Easy Black Bean Soup

by Shelley · May contain affiliate links

Published Updated April 26, 2023

With (Optional) Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls

~ This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling, with satisfying layers of flavor that develop in just 20 minutes of cooking! And those crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls? You’ll have ’em in the oven in 3 minutes, flat … and you can even make them days in advance! True comfort food, made ultra quick and easy! ~

This Recipe Is:     Ready in 30 Minutes or Less    Freezable (the soup)    Make Ahead   

This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling - and cooks in just 20 minutes! And those crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls? You'll have 'em in the oven in 3 minutes, flat ... and you can even make them days in advance! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com
This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling - and cooks in just 20 minutes! Bonus: we've got directions for crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls that are perfect for serving this delicious soup! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com
This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling - and cooks in just 20 minutes! Bonus: we've got directions for crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls that are perfect for serving this delicious soup! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com

This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling - and cooks in just 20 minutes! And those crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls? You'll have 'em in the oven in 3 minutes, flat ... and you can even make them days in advance! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com

You'll have these crispy Baked Bread Bowls in the oven in just minutes! They're an easy make-ahead, and perfect for Mexican salads or our hearty Black Bean Soup (recipe included)! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com

Closeup of on soup-filled bread bowl in white bowl with blue-checked napkin, spoon and little bowls of toppings.

*(A little disclaimer here …) We partnered with Flatout for this sponsored post, but all opinions are entirely our own. Thanks for supporting brands that support Two Healthy Kitchens and our mission of healthy eating!

Today’s post contains a story of heartbreak (well, sort of) … and shattered dishes. (Don’t worry – it’s not actually sad, I promise!)

But before I tell you all about the silly backstory to this recipe, go ahead and check out our video tutorial to see how truly easy this Black Bean Soup is to whip up (even the super-cool bread bowls that are totally, surprisingly, NOT HARD to make)!

Video Tutorial

Psssst … and for all of you who love using a pressure cooker, be sure to check out our Instant Pot Black Bean Soup, too! Same amazing flavors as this recipe … in your pressure cooker!

Soup That Has Its Own Bowl (the Backstory)

Ah, the irony …

I’d just broken a virtually unbreakable porcelain soup bowl. Shattered it all across the floor.

Little shards of white porcelain from my favorite, everyday Williams-Sonoma set. In all of the 15 years we’ve owned that set, we’ve broken maybe one dish, plate or bowl – total. They’re beautiful … and robust. Pretty much unbreakable.

As Scott sprinted for the hand vac and Amy scooped up Finn to protect his tiny pink paws, we suddenly realized the irony …

We didn’t actually even need bowls for dinner!

Our black bean soup had its very own, built-in bowl! (Facepalm.) Right.

Bread bowl filled with soup nestled into white porcelain bowl, with toppings and blue enameled pot full of extra soup in background.

Ok, ok … I’ll admit … for some reason I still feel compelled to serve bread bowls inside a real bowl. I don’t know why … ’cause you sure don’t have to!

I mean, really … soup with a built-in bowl … a crunchy, cumin-dusted bowl? So great. Why doesn’t all soup come with its own edible bowl? Seriously, it should.

The top of these bowls is like a crispy tortilla – perfectly breakable for scooping up the thick soup inside. And at the bottom, the bowls slowly soften, absorbing the rich broth and melding perfectly with the soup for those last bites. Mmmmmmmm …

Fingers holding a broken chip from bread bowl, scooping up a bit of the black bean soup, with soup bowl and blue pot in background.

I’ve actually dreamt of concocting this soup for years. It’s sort of a riff on a Cuban-style black bean soup Scott and I sometimes order from a local restaurant. Theirs is incredibly thick – almost like a stew – and laced with just-spicy-enough sausage, all served in toasted, fluffy, carved-out bread bowls. We crave that soup.

And each time, as we virtuously try to look past the full-fat sausage and mega-serving of white-carb bread, we take heart in knowing that all the fiber-rich bean nutrition still beats the healthy heck out of most other things on the menu (ummmmm … a jumbo burger with four 4!!!! beef patties … seriously!). So we feel sort of ok about ordering it.

But still … I dreamt of recreating that craveable soup in all its thick, hearty glory … in an even healthier way. A way that we could feel more than just sort of ok about.

Overhead of cooked black bean soup in blue-enameled cast iron pot, with wooden spoon laying diagonally across pot.

I’m not sure why I waited so long because, honestly, it’s ridiculously easy! I can make this black bean soup at home any ol’ time I please! And hey – so can you!

If you’ve got half an hour, you’ve got soup!

So let’s get to work …

Ingredients on cutting board - black beans, vegetables, flatbreads and jar of bay leaves.

Making the (Make-Ahead!) Baked Bread Bowls

These look so shnazzy but are truly a total snap. They’re essentially just like the (ahem … often fried) tortilla bowls Mexican restaurants use for serving Tex-Mex salads … but ours are totally nutrition-amped (and not fried!).

We start with high-fiber, high-protein Flatout flatbreads. There are lots of flavors to choose from, but we usually use the Multi Grain with Flax. The Light Original would be terrific, too.

Collage of 3 photos showing steps in making the bread bowls.

After spraying one side of each Flatout with just a titch (that’s a formal cooking term, you know) of natural cooking spray or oil, you sprinkle it with kosher salt and cumin, and then gently press it into an oven-safe bowl (that you should NOT shatter all across your kitchen floor – just sayin’).

Next, you get to hitch up your creative pants while you shape artistic little flutes and waves all around the edges. No two ever turn out quite the same – deliciously unique!

A quick tango in the oven, and – voilà – your bowls are done!

It.is.that.easy.

Side view of 3 bread bowls stacked vertically on wood-inlaid cutting board.

I’ve seen a lot of different techniques for making baked tortilla bowls, all of which would probably adapt pretty well to making these flatbread bowls. So if you don’t have oven-safe bowls for this recipe, or if your bowls aren’t quite the right shape or size, I’ve linked to some other techniques you can try:

I’ve personally tried turning the bowl upside down and shaping the flatbread on the upturned bowl before baking – works just fine, too – I simply prefer the shape I get by placing my flatbreads inside the bowl instead. Totally up to you!

I often make my bread bowls a couple of days in advance, and I’ve been known to keep them for up to a week … I just wrap them loosely in plastic or pop them in a gallon baggie. They’re nearly as resilient as my “unbreakable” Williams-Sonoma bowls!

All that’s left to do is whip up the soup … and that takes maybe a half hour, flat. No kidding.

Building Quick Black Bean Soup Flavor

Thanks to a deliciously savory base of onions, garlic and green peppers, plus just the right combination of spices and a background of flavorful chicken sausage … this soup develops deep, rich, hearty flavor in just minutes.

Collage of 4 photos showing steps to make soup: cutting vegetables, cutting sausage, cooking veggies and sausage, adding black beans to soup pot.

You can certainly let it simmer longer if you’d like the beans to break down more, but we usually pull it off after just 15 minutes of simmering, so the beans still have great texture. The flavor develops wonderfully in even that short amount of time!

Really – it’s so quick and easy, yet captures the flavors we love from our fave restaurant black bean soup. And I feel great knowing how much more nutritious it is, too!

A tiny bit of lower-fat chicken sausage goes a long, long way, and the crispy, crunchy, fiber-loaded Flatout bread bowls are such a better alternative to the bog-you-down white bread bowls the restaurant serves.

Soup-filled bread bowl in white bowl on blue and white napkins with extra bread bowls, toppings and pot of bean soup in background.

And we don’t even have to break out the white bowls if we don’t want to (haha – break … see what I did there … 😉 )!

More Hearty, Comforting Soup Recipes …

Overhead of cooked black bean soup in blue-enameled cast iron pot, with wooden spoon laying diagonally across pot.

Easy Black Bean Soup

Yield: 5 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling ... in just 20 minutes of cooking!

  Ready in 30 Minutes or Less    Freezable  •  Make Ahead  

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped sweet onion (about 1/2 a large onion)
  • 1 (3-ounce) Italian, Cajun or Cuban-style chicken or turkey sausage link (cut into about 18 slices and then cut into quarters, to yield about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped green pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can vegetable broth (+ an optional second can, see note)
  • 4 (15-ounce) cans black beans (preferably organic or reduced-sodium), rinsed and drained
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • optional for serving: Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls (see recipe card below), reduced-fat sour cream, reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, thinly sliced green onions, and finely diced tomatoes

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot (I adore my blue dutch oven), heat oil over medium heat, swirling to coat. Add onions, sausage, green pepper, garlic, and bay leaf, and cook until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally so garlic doesn't burn.
  2. Add 1 can of broth, stirring to deglaze pan and loosen any browned bits. Then add black beans, tomato paste, salt, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring two or three times.
  3. Serve soup as desired – we suggest serving in cooled bread bowls, garnished with toppings such as reduced-fat sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, and tomatoes.

Notes

Optional Second Can of Vegetable Broth + Make-Ahead Tips: We love this soup really thick and hearty. However, if you prefer to cook your soup longer so the beans break down more, or if you need to simmer yours longer before your family is ready for dinner, you may prefer to add just a bit of additional broth to thin the soup to your desired consistency. Also, this soup will continue to thicken as it sits. It refrigerates and freezes well, so it's a great make-ahead, but when you reheat it, you may also find that you'd like to add a bit of broth at that time. That's why we recommend purchasing an optional second can of broth, but that's entirely optional and probably not necessary if the soup will all be eaten immediately after cooking.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 1/2 servings Serving Size: 1 cup of soup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 529Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 797mgCarbohydrates: 89gFiber: 31gSugar: 5gProtein: 36g

Nutrition analysis does not include optional serving suggestions, since that can vary. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.

Did You Make This Recipe?

We'd LOVE to hear! Please leave a star-rating above. And, tag us on Instagram @twohealthykitchens or use the sharing buttons below!

Side view of 3 bread bowls stacked vertically on wood-inlaid cutting board.

Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

You’ll have these easy, super-nutritious bread bowls in the oven in 3 minutes, flat … and you can even make them days in advance!

  Ready in 30 Minutes or Less    Make Ahead   

Ingredients

For Each Bread Bowl (we typically make four bowls for the amount of soup our Black Bean Soup recipe yields)

  • 1 Flatout flatbread (we recommend Multi Grain with Flax, Soft 100% Whole Wheat or Light Original)
  • all-natural cooking spray or sprayed canola oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.
  2. Lay one Flatout flatbread on work surface and spray with cooking spray or oil. Sprinkle evenly with cumin and salt, using your fingers to spread the salt and cumin in an even layer, if needed.
  3. With the sprayed/spiced side facing out, gently place the flatbread into a high-sided, oven-safe bowl, about 7 inches across.
  4. Repeat process to make additional bread bowls, if desired.
  5. Place bowl(s) in the preheated oven. (You can put them on a cookie sheet before placing them in the oven, if needed for stability.)
  6. Bake bowls for 12-14 minutes, rotating once, until the edges are lightly browned.
  7. Remove the bowls from the oven to cool, pushing the sides back into place if they've slumped or fallen during baking. Although they're still somewhat flexible and soft right out of the oven, the bowls will harden and get crispier as they cool. Cool completely for crispiest bowls.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 serving Serving Size: 1 bread bowl
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 90Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 470mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 10gSugar: 0gProtein: 7g

Nutrition information provided for Light Original Flatout. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.

Did You Make This Recipe?

We'd LOVE to hear! Please leave a star-rating above. And, tag us on Instagram @twohealthykitchens or use the sharing buttons below!

This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling - and cooks in just 20 minutes! And those crispy-crunchy Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls? You'll have 'em in the oven in 3 minutes, flat ... and you can even make them days in advance! AD | www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com

Overhead of cooked black bean soup in blue-enameled cast iron pot, with wooden spoon laying diagonally across pot.

Easy Black Bean Soup

Yield: 5 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes

This Easy Black Bean Soup is rich, hearty and filling ... in just 20 minutes of cooking!

  Ready in 30 Minutes or Less    Freezable  •  Make Ahead  

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped sweet onion (about 1/2 a large onion)
  • 1 (3-ounce) Italian, Cajun or Cuban-style chicken or turkey sausage link (cut into about 18 slices and then cut into quarters, to yield about 1/2 cup)
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped green pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can vegetable broth (+ an optional second can, see note)
  • 4 (15-ounce) cans black beans (preferably organic or reduced-sodium), rinsed and drained
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • optional for serving: Cumin-Dusted Bread Bowls (see recipe card below), reduced-fat sour cream, reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, thinly sliced green onions, and finely diced tomatoes

Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot (I adore my blue dutch oven), heat oil over medium heat, swirling to coat. Add onions, sausage, green pepper, garlic, and bay leaf, and cook until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally so garlic doesn't burn.
  2. Add 1 can of broth, stirring to deglaze pan and loosen any browned bits. Then add black beans, tomato paste, salt, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring two or three times.
  3. Serve soup as desired – we suggest serving in cooled bread bowls, garnished with toppings such as reduced-fat sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, and tomatoes.

Notes

Optional Second Can of Vegetable Broth + Make-Ahead Tips: We love this soup really thick and hearty. However, if you prefer to cook your soup longer so the beans break down more, or if you need to simmer yours longer before your family is ready for dinner, you may prefer to add just a bit of additional broth to thin the soup to your desired consistency. Also, this soup will continue to thicken as it sits. It refrigerates and freezes well, so it's a great make-ahead, but when you reheat it, you may also find that you'd like to add a bit of broth at that time. That's why we recommend purchasing an optional second can of broth, but that's entirely optional and probably not necessary if the soup will all be eaten immediately after cooking.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 1/2 servings Serving Size: 1 cup of soup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 529Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 797mgCarbohydrates: 89gFiber: 31gSugar: 5gProtein: 36g

Nutrition analysis does not include optional serving suggestions, since that can vary. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.

Did You Make This Recipe?

We'd LOVE to hear! Please leave a star-rating above. And, tag us on Instagram @twohealthykitchens or use the sharing buttons below!

51 thoughts on “Easy Black Bean Soup”

    • That’s awesome, Lily – I’m so happy to hear it! Every time I make this black bean soup, we fall in love with it all over again – but really, it’s the bread bowls that elevate it to be super fun and a little special in the middle of a busy week. Thanks for the sweet comment! 😀 ~Shelley

      Reply
    • Thanks bunches, Betsy! The bowls really are the perfect way to serve this black bean soup – it all goes perfectly together! Really glad you found it to be easy, too – I think the bowls can seem a bit daunting until you make them once, and then you realize how crazy-easy they really are. Thanks for taking a moment to comment – it’s truly appreciated! ~Shelley

      Reply
  1. Black beans are my favorite beans for soups & this is the best bowl ever!! I need a little crunch with my soups, so this is perfect!

    Reply
    • I always like a little something crunchy – or some delicious bread – to go along with my soups, too, Natalie. So yeah – I absolutely agree that these bread bowls are just the perfect companions to the black bean soup. Yum yum! ~Shelley

      Reply
    • Hi, Rach! 😀 I think that could be a really interesting idea! I’ve never tried it, but that could definitely add a nice layer of savory flavor. If you try it, we’d definitely love to hear what you think! ~Amy

      Reply

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