Substitutions
Small, dense black legumes with a soft, almost creamy interior and a mild earthy sweetness. They hold their shape well and darken whatever they are cooked in.
What it does in a recipe: Creamy-textured plant protein that also thickens the liquid around it as its starch leaches out. Pick the swap that covers that job — the ratios below are written so you can act on them without doing any arithmetic.
Also called: Turtle beans, Frijoles negros
Quick answer
Pinto beans
one 15 oz can black beans = one 15 oz can pinto beans, drainedAll substitutes, best first
one 15 oz can black beans = one 15 oz can pinto beans, drainedAlmost the same size and starch content, so they cook in the same time, thicken a chilli the same way and take seasoning identically.
Trade-offPaler and slightly sweeter, so the dish loses black beans' dark colour — noticeable in a black bean soup, invisible in a chilli.
one 15 oz can black beans = one 15 oz can kidney beans, drainedSimilar protein and a firm skin that survives simmering, which is why they are the traditional chilli bean in much of the world.
Trade-offLarger, meatier and firmer, with a more assertive flavour. They do not mash into a smooth refried texture as readily.
one 15 oz can black beans = 1.5 cups cooked adzuki beansSmall, dark and slightly sweet, adzuki beans have a comparable creamy interior and hold their shape in the same way.
Trade-offDistinctly sweeter, which suits some dishes and undercuts a smoky, cumin-heavy one.
one 15 oz can black beans (about 1.5 cups) = 1.5 cups cooked brown lentilsLentils cover the protein and the thickening starch, and they take on smoky and chilli seasonings well, so a lentil chilli is a real dish rather than a failed one.
Trade-offSofter and much smaller, so the finished dish reads as a thick stew rather than one with distinct beans in it.
Tinned bean liquid is starchy and salty. Rinsing gives you cleaner flavour and a clearer sauce; keeping it gives you body. Decide which the dish needs before you drain.
At a glance
| Category | Proteins |
|---|---|
| Job in a recipe | Creamy-textured plant protein that also thickens the liquid around it as its starch leaches out |
| Suits | Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Nut-free, Soy-free |
| Swaps available for | Dairy-freeEgg-freeGluten-freeNut-freeSoy-freeVeganVegetarian |
| Number of substitutes | 4 |
Related
Cooking around an allergy? Diet tags here describe the ingredient itself, not any particular brand. Processed products change formulation without notice and shared production lines are common, so read the label on everything you use. A severe allergy is a medical matter — confirm with the manufacturer or your clinician rather than relying on a substitution chart.