Cheesy Southwestern Black Bean Bake
This Cheesy Southwestern Black Bean Bake is the ultimate easy dinner packed with all the best Tex-Mex flavors. Imagine layers of black beans, salsa, and gooey melted Cheddar, with soft tortillas soaking up every bit of that spicy, cheesy goodness. A little cumin, fresh cilantro, and just the right amount of garlic and onion give it that warm, comforting flavor that everyone loves. It’s one of those cozy, satisfying dishes that you can whip up in no time and enjoy straight from the oven—perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or whenever you’re craving something extra delicious.
6 Servings
Ingredients
- 2 cans 15 ounces each black beans, drained
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 white onion finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 c vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 c fresh cilantro chopped
- 4 flour tortillas
- 12 ounces salsa
- 1 1/2 c grated Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and give an 8x8-inch baking dish a quick spray with nonstick to keep everything from sticking. Set it aside for now.
- In a medium skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 4 minutes until it’s softened. Toss in the garlic and let it cook for another minute, just until it’s fragrant.
- Stir in the black beans and broth, and let everything simmer for about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat, then mix in the cumin, pepper, salt, and chopped cilantro to add some Southwestern flavor.
- Cut the tortillas in half, and use them to create a layer on the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon on a quarter of the black bean mixture, then add a layer of salsa and a sprinkle of cheese. Keep layering like this, making sure to finish with a nice cheesy layer on top.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melty and bubbly. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes to let the top get golden and a little crisp.
- Let it rest for about 5 minutes before digging in. Enjoy!
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, just swap the flour tortillas for corn tortillas or a gluten-free tortilla option—super simple! The rest of the ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so with this one change, you’re all set. Corn tortillas add a great flavor that works perfectly with the black beans and cheese, so you won’t be missing out. Just layer them in as you would with the flour tortillas, and you’ve got a fantastic gluten-free version of this comforting bake!