The best canned black beans have a firm exterior, creamy interior, and pleasant earthy taste. Canned black beans are a blank canvas for your cooking style; they take on aromatics and seasoning incredibly well and swell with flavor. But not all canned black beans are good. Some are dry and grainy. Others are just way too salty. Whether you’re making Cuban-style beans and rice or a Chipotle-style burrito bowl, the quality of the beans matters.
In two separate taste tests, we tried 20 different brands and styles of black beans from the can (or bag), and judged them on texture and flavor. We didn’t rule out flavored black beans—as long as they still retained their bean form. In other words: No refried black beans. But in our second taste test, we did add low sodium black beans to the mix. Here are the best black beans to keep stocked in your pantry.
- Fillo’s Cuban Black Beans
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These black beans, which come in a packet rather than a can, have a strong olive oil flavor that some of our taste testers really loved. They explode with a fatty, buttery taste that’s quite decadent. My colleague Jordan Myrick suggested that these would be the best black beans to pair with rice, and I think that’s a good move. Add just a little salt and garlic, and that’s dinner. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Olivia Averett / Instacart
- Westbrae Natural Organic Black Beans
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These canned black beans grew on me. First of all, they’re so damn creamy.The texture is incredible. That said, these are very plain, but that just accentuates their natural, earthy flavor. If you eat organic, these are the best canned black beans to use in recipes that require a nice, neutral flavor. They’re the best black beans to cook with, no doubt, but I’ll admit they’re a bit on the pricey side. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
- Goya Black Beans
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Goya came through here in a surprising way. First of all, Goya’s products are always very reasonably priced and the brand itself is available just about everywhere. Secondly, straight out of the can, these black beans are buttery, creamy, and adequately salty: in fact, you’re looking at 19% of your daily value of sodium per serving. That salt is the biggest selling point for me. Even the bean brine in this can of black beans is delicious. These are the best canned black beans for soup because of the added saltiness. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Target
- La Preferida
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La Preferida’s black beans are exceptionally creamy and buttery. They’ve also got a good amount of salt (410 mg per serving), so you really can just eat these beans right out of the can and be somewhat satisfied. But they are also the best black beans to roll into a burrito. Cook and mash these beans up with garlic, onion, and jalapeño and, hey, why not some pork lard to enhance the beans’ decadence even more? —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- S&W Low Sodium Black Beans
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In our second taste test, I set out to find the best low sodium black beans. I tried three varieties and found one I think hits the spot. Bush’s reduced sodium black beans still have 200 mg of sodium per serving, so if you’re really watching your salt, those probably aren’t a great option (although they are beautiful—nary a split skin in the can). Sun Vista Black beans, on the other hand, have just 5 mg of sodium per serving, so if your doctor has yelled at you about salt, you should probably go for those—they’re still pretty good! But with 140 mg of sodium per serving, S&W reduced sodium black beans thread the needle. Plus, they’re very creamy and super savory. Even after the taste test was over, I sat at my desk and kept eating these right out of the can. They aren’t as pretty as Bush’s (seriously, if you’re making something like cowboy caviar for a party, buy Bush’s), but they’re the best canned black beans if you want less salt and a lot of flavor. —Gwynedd Stuart
- Great Value Seasoned Black Beans
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If you’re looking for black beans that are cheap and preseasoned, Great Value makes the best canned beans you can buy. These come seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin, so they’re ready to eat. All you have to do is heat them up in the microwave (or a pot if you’re feeling cheffy). There’s some incredible utility to a well seasoned, cheap, ready-to-eat bean that only needs to be microwaved. Thrifty bean dinners have a special place in my heart, and I’ll still whip one up when I’m looking to eat healthy and save some scratch in the process. This can of black beans costs less than a buck, dude. Come on, now. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- A Dozen Cousins Cuban Black Beans
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You don’t have to come from a really big family to love A Dozen Cousin black beans, but these are sure to please a crowd, I’ll say that. They’re seasoned perfectly with salt, pepper, garlic, and some cumin. This bag of beans also includes some small diced onions, bell peppers, oregano, tomato paste, and vinegar. The mix is super balanced and it makes for some of the best black beans we tasted. There’s bright acidity, some sweetness, and a distinct herbaceousness, plus the black beans themselves are creamy yet firm. These are the best black beans if you want beans that would make a delicious and nutritious snack on their own, but they’re also great for salads and soups—don’t let the seasoning deter you from using these in recipes.. No matter how you decide to eat A Dozen Cousin’s Cuban black beans, you simply can’t go wrong. These aren’t the best canned black beans, technically, but that’s only because they come in a nifty pouch instead of a can. They are the best black beans you can buy at the grocery store. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon
Best with Rice
Best Organic
Best Salty
Best for Refried Beans
Best Low Sodium
Best Budget
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: S&W, La Costeña, Eden Organic, Cento, Bush’s, Good & Gather, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Somos Mexican Black Beans, Bush’s Seasoned Black Beans, Sun Vista No Salt Added Black Beans, Bush’s Reduced Sodium Black Beans
