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Quick and Easy Black Bean Soup

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Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

There’s nothing like a warm bowl of black bean soup when you need comfort food in a hurry. This recipe is simple, hearty, and packed with flavor—without the fuss of soaking beans for hours.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you make black bean soup quickly?
Make quick black bean soup by simmering canned black beans with stock, onions, celery, garlic, bacon, cumin, and a splash of lemon juice. It’s ready in about 20 minutes and delivers hearty, flavorful results without soaking dried beans.

Using pantry staples like canned black beans and dehydrated veggies, you’ll have a satisfying meal ready in minutes. It’s budget-friendly, filling, and perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.

Black Bean soup with a dollop of sour cream in a square bowl with a dark interior

Top of Recipe

Black Bean Soup Recipe

Ingredients

salt* and pepper to taste, add a blob of sour cream for garnish

Instructions

  1. Re-hydrate the onions, celery, and garlic - and drain well.
  2. Cook the bacon in a saucepan, take it out when cooked, and let it cool so you can crumble it up later.
  3. Add the re-hydrated items to the pan and the bacon grease, and cook for about five minutes.
  4. Add the cup of vegetable stock.
  5. Add the two cans of beans, but drain them first - no need to rinse them. 
  6. Add the Worcestershire Sauce and ketchup, plus the crumbled bacon.
  7. Stir together well, simmer for ten minutes. 
  8. Add the lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, and stir again... 
  9. Serve with a blob of sour cream. Yummy!

*IF you need to add salt, do so, BUT be careful NOT to over-salt as the bouillon has salt in it.

Nutrition Information

  • Servings: 6 servings
  • Calories: 227kcals
  • Fat: 1.9g
  • Protein: 13g
  • Carbohydrates: 40.8g
Bottom of Recipe

Swap in Fresh Ingredients (Simple Conversions)

If you want to use fresh ingredients that you may have on hand, do this:

Onion, celery, garlic

Exchange the dry ingredients in the recipe, above, for these fresh ingredients listed below!

  • 1/2 a large onion, peeled and sliced
  • 1 celery stalk, sliced
  • 3 slices fresh elephant garlic, or 2 small "regular sized" garlic cloves

Flavor Boost: Why Lemon Juice (and Bacon!) Make It Better

...and the bacon really adds to the depth!

A little note here about beans. If you prefer to suffer from less gas—and who wouldn't?—consider rinsing the beans first.

This takes away most of the gaseous effect of the beans. Just grab your sieve and rinse the beans under the kitchen faucet... how easy is that no-gas-solution?!

Black bean soup topped with mint sprig, in a white bowl

Where Black Bean Soup Comes From + Popular Variations

Black bean soup is a traditional dish that is popular in Latin American countries. It is made with black beans, vegetables, and spices and is typically served with rice on the side or tortillas.

How about crispy tortilla chips or salsa? Cheese is a good go-to addition, and let's not forget about topping it off with sour cream.

For those who like it hot: add a dash of hot sauce, and to cool your mouth down: add a lime wedge!

Can You Add Meat to Black Bean Soup? (Pros & Cons)

Quick Question: Do folks add meat to black bean soup?

Quick answer: No. It's typically made with vegetables only.

However, you can add meat if you want to! Some common additions include chicken, beef, or pork. In doing so, to me, that would begin to resemble chili! (Without the heat, of course!)

Best Sides for Black Bean Soup (Bread, Rice & More)

Make your own bread to serve with this delicious soup! Yes, you can make delicious great-tasting bread at home. We have two great sources: Anita and this beginner recipe based on Breadworld's beginner recipe... yummy!


Want More Meals Made With Dehydrated Food?

20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes eBook or Paperback

My collection of
20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes shows you how to turn dehydrated ingredients into meals your family will genuinely want to eat.

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Recipes include pizza, shepherd’s pie, beef stew, cauliflower soup and mash, carrot soup, carrot cake, cranberry-pineapple pie, and more.

Fresh-ingredient amounts are included, too.

See All 20 Recipes


What Are Black Beans? Nutrition, Names & Fun Facts

Black beans, loose

Black beans are a type of legume that is high in protein and fiber, and they have a delicious, nutty flavor.

Their smooth, creamy texture makes them an important ingredient in many dishes around the world.

They are native to South America and Central America. They're also known as "turtle beans," "Brazilian beans," and "black turtle beans."

More Easy Soups You’ll Love (Reader Favorites)

If you love soup as much as I do, then check out these fantastic, easy soup recipes:

Cauliflower Soup

Silky, cozy, and weeknight-easy.

Celery and Potato Soup

Creamy comfort with simple staples.

Chicken Noodle Soup

A classic that always hits the spot.

Green Split Pea Soup

Hearty, smoky, slow-cooker friendly.

Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

Bright, zesty, and feel-good fresh.

Lentil Soup ~ Classic

Protein-packed and budget-friendly.

Tasty Tuna Fish Soup

Surprisingly satisfying and fast.

Vegetable Soup

All-veggie goodness, any season.

Velvety Pea Soup

Classic, creamy, and kid-approved.

All of these tasty soup recipes are available in our 20 Taste-Tested Easy Recipes eBook/Paperback! Treat yourself today.

Your Black Bean Soup Questions, Answered

Can I freeze leftover black bean soup?

Yes! Let the soup cool, then store in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove.

What can I substitute for bacon in this recipe?

You can skip bacon for a vegetarian version or swap in smoked paprika for a smoky flavor without the meat.

How do I thicken black bean soup?

Mash a portion of the beans with a spoon or immersion blender, then stir back into the pot for a naturally creamy texture.

Black bean soup is just one of many easy, comforting meals you can make with pantry staples.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss your free 5 Dried Food Recipes You'll Actually Love PDF below. Inside, you’ll get my favorites—carrot soup, minestrone soup, split pea soup, spicy beef jerky, and banana cinnamon rolls—all tried, tested, and perfect for busy cooks.

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

← Get your free copy now!

5 Free Dried Food Recipes
That Actually Taste Great

5 Easy Dried Food Recipes free PDF

Put your dried food to delicious use!
Five very different recipes.
Not one dull bite...

Get your free copy now!

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Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

Test Your Food-Dehydrating
Know-How

Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

Play “Save the Harvest”

Test Your Food-Dehydrating
Know-How

Save the Harvest food dehydrating game featuring jars of dried bananas, beets, mushrooms, peas, and corn.

Choose a food, make the right preparation, drying, and storage decisions—and see how many stars you can earn!

Play “Save the Harvest”