San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle
Creamy, smoky black bean soup packed with corn, bell peppers, and a hint of chipotle for depth, ready in 30 minutes. This mexican-inspired soups (vegetarian) ready in about 30 minutes turns (15 oz, drained) black beans, (14 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, chicken broth into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz, drained) black beans
- 1 can (14 oz) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup (frozen or fresh) sweet corn
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1 tsp minced chipotle in adobo
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup diced onion and 1/2 cup diced bell pepper, sautéing for 5 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Step 2: Stir in 1 tsp cumin and 1 tsp minced chipotle in adobo, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 1 can black beans (undrained), 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (with juice), 2 cups chicken broth, and 1 cup corn. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes to meld flavors.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and blend half the soup with an immersion blender until smooth. Return to pot, stir in 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, and adjust seasoning with salt if needed.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for crisp items, or in the fridge for anything dairy- or produce-based, for up to 3–5 days. Re-crisp baked snacks in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes if they soften.
Can I substitute ingredients in San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is San Antonio-Style Black Bean Soup with Chipotle vegetarian?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegetarian based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Good flavors but the sauce was a bit thin. I'd reduce it longer.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★☆☆
Decent recipe but nothing special. Might try a different version.
