This Trader Joe’s Black Bean Soup is a creamy and flavorful recipe, which is made with black beans and salsa verde. It’s the perfect weeknight meal, ready in about 40 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Black Bean Soup Ingredients
- 2 TBS olive oil
- 1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 TBS taco seasoning (I love the Siete spicy seasoning or Trader Joe’s)
- 1 (12 oz) jar salsa verde
- 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
- 2 C vegetable broth
- 4 (15oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- salt to taste
- Additions for serving:
- fresh chopped cilantro for garnish
- sour cream (Kite Hill makes a great plant based version)
How To Make Trader Joe’s Black Bean Soup
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions, garlic, and taco seasoning. Stir occasionally and cook for 8-10 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
- Simmer the soup: Add the salsa verde, green chiles, vegetable broth, and the drained and rinsed black beans to the pot. Bring the mixture to a low simmer, cover, and let it cook for about 20 minutes.
- Blend the soup: Turn off the heat and let the soup cool slightly. Use an immersion blender to carefully blend the soup directly in the pot until it’s a smooth puree. Alternatively, let the soup cool further and blend it in batches in a regular blender.
- Season and serve: Return the pureed soup to the pot if necessary. Season with salt to taste and serve hot with your favorite toppings like a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the smoothest soup? For a truly velvety texture, an immersion blender is the easiest and safest way to puree the soup while it’s still warm. If using a regular blender, be sure to let the soup cool and blend in small batches to prevent any accidents.
- Can I make this without a blender? Yes. If you prefer a chunkier texture, you can skip the blending step entirely. For a texture in between, use a potato masher to mash about half of the beans and vegetables directly in the pot.
- How to control the spice level? The heat comes from the taco seasoning and the canned green chiles. For a milder soup, use a mild taco seasoning and mild green chiles. For more heat, use a spicy taco seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Can I add meat? To make it a heartier meal, you could stir in 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or browned ground beef after blending the soup.
What To Serve With Black Bean Soup
This hearty soup is a meal in itself, but it’s even better when loaded with classic toppings.
- A dollop of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Crushed tortilla chips or Fritos
- Diced avocado
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
- Warm cornbread
How To Store Black Bean Soup
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavor is often even better the next day.
- Freeze: This soup freezes exceptionally well. Let it cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Black Bean Soup Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 12g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, as written, this recipe is completely vegan and plant-based, as long as you serve it with a plant-based sour cream as suggested.
Yes. You will need about 2 cups of dried black beans. Soak them overnight, then cook them until tender before starting the soup recipe. This will add significant time to the overall process.
If you don’t have salsa verde, you can substitute it with an equal amount of your favorite regular salsa (red salsa) and add an extra squeeze of lime juice to mimic the tanginess of the tomatillos in salsa verde.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Vegetable Soup Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Autumn Harvest Soup Recipe
Trader Joe’s Black Bean Soup Recipe
Course: SoupsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings10
minutes30
minutes250
kcalA quick and easy recipe for a creamy, spicy, and flavorful black bean soup, packed with vegetables and savory seasonings.
Ingredients
2 TBS olive oil
1 each: red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow onion, chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
2 TBS taco seasoning
1 (12 oz) jar salsa verde
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chiles
2 C vegetable broth
4 (15oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
Salt to taste
Toppings: Sour cream, fresh cilantro
Directions
- In a large pot, sauté the peppers, onions, and garlic in olive oil with the taco seasoning for 8-10 minutes until soft.
- Add the salsa verde, chiles, broth, and black beans. Bring to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let the soup cool slightly.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro.
Notes
- Sautéing the vegetables with the taco seasoning first helps to bloom the spices and create a deep flavor base.
- This is a fantastic one-pot meal, which makes for very easy cleanup.
- The soup tastes even better the next day, making it great for leftovers and meal prep.
- This is a perfect recipe for a quick, healthy, and satisfying vegetarian or vegan meal.
