Black Bean Soup

This easy black bean soup for two uses mostly pantry ingredients and is ready to go in less than an hour!

Recipe, photos, and post updated from the archives. First published in September 2015.

I’m never without a can or two of black beans in the pantry because in a pinch there are a plethora of dishes easy dishes you can make with them one of them being this easy black bean soup for two. It’s a small-batch soup recipe made with mostly pantry ingredients, comes together in less than an hour, and is one that I never get tired of.

How to Make Black Bean Soup

This soup serves two and makes about two cups of soup, which may not seem like a lot, but black bean soup is quite filling. If you want to something alongside, I recommend a simple green salad or a few pieces of crusty bread.

• It starts with some olive oil, red onion and garlic that cook together until the garlic is fragrant.
• I like to add the seasonings at this point and cook them just until they’re fragrant. I used a chili seasoning which is a mixture of spices like chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. I add some salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
• Add some chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you want to go totally vegetarian) and bring it to a simmer.
• Drain the black beans and add them to the soup. At this point, the soup will need to simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
• About half-way through the cooking time, I like to mash some of the beans in the soup. When you mash some of the beans, they release their starch which helps thicken the soup. The soup is ready once it’s thickened.

Black Bean Soup Garnish

• Before serving the soup, I like to add some lime juice. It adds a nice citrus flavor and brightens the flavor of the soup.
• Top each bowl with some chopped fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and crumbled feta cheese.

Happy soup-making,

More Soup Recipes for Two

I love making small-batch soup recipes because I’m not a big fan of leftovers and have several others here on the blog for you to check out!

If you want even more small-batch recipes, check out my cookbook, Gourmet Cooking for One (or Two), which is all about small-batch cooking, including a chapter with lots of small-batch soup recipes!

• Instant Pot Black Bean Soup | I also love making black bean soup in my Instant Pot because I can cook dried black beans in about an hour. All of the ingredients go in the IP and, when it’s done, you have a hearty black bean soup.
• Pesto Chicken Orzo Soup | This pesto chicken orzo soup is a quick 30-minute small-batch dinner that makes enough for two people with some leftovers. It’s packed with tender chicken and fresh zucchini along with some pasta and a pop of pesto.
• Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Soup | Roasted cauliflower and smoky bacon meet in a creamy cheddar cheese soup – this bacon cheddar cauliflower soup is a cozy dinner for two.

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