By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 12
265 cal · 495 min
Slow Cooker Black Beans
Recipe GLPR76cd039ef14669
Tender, seasoned black beans prepared in a slow cooker with aromatic garlic, onion, and bay leaves. This versatile legume dish is perfect as a side, base for grain bowls, or hearty main course. Naturally plant-based and ready to use in countless recipes.
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Ingredients
2 lbs dried black beans
10 cups water for soaking
1 large onion, diced
4 teaspoons minced garlic
2 bay leaves
12 cups water for cooking
Directions
Place the dried black beans in a large bowl and cover with about 10 cups of water. Let soak overnight at room temperature, or for at least 8 hours, until the beans have absorbed water and expanded.
Drain the soaked beans in a colander and rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. Transfer the drained beans to your slow cooker.
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and bay leaves to the slow cooker with the beans. Stir to combine.
Pour in the 12 cups of fresh water, ensuring the water covers the beans by approximately 2 inches. Stir well to distribute all ingredients evenly.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 8 hours, until the beans are very tender and easily break apart when pressed.
Carefully remove and discard the bay leaves. Drain the beans using a colander if you prefer a drier consistency, or keep some of the cooking liquid if you prefer a brothier texture.
Comments
This is a stripped-down, honest slow-cooker recipe that costs almost nothing: dried black beans run 60 cents a pound at any Charlotte chain, and the onion, garlic, and bay leaves are pantry staples. The stated 495 minutes (8 hours 15 minutes) is truthful for unsoaked beans on low heat, which is exactly what you need for a weeknight—start it in the morning or afternoon and forget it. The only caveat is that you must begin with dried beans, not canned, so if you need beans tonight this does not work; committed meal-planners will find this yields a dozen servings of a forgiving, reheatable base that freezes beautifully and costs under a dollar total.
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