Our 15 Best Black Bean Recipes for Lunch

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Published on April 9, 2024

Overhead view of a white bowl of Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl recipe on a reddish brown tile tabletop — Photo:
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco

Keep some black beans on hand to make some of our most delicious lunches. The soft texture and mild flavor of the nutrient-rich legume makes it taste great in each of these dishes, from soups and salads to burgers and grain bowls. It’s no wonder why recipes like our Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl and Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes have earned four- and five-star reviews from EatingWell readers.

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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

Overhead view of a white bowl of Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl recipe on a reddish brown tile tabletop — Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.

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Black Bean Fajita Skillet

Black Bean Fajita Skillet

You can often find presliced and ready-to-cook fresh vegetables in your grocer's produce section. Use these to your advantage to cut down on dinnertime prep. Here, presliced fajita vegetables are sautéed with canned black beans and Southwest seasoning for a quick and easy Tex Mex-inspired meal. Plus, this recipe requires just three ingredients, not including basics like salt, pepper and oil. You can easily take your bowl up a notch by adding some cheese, sour cream or another tasty topping.

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Black Bean Breakfast Bowl

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Black Bean Breakfast Bowl — Ali Redmond

While eggs offer plenty of protein, you can make a satisfying, high-protein breakfast without them. This breakfast bowl includes black beans, yogurt and Monterey Jack cheese, providing 15 grams of protein to keep you feeling full and energized throughout the morning.

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Quinoa-Black Bean Salad

a recipe photo of the Quinoa-Black Bean Salad — Alison Miksch

Enjoy this quinoa and black bean salad as a delicious and quick vegetarian main dish or as a side for grilled chicken or steak. And don't forget the leftovers! They make an easy lunch on the go.

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Black Bean Quesadillas

In a hurry? These satisfying quesadillas take just 15 minutes to make. We like them with black beans, but pinto beans work well too. If you like a little heat, be sure to use pepper Jack cheese in the filling. Serve with: A little sour cream and a mixed green salad.

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Black Bean Wraps with Greens & Cilantro Vinaigrette

Black Bean Wraps with Greens & Cilantro Vinaigrette — Jason Donnelly

A simple salad tossed with a tangy vinaigrette packs these no-cook wraps with tons of bright cilantro flavor. The mix pairs well with mashed beans and avocado, which hold everything together.

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Black Bean-Cauliflower "Rice" Bowl

Black Bean-Cauliflower "Rice" Bowl

This aromatic cauliflower rice bowl comes together in minutes and is a simple meal for one. Using frozen riced cauliflower instead of rice reduces the carb content—and makes for quicker prep.

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Black Bean-Avocado Torta

In this Mexican-style torta, a hollowed-out roll is filled with mashed spiced black beans and guacamole for a satisfying vegetarian dish. Cabbage provides a delicious crunch. Take this recipe to another level (and add calcium) by melting Monterey Jack cheese onto the bean side of the sandwich.

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Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic trades beans for some of the meat to bump up fiber by 7 grams. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe makeover to save you 12 grams of added sugar.

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Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup

Loaded Black Bean Nacho Soup

Jazz up a can of black bean soup with your favorite nacho toppings, such as cheese, avocado and fresh tomatoes. A bit of smoked paprika adds a bold flavor kick, but you can swap in any warm spices you prefer, such as cumin or chili powder. Look for a soup that contains no more than 450 mg sodium per serving.

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Beef and Black Bean Wraps

Whole-wheat tortillas and black beans make this sandwich recipe a filling, high-fiber meal with a snappy, south-of-the-border appeal.

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Black Bean Soup

This is a zippy Southwestern-flavored black bean soup. We make it with canned beans so it comes together in minutes. If you have leftovers, pack them up in individual serving containers for lunch the next day.

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Black Bean-Queso Wraps

These easy wraps are filled with black beans, corn, red pepper and creamy queso. They cook up quickly in a panini press.

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Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl

Simple brown rice and black beans serve as the backdrop for sautéed veggies and taco toppings!

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Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls

Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls

Meal-prep a week's worth of delicious and satisfying high-fiber lunches with just 5 simple ingredients and 20 minutes. In this Southwestern-style pasta salad, we're using pasta made with black beans to bump up the fiber to an impressive 14 grams per serving. Paired with seasoned chicken strips and a flavorful corn salad--shortcut ingredients you can often find at your local specialty grocery store--this meal-prep lunch is one you'll get excited for.

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