m a bean girl but I wasn’t always that way. Over the years I have learned how to cook beans in ways to make them incredibly flavorful and delicious, and this Black Bean Soup recipe does not disappoint.

Beans are incredibly healthy for you, filled with lots of protein, fiber, and other nutrients, and naturally low in saturated fat – my kind of food!

This Black Bean Soup can be made with canned beans or you can make your black beans from scratch using dry beans.

For the most part, I always have fresh beans in my fridge made from scratch so the pictures you see here are black beans that I made in my Instant Pot.

This easy soup recipe has a ton of flavor thanks to the cumin, coriander, and chili powder spices.

Topped off with some cilantro and lime and, oh my, probably one of the most fragrant black bean soups around. And soooo much better than store-bought – let’s go!

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Black Bean Soup Ingredients

This homemade soup uses very simple ingredients, ones you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.

Yellow onion. You can use either a yellow or white onion in this recipe.

Garlic. Fresh garlic cloves, finely minced, are preferred for this recipe.

Celery. Look for fresh, crisp, dark green stalks. The celery hearts work well too.

Red bell pepper. A fresh red bell pepper in this black bean soup recipe gives it a zesty flavor rather than the sweeter taste of carrots.

Black beans. The heart and soul of this delicious, hearty, and healthy recipe. You can use canned black beans or dry beans made from scratch.

Vegetable broth. I prefer a low-sodium vegetable broth. Sometimes I use plain filtered cold water instead and then a couple tablespoons of Better Than Bouillon seasoned vegetable base.

Spices. Beautifully fragrant spices such as ground cumin, coriander, and chili powder.

Lime. Fresh lime juice is best. You can also use lemon juice if you prefer.

Optional ingredients to garnish Black Bean Soup

• Cilantro or parsley. Fresh cilantro or parsley chopped adds to the flavor and nutrients of this soup.
• Lime or lemon. Additional lime or lemon juice as desired.
• Avocado. There is nothing like a fresh, cubed, avocado to give this black bean soup an even creamier texture.
• Vegan sour cream. A delicious and creamy taste and texture if you wish.
• Vegan parmesan cheese. You can also use a vegan cheddar cheese if that sounds good too.
• Nutritional yeast. This is one of my favorites to use on really almost anything. It gives food a cheesy-like flavor with added nutrients and B vitamins.
• Kosher salt. I rarely add salt when cooking but only afterward as needed.
• Red pepper chili flakes. For added heat!
• Tortilla chips. It’s fun to add a handful of crushed tortilla chips to this black bean soup for some added crunch.

Kitchen Tools Used

Large soup pot. I use the soup pot from Caraway Cookware. I am a big fan of their products, all non-toxic and well-designed.

Immersion blender. Using an immersion blender gives this delicious hearty soup a wonderfully thick and creamy texture without adding cream or oil.

Food processor. I like to use a strong food processor to quickly finely chop the veggies in this recipe. Also, if you do not own an immersion blender, you can easily use a food processor to blend a portion of this black bean soup.

Glass storage container. I like to use large mason jars for storage, both in the fridge and freezer.

How to Make the Best Black Bean Soup

For exact measurements, please see the printable recipe card below.

Step 1. Place the large pot on the stove and turn to medium heat. Water sauté the chopped onion until just tender, then add the chopped celery and red bell pepper and sauté for another five minutes or so, until the veggies are tender and translucent.

Step 2. Add the minced cloves of garlic and spices and stir until combined.

Step 3. Next, add the cans of black beans, or beans cooked from scratch, the lime juice, and veggie broth. Stir everything together and bring it to a soft boil.

Step 4. Turn the heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 10-15 minutes.

Step 5. Blend the black bean soup using the immersion blender to the desired consistency.

NOTE: If you do not have an immersion blender, take about half of the soup and blend it either in a food processor or a strong blender. Pour it back into the pot and stir together both the blended and unblended portions of black bean soup.

Black Bean Soup Serving Suggestions

Of course, this simple Black Bean Soup tastes absolutely delicious as is, but if you’d like to jazz it up a bit, try these ideas – all plant-based of course.

• Add a dollop of sour cream (vegan) and diced avocado, along with an extra squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• Chop up some fresh herbs, like cilantro or parsley, and sprinkle on top of the soup along with some grated vegan parmesan cheese and another squeeze of lemon or lime juice for extra flavor.
• Add some fresh arugula greens, a tablespoon or so of nutritional yeast, and some red chili pepper flakes for a spicy black bean soup.

This delicious Black Bean Soup is the perfect evening meal on its own but you can also pair it with some tortilla chips, a couple of slices of fresh sourdough bread, or even some oyster crackers if you want a heartier meal.

How to Store

This easy black bean soup recipe will store well in the fridge as long as it is in an airtight container. I prefer to use glass containers, something like a large mason jar will work well.

The soup will stay fresh in the fridge for about 4-5 days.

For longer storage, you can easily freeze this Black Bean Soup in a freezer-safe container. Just make sure to let your soup come to room temperature before storing it.

Also, when freezing, do not fill your containers to the very top. Leave an inch or so to allow the soup to expand as it freezes.

When ready, take the soup out of the freezer and allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight. Or you can set it on your kitchen counter for an hour or so, letting it thaw, and then place it in a pot to warm up on the stove.

More Healthy Soup Recipes

• Tomato Lentil Soup: An Easy Vegan Red Lentil Dahl
• Healthy Black Bean Chili Recipe
• Best Soup For Sore Throat: Cold And Flu Fighting Season
• Vegan Split Pea Anti-Inflammatory Soup Recipe (no oil)

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Let’s Connect

I hope you enjoyed this article and will give this simple and delicious Black Bean Soup recipe a try!

Beans are incredibly healthy, full of nutrition, naturally vegan and gluten-free, and making a delicious pot of black bean soup as the weather cools – well, there’s nothing better. Enjoy!

QUESTION. Are you a bean lover like me? What is your favorite way to top off the delicious Black Bean Soup?

Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you!

Printable Recipe Card