Chipotle Black Beans (Copycat)
Our Chipotle black beans copycat recipe is easy to make ahead or use for your weekly meal prep. Learn how to cook these Mexican beans from scratch on the stove using a Dutch oven. Serve over rice, or put in soft tacos or burritos for a healthy and delicious meal.
Servings: 14 cups
Calories: 124kcal
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 cups yellow onion chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 4 cups dried black beans sorted and rinsed (2 pounds)
- 4 bay leaves
- 2 chipotle chili peppers
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 2 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 ½ teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
- 8 cups filtered water
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a heavy bottomed Dutch oven over medium high heat, heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Saute the onion for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, usually a minute. Remove from the heat.
- Sort and rinse the dried black beans in a metal sieve, then drain them in a metal colander. Dump them into the Dutch oven. There is no need to pre-soak, since they'll be cooked with a little extra water and for a longer time.
- Add the bay leaves, chipotle chili peppers, adobo sauce, cumin, oregano, and the water. We used 8 cups and didn't have to add anymore during the simmering.
- Cover the Dutch oven and bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 ½ hours or until tender. Stir the beans every 15 minutes so they don't stick on the bottom and to help them cook evenly.
- During the last 15 minutes of cooking, remove the bay leaves and the chipotle chili peppers, then add the salt and the black pepper. Stir to combine.
- When the beans are tender, remove the Dutch oven from the heat and allow it to cool for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the freshly squeezed lime and lemon juice, and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or cilantro. Serve while still warm.
Notes
- Want to save time? Don't pre-soak the beans; just increase the water and cooking time.
- No sticking? Stir every 15 minutes to prevent them from sticking to the bottom, and promotes even cooking.
- Want a smoky flavor? Use chipotle chili peppers and adobo sauce for Chipotle's famous smoky flavor.
- Chef secret: Use lime juice and lemon juice to add balance and bright flavor to this dish.
- Want even cooking? Use a heavy bottomed pot like a Dutch oven.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 452mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
