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Slow Cooker Black Beans

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

March 9, 2025

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5 from 1 vote

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These Slow Cooker Black Beans are easy to make and taste so much better than the canned version! No soaking required. Perfect for meal prep or as a side dish to your favorite tacos, salads, or protein bowls.

Black beans in white bowl with spoon.

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Cooked beans in jar next to slow cooker.

Table of Contents

  • Slow cooker black beans vs. canned black beans
  • Ingredients needed
  • No pre-soaking required!
  • How to make beans in the slow cooker
  • Recipe tips & tricks
  • How to use black beans
  • Full Recipe

Slow cooker black beans vs. canned black beans

I always have a few cans of black beans in the pantry, just in case. They’re a great addition to so many of my favorite recipes, like this Southwest Chicken Salad or my Quinoa Taco Bowls.

And while canned beans are easy to reach for, they simply just don’t taste as good as cooking your own slow cooker black beans. Plus, dried black beans are much cheaper than canned beans.

Ingredients needed

  • Dry Black Beans
  • Shallot
  • Garlic
  • Bay Leaf
  • Salt
Dried black beans in bowl.

No pre-soaking required!

That’s right, you don’t need to soak your black beans before cooking them in the crockpot! Simply rinse them and check for any stones, then add them to the slow cooker.

How to make beans in the slow cooker

One of the best things about this slow cooker recipe is that it is so simple — just 3 steps and you’re done! Season, cook, and serve.

Add everything to the slow cooker

First, you want to gather all of your ingredients, including dry beans (that have been rinsed and sorted), a shallot, garlic, bay leaves, and water, then add them all to the crock pot.

Black beans in strainer.
All ingredients in crockpot.

Let the slow cooker do its magic

Next, place the lid on the slow cooker and set to cook. Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, testing at the 3 hour point. Or, cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, testing the beans at the 6 hour point.

Cooked black beans in spoon over slow cooker.

Add the salt

Once the beans are tender, add the salt and let the beans sit, covered (on WARM), for another 20-30 minutes, to absorb the salt. Remove the shallot, crush the garlic cloves with a fork and stir them into the beans, and strain off any remaining liquid. Season with additional salt, to taste. Enjoy!

Finished cooked beans.

Recipe tips & tricks

  • If you need more, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled! And if you make too much, no worries — you can freeze it for quite some time (see my next tip).
  • If you want to meal prep, you can cook these beans and then store in the freezer for up to 2 months. I like to portion the beans into freezer bags and freeze them flat (this makes for easier + quicker defrosting). When ready to use, defrost the bag of beans in a bowl of warm water (it will take about 30 minutes).
  • If you have leftovers, you can store your black beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How to use black beans

  • Mexican Black Beans
  • Black Bean Curry
  • Sweet Potato Chili with Black Beans
  • Southwest Chicken Salad
  • Migas
Overhead shot of black beans in jar.
Side view of slow cooker beans in jar.
Cooked beans on spoon.

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Did you try these slow cooker black beans?

If you loved this crock pot black beans recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

PS – You may also love these Instant Pot Black Beans.

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Save Recipe – Before Recipe Card

Black beans in white bowl with spoon.

Full Recipe

Slow Cooker Black Beans

These Slow Cooker Black Beans are easy to make and taste so much better than the canned version! No soaking required. Perfect for meal prep or as a side dish to your favorite tacos, salads, or protein bowls.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Serves 9 servings
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 3 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 pound bag dry black beans (rinsed and sorted)
  • 1 shallot (peeled and left whole (optional))
  • 4 cloves garlic (peeled and left whole (optional))
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 8 cups water
  • 1 Tablespoon kosher salt (plus more to taste )

Instructions

  • Add beans, shallot, garlic, bay leaf, and water to the slow cooker.
  • Cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, testing at the 3 hour point. Or, cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, testing the beans at the 6 hour point.
  • Add the salt, cover, and cook on WARM for another 20-30 minutes, to absorb the salt.
  • Remove the shallot and bay leaf, crush the garlic cloves with a fork and stir them into the beans, and strain off any remaining liquid. Season with additional salt, to taste. Enjoy!

Notes

  • If all of the water has been absorbed, add more. The beans must stay completely submerged to prevent them from burning.
  • If you need more, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled! And if you make too much, no worries — you can freeze it for quite some time (see my next tip).
  • If you want to meal prep, you can cook these beans and then store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to add them to your favorite dish, you can just take out what you need and continue freezing the rest.
  • If you have leftovers, you can store your beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 416mg | Potassium: 762mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

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