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Vegan with Gusto » Chili

Saucy Chipotle Black Beans

Published: Feb 22, 2020 · Modified: Oct 16, 2022 by Denise Perrault · 6 Comments

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Saucy chipotle black beans is the simple and delicious recipe you’ve been looking for (even if you haven’t been looking). This easy recipe can be made in 30 minutes using canned black beans, salsa, chipotle chilis in adobo, and coconut milk.

overhead of saucy chipotle black beans in black bowl with 2 tortilla chips in bowl
Table of Contents
  • Everything you need for saucy chipotle black beans
  • Options, always options
  • Saucy!
  • Full o’beans
  • Lead the way
  • Final thoughts
white bowl of maple syrup, chipotle peppers, salsa, coconut milk, black beans and black pan of sauteed onions.

Everything you need for saucy chipotle black beans

I can honestly report that this recipe takes just a few simple ingredients that you may already have on hand. We’re talking 2 cans of black beans (unless you make your own), a chopped onion, maple syrup, and your choice of chipotle salsa, jarred and chopped chipotle peppers.

sauteed onions with chipotle peppers and salsa added

Options, always options

I used a combination of ½ cup of salsa molcajete with 2 tablespoons of jarred and diced chipotle peppers. This is my preference for this recipe. That said, I’ve got you covered if you want other solutions. However, before I dive in, let’s discuss the flavor destination we're aiming for with respect to the tomato/pepper combination.

What you want meets what you have

The first flavor for chipotle black beans is of course, chipotle. I used diced chipotle peppers that I buy in the jar. Other options include chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , chipotle salsa or in a pinch, a few teaspoons of dried chipotle peppers.

The other flavors include some combination of tomato and garlic. That’s might well get covered one-stop if you use a chipotle salsa. Good to go. You can also use regular salsa and add the chipotle peppers. Be mindful of the heat here, so you don’t make your final dish too spicy. Garlic will get covered in the salsa (usually), but you can also add a clove of minced garlic or a teaspoon of garlic powder. Options abound!

Thoughts on amounts

  1. ½ cup salsa molcajete with 1-2 tablespoons of jarred chipotle pepper puree (or dice)
  2. ½ cup of chipotle salsa (you can then eliminate the diced chipotle peppers unless you want more of that flavor)
  3. Use ½ cup of regular salsa with 1-2 tablespoons of diced chipotle peppers (or 1-2 tablespoons of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
  4. Dice a small tomato and use that to replace the salsa along with jarred chipotle salsa. You can also use just diced chipotle peppers with 1 clove of minced garlic.
2 pictures of adding coconut milk to sauteed onions, salsa and chipotle peppers

Saucy!

I used an entire can of coconut milk (the lite version) to create a creamy, saucy texture and to cool down the spice of the chipotle. I like this combination with curry dishes like Chana Masala or veggie Thai curry, so when I took a Mexican spin with the black beans, I decided coconut was ideal. It was. I sweetened it slightly with just a teaspoon of maple syrup. You can use another liquid sweetener such as agave syrup or date paste if you prefer.

black beans are simmered in black pan with coconut milk, onions, salsa and chipotle peppers

Full o’beans

After adding the coconut milk and maple syrup, move directly to black beans and allow everything to simmer for about 10 minutes. I am stressing ‘about’ here, because you have, you guess it – options. If you want a saucy dinner that you want to serve in bowls topped off with yummy garnishes, you are probably done at this point.

Other ideas for this recipe, is to keep the pot simmering until most of the coconut milk is absorbed. The longer you simmer and the more the sauce is reduced, the more intense your flavor (remember the balsamic example I did the other week?). You can even allow this to reduce to the point that you have created a great bean dip or even a new filler for tacos. Just follow your cravings.

Tortilla chip is dipped into pan of saucy chipotle black beans

Lead the way

My intention for chipotle black beans was to create a quick dinner that we’d be enjoying by the bowl. Part of the reason I got the result I wanted was because I had a vision of where I was headed. I know this sounds ‘duh’, but it’s why I kept is on the saucy side. Here’s the great news – even if you decide the first night that you want big, saucy bowls of chipotle black beans, you can reheat you leftovers (if you have them), simmer and reduce them further and oh yes, it’s taco or nacho night.

Taking a basic recipe like this one and then turning it into yet another, unique meal is one of those meal prep strategies that doesn’t take much more effort than possibly making a double batch (in the case of black beans, at least). If you don’t fancy the same flavor so frequently, you always have the option of freezing them. They are quite happy to oblige.

saucy chipotle black beans in coconut-chipotle pepper sauce in black bowl.

Final thoughts

We humans are always in choice. Even though it may not feel like it at times, we have as many options as we allow ourselves. I’m not opposed to options, but finding the best one, shouldn’t be left to chance or other factors outside your sphere of influence. It's before you lay out your options that you determine your final destination.

I identified just a few for our saucy chipotle black beans – ingredients and cooking time. But before I looked in the cupboard or started cooking so dinner would be done on time, I decided where I wanted to land. Bowls of saucy chipotle black beans. Destination confirmed, now for the map. Cooking is like planning a trip – decide where you want to go and then figure out all the ways to get there and which one works best for you. And no, you can’t wiggle your nose and just land there, so keep it real folks. Peace.

Black beans in creamy sauce of coconut milk, onion, salsa and chipotle peppers in black pan with wooden spoon
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Saucy chipotle black beans: insanely simple and delicious

Saucy chipotle black beans in black bowl overhead
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4.5 from 2 reviews

Saucy chipotle black beans is the insanely simple and delicious recipe that gets you to big bowls of plant-based healthy creaminess in 30 minutes or less.  

  • Author: Denise
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Courses
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 - 2 tbsp. chipotle pepper puree (or chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
  • ½ cup salsa molcajete or prepared mild salsa
  • 1 - 13 oz. (400 ml.) can coconut milk (I used the lite variety)
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 3 cups cooked black beans (2 - 15 oz or 400 gm. cans), rinsed and drained
  • Salt to taste (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat a pot to medium high and add the onions. Saute for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
  2. Mix in the chipotle pepper and salsa and then add the coconut milk and maple syrup.
  3. Lower the heat and cover so the sauce simmers and thickens slightly (about 10 minutes).
  4. Add the 3 cups of black beans and heat through.
  5. Simmer further to reduce the sauce if desired.
  6. Serve in bowls with extra salsa and other garnishes or serve over rice or quinoa.

Notes

  • This dish makes a satisfying bowl of creamy black beans, but you can also simmer and reduce it further to make a dip or taco filling.
  • To reheat frozen, creamy black beans, allow them to thaw and then simmer them, covered, in a saucepan for at least 15 minutes to reduce the extra moisture.
  • Be mindful of the heat of your salsa before adding the chipotle peppers. You may want to reduce the amount of the peppers or add a bit and then more after the beans cook a bit.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 big bowl
  • Calories: 225
  • Sugar: 4.1 g
  • Sodium: 292.8 mg
  • Fat: 10.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.6 g
  • Protein: 8.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Keywords: chipotle black beans

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a rating on the recipe card and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. I always appreciate your feedback 😊. You can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. Thanks for your support!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris Graz

    March 02, 2021 at 3:17 am

    This seriously changed my life. The BEST have in your pantry and can throw together any time recipe. Great combo of what you put together.






    Reply
    • Denise

      March 02, 2021 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind comments! I am SO happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe - and it's fantastic to have a few reliable dishes you can make up from what you have on hand. Again, your comments are much appreciated. Cheers!

      Reply
  2. Gretha Lindwood

    March 03, 2021 at 8:53 pm

    Tasty, quick and easy to make.






    Reply
    • Denise

      March 04, 2021 at 12:27 am

      Thanks for your kind comments. I am so jazzed that you liked this. Tasty and quick - always a winner!

      Reply
  3. Debra Jones

    January 25, 2022 at 10:07 pm

    I am watching my fat intake on my WPB adventure. Anything you could sub for the coconut milk? Maybe unsweetened almond milk?

    Reply
    • Denise

      January 25, 2022 at 10:38 pm

      Hi, almond or oat milk are great substitutes. I use plant milk with a few drops of coconut extract as a coconut milk substitute a lot these days. It works great. Cheers, Denise

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Denise Perrault. Welcome to Vegan with Gusto, your destination for wholesome vegan recipes that anyone can make and everyone will enjoy. With qualifications in plant-based nutrition and professional plant-based cooking, and as a certified Food for Life instructor, I aim to share the joy and ease of vegan cooking.

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