Cheesy Vegetarian

25+ Vegetarian Black Bean Recipes

I love making these little recipe round-ups. Sometimes I can get into a rut of always using certain ingredients in the same way, so it’s always fun to realise quite how many different ways something can be used – and black beans are one of the most versatile ingredients in my kitchen!

From hearty casseroles and stews to fresh salads and burgers, and of course all of my Tex-Mex favourites – here are over 25 vegetarian black bean recipes that will inspire you to get straight into the kitchen. Make sure you bookmark this list so you can work your way through alllll of these vegetarian black bean recipes at your leisure!

Collage showing vegetarian black bean recipes with text overlay.

❓ What are Black Beans Like?

Black beans are undoubtedly my favourite type of bean – they’re small and soft, and add a nice richness to your cooking. I find they have more flavour than most other types of beans.

They’re perfect as the star of the show or merely in the background, and they go perfectly in one of my favourite cuisines – Mexican!

Plus, like other beans, they’re full of fibre and protein, and low in fat – the perfect little nugget.

🥫 Should I use Dried or Canned Black Beans?

I exclusively use canned black beans in my cooking. You can buy tins that are literally just black beans in water, so health-wise it’s much the same as cooking your dried black beans from scratch. Just be aware that some brands do have added salt, which you might want to avoid, or at least bear in mind while you’re cooking.

Cooking dried beans from scratch is cheaper than using canned black beans (great if you’re cooking on a budget), but obviously soaking and boiling them takes a bit more effort. It also requires some forethought – you can’t let it get to 7pm and then suddenly decide you want to soak some dried black beans for 6 hours before dinner.

So, it depends on what you’d prefer to prioritise – cost or convenience. All of my vegetarian black bean recipes use canned beans, which makes them relatively quick recipes, but feel free to soak and cook dried black beans from scratch if you prefer, then cook the recipe as written.

Without further ado, here are the recipes! I’ve split them into sections to help you find what you’re looking for.

🍜 Black Bean Soups and Stews

Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

This black bean soup is a really easy slow cooker recipe – no pre-cooking required! Plus, it has heaps of hidden vegetables, which melt away into the soup as it cooks.

Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

A hearty, healthy slow cooker black bean soup that’s packed with vegetables, and only takes a few minutes to prepare!

Total time: 5 15

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Tomato and Black Bean Stew

This simple stew is made with black beans and a rich tomato sauce. I love this served any number of ways – with rice, over a jacket potato, or just on its own with some tortilla chips to scoop it up!

Vegan Tomato and Black Bean Stew

A super easy vegan black bean stew, with a rich tomato sauce and beautiful spices. This is such a versatile recipe!

Total time: 30

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Vegan tomato and black bean stew on a plate with rice and lettuce.

Creamy Three Bean Stew

I love how versatile this bean stew recipe is. You can pretty much throw in whatever vegetables and canned beans you already have in the kitchen, and it works out well every time. I’ve never made it the same way twice!

Creamy Three Bean Stew

This creamy three bean stew is the ideal healthy comfort food – with fresh veg and three types of beans, in a luxurious creamy tomato sauce!

Total time: 50

Servings: 4

Get the recipe here!

Vegetarian Savoury Mince

Savoury mince is a classic British recipe, and this vegetarian version makes such a hearty plate of comfort food.

Vegetarian savoury mince

A hearty, wintery dinner – homemade vegetarian mince cooked in a thick, rich gravy with vegetables.

Total time: 35

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Vegan Taco Soup (with Crispy Tortilla Strips)

This vegan soup is inspired by my favourite vegetarian tacos or fajitas, packed with vegetables, black beans and spices. It’s also topped with crispy tortilla strips – like a Tex-Mex version of a crouton!

Bowlful of vegan taco soup with avocado and crispy tortilla strips.

Vegan Taco Soup (with Crispy Tortilla Strips)

This vegan taco soup uses simple ingredients, but is packed with flavour – and some crispy tortilla strips give that crunchy taco vibe!

Total time: 40

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Vegan taco soup in a bowl topped with avocado and tortilla strips.

🍲 Black Bean Casseroles and Bakes

One Pot Baked Fajita Rice

This fajita rice is an easy one pot meal that all cooks up together in the oven – even the raw vegetables and uncooked rice! I love it served with guacamole and sour cream.

Cheesy baked rice with vegetables and black beans.

One Pot Baked Fajita Rice

This vegetarian baked fajita rice all cooks in one pot, so it couldn’t be easier! It has plenty of vegetables and a tasty cheesy topping.

Total time: 1

Servings: 4 people

Get the recipe here!

A large spoon taking a scoop of cheesy baked fajita rice.

Roasted Vegetable Enchilada Casserole

If rolling enchiladas seems like too much fuss, try an enchilada casserole instead – it’s a lot quicker and less fiddly to make. This recipe only needs about 15 minutes of effort!

Roasted Vegetable Enchilada Casserole

This enchilada casserole tastes like my favourite vegetarian enchiladas, but only takes 15 minutes of effort – no rolling or layering! The perfect veggie-packed comfort food.

Total time: 1

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Enchilada Stuffed Pasta Shells

I love fusion food, where you combine different cuisines to make something a bit special. These enchilada stuffed shells combine my two all-time favourites – Italian and Tex-Mex.

Enchilada stuffed pasta shells

The perfect fusion of Tex-Mex and Italian – giant pasta shells stuffed with a creamy black bean mixture, and covered in a simple homemade enchilada sauce.

Total time: 1 10

Servings: 4 people

Get the recipe here!

Mexican Bean and Potato Bake

This Tex-Mex potato bake is one of my all-time most popular recipes, for good reason! I actually used kidney beans in this version of the recipe, but I regularly make it with black beans instead.

Mexican Bean and Potato Bake

This Mexican bean and potato bake is a hearty, satisfying one pot dinner with plenty of fresh veg!

Total time: 1 35

Servings: 4 people

Get the recipe here!

Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas

This is my go-to simple enchilada recipe, as it’s easy to make and always delicious! They’re stuffed with a no-cook black bean and spinach mixture, and coated in my quick homemade enchilada sauce.

A portion of black bean enchiladas on a plate with salad and sour cream.

Spinach and Black Bean Enchiladas

These tasty spinach and black bean enchiladas are the perfect vegetarian Tex-Mex dish – they’re spicy, cheesy, and super comforting.

Total time: 55

Servings: 2 people

Get the recipe here!

Vegetarian enchiladas on a plate with black beans and sour cream.

Spicy Bean Hotpot with Crispy Potato Topping

We Brits love a good hotpot, and this bean hotpot is super satisfying. It’s topped with crispy slices of potato and baked to perfection.

Spicy bean hotpot with crispy potato topping

A tasty bean hotpot with a spicy sauce and crispy potato topping.

Total time: 1 30

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Cheesy Bean Bake

Rice, beans, rich tomato sauce, all topped with crispy cheese… this one is really irresistible, and is perfect for cooking for a crowd!

Cheesy bean bake

This cheesy bean bake is the perfect vegetarian crowd-pleaser! With cheesy beans, rice and a rich tomato sauce.

Total time: 1 20

Servings: 6 people

Get the recipe here!

🍛 Black Bean Chillis and Curries

Black Bean and Halloumi Chilli

This easy vegetarian chilli contains another of my all-time favourite ingredients – halloumi cheese! If you could represent me as a plate of food, this would probably be it.

Black Bean and Halloumi Chilli

This black bean and halloumi chilli is so easy to make, and is packed with flavour, and little squidgy nuggets of halloumi cheese!

Total time: 30

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

Easy Mushroom and Black Bean Chilli

This is designed to be a really, really easy recipe – it’s really quick to make, and makes two perfect portions. It would be great for students!

Easy mushroom and black bean chilli

This mushroom and black bean chilli is perfect for students or anyone cooking for one – it’s easy to make, with only a few ingredients, and makes two perfect portions. Simple and tasty!

Total time: 25

Servings: 2 people

Get the recipe here!

🥗 Black Bean Salads

Creamy Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy caviar is a simple bean salad that’s bursting with far more flavour than it has any right to! I made a creamy avocado dressing for mine, and it’s totally vegan.

Creamy Cowboy Caviar (with Avocado Dressing)

This creamy cowboy caviar is an irresistible version of a simple bean salad, with fresh flavours and a creamy avocado dressing.

Total time: 15

Servings: 6 people

Get the recipe here!

A hand scooping creamy cowboy caviar with a tortilla chip.

Roasted Black Bean Taco Salad

If you think you’re not a salad person, try one topped with crispy roasted black beans and an avocado dressing – so good.

Roasted Black Bean Taco Salad

Roasted black bean taco salad with avocado lime dressing – a healthy vegan Mexican inspired recipe. The spicy beans add a great crunch!

Total time: 35

Servings: 2

Get the recipe here!

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad with Tahini Dressing

There are so many tasty flavours in this simple quinoa salad – and it’s packed with goodness too.

Sweet potato quinoa salad with tahini dressing

Sweet potato quinoa salad with a creamy tahini dressing – so delicious, so healthy, so easy to adapt depending on what you have in the fridge!

Total time: 55

Servings: 4

Get the recipe here!

Black Bean and Walnut Lettuce Wraps

I love this simple vegetarian taco ‘meat’ served in lettuce wraps (or wrap it up in taco shells if you prefer!).

Black bean and walnut taco-style lettuce wraps

These vegan lettuce wraps are stuffed with black bean and walnut taco ‘meat’ – best served with plenty of your favourite taco toppings!

Total time: 10

Servings: 2

Get the recipe here!

🌮 Black Bean Burritos, Tacos, etc.

Spicy Black Bean Burritos

This is my go-to vegetarian burrito recipe, stuffed with rice, beans, veggies and cheese. You can adjust the fillings depending on whatever you like!

Spicy Black Bean Burritos

These simple black bean burritos are packed with my favourite Tex-Mex flavours, and they can be easily adapted to suit your preferences.

Total time: 25

Servings: 4 burritos

Get the recipe here!

Black Bean and Walnut Tacos

These tacos are heaped high with an easy vegetarian taco ‘meat’ made with walnuts and beans. I’ve used this combination loads of times and it never fails!

Black bean and walnut tacos

These black bean and walnut tacos are quick and easy to make, with a simple homemade vegetarian taco ‘meat’ and plenty of extra toppings!

Total time: 20

Servings: 6 tacos

Get the recipe here!

Veggie Burrito Bowls

If tortillas aren’t your thing, try burrito bowls instead! They’re especially good topped with all your favourite Tex-Mex toppings, like guacamole and grated cheese.

Veggie burrito bowls

These veggie burrito bowls are the perfect easy Tex-Mex dinner – especially when they’re piled up with your favourite toppings!

Total time: 30

Servings: 2 people

Get the recipe here!

Mushroom and Black Bean Smothered Burritos

If there’s anything better than a vegetarian burrito, it’s a smothered burrito. These are coated in a wonderful jalapeño sour cream sauce.

Mushroom and black bean smothered burritos

These vegetarian smothered burritos are the ultimate Mexican dinner – soft tortillas stuffed with a rich mushroom and black bean mixture, and smothered with a jalapeño sour cream sauce!

Total time: 50

Servings: 4 burritos

Get the recipe here!

🍔 Other Vegetarian Black Bean Recipes

Ricotta and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed peppers are filled with an irresistibly creamy black bean and ricotta mixture. Best of all, it requires no pre-cooking – just stuff and bake!

A yellow pepper stuffed with creamy ricotta and black beans on a plate with rice and tomato sauce.

Creamy Ricotta and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers

Super creamy ricotta and black bean stuffed peppers with a seriously simple no-cook filling! These are so quick and easy to make.

Total time: 50

Servings: 4 pieces

Get the recipe here!

Enchilada Noodles

I come back to this recipe again and again, because it’s so easy, even if you’re just cooking for one or two people. And it’s delicious too!

Enchilada noodles

These enchilada noodles are a quick and easy pasta dish with lots of flavour – perfect with plenty of Tex-Mex style toppings!

Total time: 15

Servings: 1 person

Get the recipe here!

Roasted Black Beans

If you’ve never tried roasting black beans, you’re missing out! I love cooking up a batch of roasted beans to use as a tasty topping on salads.

How to Roast Black Beans

Black beans are my favourite bean, and they can be even better when they’re roasted! Here’s how to roast black beans, using a simple Cajun-style spice mix.

Total time: 30

Servings: 4 portions

Get the recipe here!

Black Bean and Lentil Vegetarian Koftas

These veggie koftas are so easy to make (no fuss, just mix and bake!), and are so tasty served with couscous, salad and tzatziki.

Black bean and lentil vegetarian koftas

These tasty vegetarian koftas couldn’t be easier to make, with no pre-cooking required! Plus, they can be served in all sorts of different ways.

Total time: 40

Servings: 3 people

Get the recipe here!

🧾 Top Tips for Cooking with Black Beans

If you’re using canned black beans, make sure to check the ingredients before you buy. Ideally, find a brand that includes just black beans and water, rather than ones that contain a lot of added salt.
To stop your black beans from sticking in the can, give them a good shake before opening. This helps to loosen the beans.
If you find beans (and other pulses) sometimes give you gas, make sure you rinse the beans thoroughly before using them, as this removes a lot of the gas-inducing compounds.

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Cheesy Vegetarian

Easy Mediterranean Lentil Meatballs

Don’t you just love it when a recipe is as simple as ‘mix + bake’? No pre-cooking, no unnecessary extra steps – just mix together all of the ingredients, and pop it in the oven. And that’s just the case for these vegetarian lentil meatballs (lentil balls? vegeballs? meatlessballs?). They couldn’t be easier.

Other easy ‘mix and bake’ recipes → easy nut roast; baked fajita rice; Boursin pasta.

Vegetarian Mediterranean lentil meatballs served with spaghetti and tomato sauce.

I served my lentil balls with spaghetti and tomato sauce – spaghetti and meatballs is such a classic that’s hard to improve on. If you prefer, you could equally serve these vegetarian meatballs with couscous and tzatziki, stuffed into pitta bread, or even just eaten straight from the oven (no judgment here). They’re packed with Mediterranean-inspired flavours, and they’re super versatile.

Mediterranean lentil meatballs on a baking tray.

What’s in these Lentil Meatballs?

The basic recipe for these lentil meatballs is canned lentils + flour + egg (the same base I used for my cheesy lentil burgers). Once you’ve got that far, you can jazz things up however you like. I added:

black olives
sun-dried tomatoes
parmesan-style cheese
fresh basil
garlic

If you like, you could easily switch things up to bring a different flavour profile to your meatballs – maybe you could make a Tex-Mex version, or use some Indian spices, for example.

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Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make these vegetarian meatballs. See the printable recipe card below for detailed ingredient quantities.

cooked lentils. I used lentils from a can, because they’re so convenient – just drain them well, and they’re ready to use. If you can’t get canned lentils, you can boil dried brown or green lentils until they’re soft, then continue with the recipe as written. I would not recommend using red lentils for this recipe, as they will not give quite the same end result.
eggs
plain flour (I used wholemeal for extra fibre)
sun-dried tomatoes
black olives
parmesan-style cheese. ‘Real’ parmesan isn’t vegetarian, but there are plenty of vegetarian alternatives, which are very similar. Often, supermarkets sell a generic ‘Italian hard cheese’, which is usually vegetarian.
fresh basil
garlic granules

Spaghetti with tomato sauce and Mediterranean lentil meatballs.

Printable Instructions

Mediterranean Lentil Meatballs

Easy vegetarian lentil meatballs, made extra tasty with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients. These are so simple – just mix and bake!

Course Main meal

Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings meatballs

Calories 216kcal

Author Becca Heyes

Ingredients

2 x 390g tins green lentils, thoroughly drained (470g, or ~ 2 2/3 cups, in total when drained)
2 eggs
2 Tablespoons sliced black olives, roughly chopped
5 pieces sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
50 g (~ 1/2 cup) finely grated vegetarian parmesan-style cheese
1 teaspoon garlic granules
Few sprigs fresh basil, roughly chopped
85 g (~ 2/3 cup) plain flour (I used wholemeal)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F). Add all of the ingredients, except for the flour, to a large mixing bowl. Use a fork to mix the ingredients thoroughly. It’s fine if the lentils get a little mashed up.
Add the flour, and mix well to combine.
Lightly grease a baking sheet. Use clean hands to form the mixture into ball shapes, and place them on the tray. The mixture will be quite sticky – they don’t have to be perfect balls. I managed to get 25 balls from the mixture.
Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, until the lentil balls are slightly crispy and just firm.
Serve with spaghetti and tomato sauce, if desired.

Nutrition

Recipe FAQs

Can I prepare these lentil balls in advance?

You could certainly mix together the ingredients in advance, and then store the mixture in a sealed container in the fridge for a day or so, until you’re ready to shape and bake the balls. The meatballs are tastiest when freshly baked, but if needed, you could even bake them in advance, and then reheat when you’re ready to eat them.

Can I freeze these lentil meatballs?

I didn’t experiment with freezing these balls, but it’s the sort of recipe I have had luck with freezing in the past, so I definitely think it’s worth a try.

How should I reheat leftover vegetarian meatballs?

The easiest way to reheat these lentil meatballs is in the microwave. They do dry out a little and lose their crispiness when reheated, but they’re still tasty. Alternatively, you could re-crisp them in the oven or air fryer.

How should I serve vegetarian lentil balls?

I served my meatballs with spaghetti and tomato sauce, which worked beautifully. You could alternatively serve them stuffed into pitta bread with some tzatziki, or alongside some mashed potato.