Description
This Slow Cooker Black Beans recipe offers a simple, flavorful way to prepare perfectly tender black beans with minimal effort. Slow-cooked with onions, garlic, and a touch of green Tabasco sauce for optional heat, these beans can be enjoyed as a side dish, over rice, or anywhere you would use canned black beans. The slow cooker method ensures a deep, rich flavor with a creamy, satisfying texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Liquids
- 1 pound black beans
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Aromatics and Seasonings
- 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 cool water, picking out any stones or shriveled beans you find to ensure quality and cleanliness.
- Soak Beans Overnight: Transfer the rinsed beans to a large bowl and cover them with at least 2 inches of cool water. Let them soak overnight to help soften the beans and reduce cooking time.
- Drain and Rinse Soaked Beans: In the morning, drain off the soaking water and rinse the beans again under fresh water.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Add the soaked and rinsed beans to your slow cooker. Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, then add the chopped onions, smashed garlic cloves, and green Tabasco sauce if you wish to include heat.
- Cook the Beans: Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high heat for 4 to 6 hours. Cooking time may vary depending on your slow cooker and elevation; check occasionally for desired tenderness.
- Season and Serve: Once the beans are tender, add the juice of one lime if desired. Season with salt and additional Tabasco sauce to taste. Stir well and serve warm. This recipe yields about 6 cups of cooked beans, equivalent to twelve 1/2-cup servings.
Notes
- Slow-cooked black beans flavor deeply develop and offer a deliciously creamy texture.
- Use these beans as a side dish, over rice, or anywhere canned black beans would be used.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Adding lime juice at the end brightens the flavor and adds a fresh touch.
- Adjust Tabasco sauce according to your desired level of spiciness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.5 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
