Quick Cuban black beans are a staple in my house. I have a recipe that I use for special occasions for black beans from scratch but I don’t always have time to soak beans overnight. These black beans are a quick and easy version of Cuban black beans that still taste amazing and cut down on some time!
This quick version of Cuban black beans starts with the same flavors of a traditional black bean recipe – peppers, onions, and garlic! These get sautéed in a skillet which adds so much more flavor than just tossing in raw ingredients! After these veggies are cooked, they get added to canned black beans, along with some extra seasonings. Using beans from the can is what makes these a “quick” version. And don’t worry, it’ll still taste like your Abuela simmered these in the kitchen for hours!
They’re so easy and they can be eaten over white rice, as a soup, or drained and used in tacos or any of your favorite Latin recipes! You can also top them with some fresh chopped onions or cilantro or avocado!
These Cuban black beans are something that we make in our house so often (even more than the traditional black beans) since they’re so easy! Both are equally delicious but this recipe just saves us some time!
Click the photo below to see how to make perfect white rice on the stove to go with your yummy black beans!
Quick Cuban Black Beans
Ingredients
- 2 15.5 ounce cans of Goya black beans (not black bean soup)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped yellow onion (about half a small onion)
- 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper (about half a small green pepper)
- 1 large garlic clove - minced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
Instructions
- Add both cans of beans (NOT drained or rinsed) and the 1/2 cup of water to a saucepan and heat over medium/low heat.
- While your beans are heating, add your olive oil, onions, peppers, and garlic to a separate small skillet and heat over medium heat until everything is soft and translucent. (about 5-7 minutes)
- Once your beans are warmed and the vegetables are soft, take a slotted spoon and get a spoonful of beans (let the liquid drain out) and add the spoonful of beans to the skillet with the vegetables. (should be about 1/2 cup of beans but it doesn't need to be exact at all)
- Take the beans and vegetable mixture and press it down as much as possible to make a paste. I use a wooden spoon for this to make it easier. It's ok if not everything is completely smushed but you just want to incorporate the beans and vegetables together as much as possible.
- Once everything is incorporated, take everything from the skillet (beans and vegetables) and add it into the pot with the remaining beans.
- Add the rest of your seasonings to the pot. (Salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, sugar, vinegar.) Stir together and cook on medium/low heat for another 5 minutes and your done!
39 Comments
Joyce | Pups with Chopsticks
September 21, 2017 at 11:26 amSuch a healthy and quick side dish! I am loving the flavours! I always have such a hard time with side dishes and just end up skipping it! Not anymore! 🙂
Coco and Ash
September 21, 2017 at 11:37 amThanks Joyce! Side dishes are always hard for me too and we make these so often! 🙂
Diamond Jackson
May 17, 2019 at 12:53 pmThis was a really good recipe . Tastes homemade. Will definitely put this recipe in my rotation.
Stephanie@ApplesforCJ
September 21, 2017 at 11:40 amI absolutely love black beans. One of my favorites. This looks like an easy tasty way to prepare them. Will be trying this soon 🙂
Jeni @ Biscuits & Booze
September 21, 2017 at 11:56 amI love that this is vegetarian! And also that you used canned beans. Black beans are always a huge hit in our house.
Coco and Ash
September 21, 2017 at 1:04 pmThank you so much!
Lilly
November 12, 2022 at 10:55 pmYou should try adding bacon, delicious!!
Nichole
September 21, 2017 at 12:02 pmI’ve never had Cuban style black beans, definitely going to try these out! Black beans are a favorite of mine, and I’d definitely eat these right out of the bowl as they are! 🙂
Coco and Ash
September 21, 2017 at 1:03 pmThanks!! I eat them like that a lot too 🙂
Lucy @ Supergoldenbakes
September 21, 2017 at 12:15 pmThese beans look so good – quick, simple and ultra healthy. Definitely a speedy recipe I’ll be bookmarking.
Coco and Ash
September 21, 2017 at 1:03 pmThanks Lucy! I hope you get to try them 😀
Nate
January 17, 2019 at 1:38 pmI first ate this dish the other day at a Cuban restaurant. When I tried to make it on my own I have been a bit discouraged by all the recipes that tell you to soak the beans overnight. Your version with canned beans is super quick and easy and so so tasty! Tastes as good as the one I had at the restaurant! Thank you!! This is definitely going into my repertoire of weekday dinners 😀
Coco and Ash
January 17, 2019 at 2:01 pmSo glad you liked it!! I also have a recipe that involves soaking but I make this far more often!! 🙂
Chris
January 18, 2019 at 9:06 amCan these be made ahead and reheated right before serving?
Coco and Ash
January 18, 2019 at 9:07 amTotally!!
Kevin
April 27, 2019 at 9:03 pmI must say that this was one of few recipes I found that was not only easy to follow and have it turn out the way the recipe author describes it, it is a true easy-to-make side dish in short amount of time! As someone who loves latin food in general, this will become a dish that I make frequently!
Coco and Ash
April 29, 2019 at 12:46 pmThank you!! Happy to hear!
Kadie
June 30, 2019 at 1:49 pmDelicious and so easy!! My kind of cooking 😁
Meagan E
July 17, 2019 at 7:48 pmMade these a few days ago for company. I love Cuban black beans but never have time for dried beans. These tasted authentic and were very easy. I swear the vinegar makes a big difference. Great recipe, my guests loved it. And it passed the test by my Cuban husband.
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August 19, 2019 at 8:38 am[…] I now have a recipe for QUICK Cuban Black Beans if you’re short on […]
Laurie
October 29, 2019 at 6:59 amHave been looking for a good quick version of black beans for a few years and have been disappointed with every one I tried. This one was amazing! My daughter (who judges any restaurant by their beans and is quite picky about them) even loved it. And my 16 year old son who never eats beans even ate them.
Coco and Ash
October 29, 2019 at 8:38 amThat makes me so happy! Thank you!
Lissa Miller
November 27, 2019 at 12:14 amI made these black beans tonight (and I am not a cook) but the recipe was easy. My husband and I visited Cuba 3 years ago and I fell in love with the black beans and have been craving them ever since. I am so happy to say that they turned out fantastic. I am so happy that I found your website and your cuban recipes . I will be making the beans again and gonna try some of those other recipes, especially the chicken one that you grew up eating.
I had originally thought that if the recipe turned out good that I would take it to Thanksgiving dinner, well they aren’t going to last 2 days haha.
Coco and Ash
November 27, 2019 at 9:05 amThank you so much Lissa!! I’m so glad you liked them! 😀😀
Annett Smith
March 17, 2020 at 12:13 pmMade this today and it is delicious ! I can’t find any nutritional info for this recipe though. Am I missing it somewhere?
Coco and Ash
March 18, 2020 at 2:26 pmThank you!! I do not post nutritional information on my site although there are plenty of sites that you can plug in the ingredients and get the info. 🙂
Katherine Fletcher
May 13, 2020 at 11:03 pmOh my goodness, this dish was amazing!!! I can’t even describe how much we enjoyed it! Thank you!
Coco and Ash
May 13, 2020 at 11:18 pmThank you so much!
Betsy Coons
May 15, 2020 at 7:16 amThese look delicious! I’m going to make them Sunday. How many servings does this recipe make?
Rocky
July 2, 2020 at 5:47 pmDo you have a recipe for Cuban White Rice?
Coco and Ash
July 2, 2020 at 8:42 pmI do not because I usually use a rice cooker but I’ll have to post a stove top one soon!
Elizabeth Detrich
September 5, 2020 at 4:42 pmHello from San Francisco,
I’m new to your website and I LOVE it!
I grew up in South-West Florida, and was home sick for Cuban food. I made a batch of black beans and the Cuban Pork Roast, my family is in HEAVEN! Every plate was cleaned. Every. Drop.
This recipe is a success!
Thank you so much, this recipe made my day. 🙂
From my family to yours.
Coco and Ash
September 5, 2020 at 8:11 pmAww thank you!! So glad you’re enjoying!
Denise
October 4, 2020 at 2:54 pmI’ve been making this recipe for a while but wanted to tell you it’s what made me like black beans. I’ve always been kind of wishy-washy about black beans. I could eat them or not and preferred not but this recipe is now one I make almost weekly! I’ve been making this recipe for a while but wanted to tell you it’s what made me like black beans. I’ve always been kind of wishy-washy about black beans. I could eat them or not and preferred not but this recipe is now one I make almost weekly! It’s so easy and quick and the finished product so versatile. Thank you.
Coco and Ash
October 4, 2020 at 11:37 pmThank you for your kind words Denise!!
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April 4, 2022 at 8:45 amTruly appreciate the way you made this wonderful recipe. Everything is so nicely described that really helped me.
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