Chipotle Copycat Black Beans (Easy Canned Beans Recipe)
Updated Jan 18, 2026
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Skip the trip to the restaurant and make Chipotle Copycat Black Beans right at home with simple pantry ingredients. This easy recipe recreates the same savory, smoky taste using canned beans. No soaking required.
These copycat black beans are perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, salads, or meal prep throughout the week. Pair them with Chipotle copycat chicken or build a full Chipotle bowl at home with all your favorite toppings.
🐝 Quick Look: Chipotle Copycat Black Beans Recipe
- ⏱ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 25 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍽 Servings: 5 (1/2 cup servings)
- ⚡ Calories: ~177 per serving
- 🍳 Cook Method: Stovetop simmer
- 🧂 Main Ingredients: Canned black beans, onion, garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Savory and smoky
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy. One pot, mostly hands off.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like Chipotle’s black beans: These copycat black beans are savory, smoky, and perfectly seasoned with onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, bay leaves, and chipotle peppers in adobo, just like the restaurant version.
- Easy shortcut with canned beans: Using canned black beans means no soaking or long cook times.
- Perfect for burrito bowls: Spoon these black beans over a homemade Chipotle-style bowl with copycat Chipotle chicken, copycat Chipotle corn salsa, and copycat Chipotle cilantro lime rice.
- Great for meal prep: These beans reheat well and taste even better after sitting, making them ideal for weekly meal prep, lunches, and easy dinners.
- Versatile beyond bowls: Use them in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salads, or as a simple side dish for any Tex Mex inspired meal or this Mexican Inspired Salmon with Avocado Salsa.
Table of Contents
- 🐝 Quick Look: Chipotle Copycat Black Beans Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- How to Make a Chipotle Bowl at Home
- Key Ingredients
- Tips and Substitutions
- How to Make Chipotle Copycat Black Beans
- Chipotle Copycat Black Beans FAQs
- More Chipotle Copycat Recipes
- Chipotle Copycat Black Beans (Easy Canned Beans Recipe)
How to Make a Chipotle Bowl at Home
Once you’ve made the black beans, you can turn it into a complete Chipotle-style bowl at home. Start with a base of cilantro lime rice, then add your favorite protein, salsas, and toppings. Mix and match based on what you have, or recreate your exact Chipotle order.
Try it with Chipotle Copycat Chicken, Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice, Chipotle Copycat Fresh Tomato Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Tomatillo-Green Chili Salsa, Chipotle Copycat Guacamole, and Chipotle-Style Sour Cream.
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Black Beans: Use canned black beans for convenience. No need to soak or cook dried beans. This recipe is all about making it easier while still packing in flavor.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce: This ingredient typically comes in a 7 ounce can. You will only need 2 chipotle peppers and 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce for this recipe. Store the remainder in a sealed container in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
Tips and Substitutions
- Bean choice: This recipe is designed for canned black beans for convenience. Be sure to drain and rinse well to remove excess sodium and prevent a gummy texture.
- Chipotle heat level: Chipotle peppers in adobo vary in heat. Start with less and add more to taste. For milder beans, use more adobo sauce and less of the actual pepper.
- Consistency control: Simmer uncovered longer if you prefer thicker, creamier beans. Add a splash of water or broth if you want a looser, saucier texture.
- Citrus balance: Lemon and lime brighten the beans at the end. Start with the listed amounts, then adjust after simmering so the acidity doesn’t overpower the smoky flavor.
- Bay leaves: Bay leaves add subtle depth but should be removed before serving.
- Storage and reheating: Let the beans cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed.
How to Make Chipotle Copycat Black Beans
See the recipe card below for full instructions and exact amounts.
- Heat olive oil, then cook the diced onion until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant.
- Stir in the black beans, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, spices, and bay leaves. Add enough water to just cover the beans.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Let the beans cook until heated through and the flavors meld.
- Remove the bay leaves and adjust with lemon and lime juice. Season to taste, then serve warm or store for later.
Chipotle Copycat Black Beans FAQs
Chipotle uses cooked black beans that are seasoned and simmered, not served straight from a can. This copycat recipe recreates the same flavor using canned black beans, making it much faster and easier for home cooks.
Yes. This recipe is designed specifically for canned black beans, so there’s no soaking or cooking dried beans required. Draining and rinsing the beans helps control salt while still delivering the smoky, savory Chipotle flavor.
The signature smoky flavor comes from chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, along with cumin, oregano, garlic, and bay leaf. Simmering the beans in this seasoned liquid helps them absorb the bold, restaurant-style flavor.
Chipotle’s black beans are mild with a subtle smoky heat. This copycat version is easy to customize. Use less chipotle peppers and adobo sauce for very mild beans, or add more chipotle peppers and adobo sauce if you prefer extra heat.
More Chipotle Copycat Recipes
Chipotle Copycat Black Beans (Easy Canned Beans Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Yellow Onion, diced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 30 ounces Black Beans, 2 cans (drained and rinsed)
- 2 Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce, 2 peppers plus 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce
- ½ teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 2 Bay Leaves
- 2 cups Water, or enough to just cover the beans
- 1 tablespoon Lemom Juice, adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon Lime Juice, adjust to taste
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Simmer beans: Add the black beans, chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. Pour in enough water to just cover the beans and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–20 minutes, until heated through and slightly saucy.
- Finish and season: Turn off the heat and remove the bay leaves. Remove the chipotle peppers if desired. Stir in the lemon juice and lime juice, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or let cool and store.
Notes
- Bean type: Canned black beans work best for speed and convenience. Be sure to drain and rinse well to remove excess sodium and avoid a canned flavor.
- Chipotle heat: Chipotle peppers in adobo add both smokiness and heat. Start with less and add more to taste.
- Acidity balance: The combination of lemon and lime brightens the beans. Add the juices after cooking and adjust to taste.
- Resting time: Letting the beans sit off heat for 10–15 minutes allows the flavors to meld and improves overall taste.
- Make-ahead and storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Chipotle-style black beans in 30 minutes! Perfect for a burrito bowl at home.