Easy Cuban Style Black Beans (Quick Canned Recipe)

This quick and easy Cuban Black Beans recipe uses canned black beans for delicious Cuban style beans that are ready in just 30 minutes!

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Quick and Easy Cuban Black Beans Recipe (using canned beans!)

Bring the Cuban Restaurant home with this classic side dish! A staple of Cuban cuisine, these black beans (frijoles negros) are a simple and delicious side for any meal! With plenty of aromatics to amp up the flavor, these easy Cuban Black Beans are a quick, easy and cost effective way to round out any meal.

While a Traditional Cuban Black Bean recipe would use soaked black beans (dry beans), this recipe speeds up the process by using canned black beans, so it's ready in under 30 minutes!

Traditional Cuban Black Beans are delicious, but can take a long time to prepare. This recipe works great for busy weeknights, so you can enjoy the deliocus Cuban beans in a flash!

Ingredients

If you love Cuban food as much as I do, you're going to love these quick and easy Cuban Black Beans! Here's what you'll need to make them:

• Olive oil, for sautéing the veggies.
• A small yellow onion, diced.
• A medium sized green bell pepper, diced.
• Fresh minced garlic cloves.  
• Tomato paste. Browning this for a few minutes prior to adding the liquid ingredients really enhances the flavors in the beans, for that "cooked all day" flavor.
• Fresh lime zest, for a touch of freshness and vibrance.
• A can of black beans (do not drain- that liquid helps give the beans their thicker consistency).
• Vegetable stock or water. I love to use veggie stock for a more flavorful cooking liquid if I have it! You can always freeze what you don't use for another use (like this tasty Lentil Soup)!
• A bay leaf. You'll remove this before serving. Bay leaves add a great balance to the flavor of the beans. One is plenty for this small batch!
• Dried oregano and ground cumin.
• Apple cider vinegar. I prefer to use organic.
• Fresh cilantro, chopped. This will go into the beans at the very end, and can also be used to serve as a flavorful garnish!
• Salt and black pepper, to taste. Always be tasting and adjusting!

How to make this Cuban Black Beans Recipe

These easy Cuban Black Beans cook up quickly, all in one pan! Here's how to make them:

1. Heat olive oil in a small or medium saucepan (with a lid) over medium-low heat. 
2. Add onion and bell pepper, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 5-6 minutes. 
3. Add garlic and tomato paste, and stir to combine. Cook stirring occasionally until tomato paste beings to darken, 2-3 minutes. 
4. Add lime zest, beans with canning liquid, stock (or water), bay leaf, oregano, cumin, and apple cider vinegar. Stir well. Turn heat to low, and cover with a lid. Simmer for 10- 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. 
5. Stir in cilantro, taste and add salt and pepper as desired, and serve with additional fresh cilantro leaves! (see recipe card below for full instructions and ingredients list).

What to serve with the Cuban Black Beans

These simple and flavorful beans go great with a a squeeze of fresh lime juice, alongside some rice pilaf, white rice, or served over cilantro lime rice. For a full Cuban dinner, serve the pot of beans alongside some Arroz con Pollo or Slow Cooker Cuban Pork!

Storing and reheating

To store the Cuban Black Beans, allow to cool to room temperature, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days!

While you can freeze the beans in an airtight container or freezer safe bag, keep in mind the beans texture will change slightly after thawing.

Substitutions and Additions

This easy Cuban Black Beans recipe can easily be adapted to work with your personal preferences, or to work with what you have on hand in your refrigerator and pantry. Here are some great swaps and additions you can use to make this dish your own.

• No fresh garlic cloves? Use jarred minced garlic. You'll need about 1 tablespoon.
• Use red onion or shallot in place of the yellow onion.
• Use red peppers in place of the green bell pepper.
• Swap the apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar or white vinegar.
• Use chicken broth in place of the vegetable stock or water.
• No bay leaves on hand? Omit them.
• Add a pinch of cayenne or a teaspoon of minced fresh jalepeno (or another spicy pepper) for a little heat!
• Watching your sodium? Use low sodium canned beans and low sodium vegetable stock!
• In a hurry? Use frozen minced onion and frozen chopped bell peppers!
• Use avocado oil or canola oil in place of the olive oil. 

More great recipes using beans!

if you love this Quick and Easy Cuban Black Beans Recipe, you'll love these bean-forward recipes, too!

• Small Batch Doctored Up Canned Baked Beans
• Italian Sausage and White Bean Orzo
• Pasta e Fagioli Soup
• Easy White Bean and Ham Soup (with canned beans!)
• Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

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