Vegan Black Bean Dip is the perfect spicy, creamy dip that is incredibly satisfying. It is naturally dairy-free and full of healthy ingredients. It's an appetizer that people return to again and again for more helpings! I serve it on a platter with chips and fresh veggies and then watch it disappear. This dip is also so easy to make that you can get the kids helping in the kitchen. They love adding ingredients to the food processor and then pushing the button!
Making Dip with Black Beans
Black beans are considered a legume and part of both the protein and vegetable group. They also provide dietary fiber and important nutrients such as iron and zinc. I love their texture when pureed and they absorb flavor well, which lets you adjust this dip so it's exactly to your preference! With black beans as the main ingredient, this dip is a healthy and satisfying appetizer that makes you feel as good as it tastes.
If you are looking to incorporate more black beans into your diet, I highly recommend my One-Pot Easy Vegan Black Bean Soup. Another one of my favorite recipes that uses black beans is my Quinoa Black Bean Veggie Burgers.
The Best Chips for Dipping
I always grab Siete brand grain-free tortilla chips for an appetizer like this! My kids love them as much as I do, which makes them eat more of this healthy bean dip. I also like dipping baby carrots, sliced red bell peppers or sliced cucumbers in this Vegan Black Bean Dip. It tastes amazing on anything! You could also use it as a spread on wraps or sandwiches. Such delicious possibilities!
Ingredients
For this recipe you will need:
- Can of black beans
- Fresh cilantro
- Red onion
- Jalapeno
- Garlic cloves
- Lime juice
- Maple syrup
- Salt & pepper
- Garnishes such as fresh cilantro, vegan sour cream, chopped red onion, sliced jalapeño, lime zest or homemade pico de Gallo.
See recipe card below for precise quantities and instructions.
How to Make a Vegan Black Bean Dip
This recipe for black bean dip is so easy to make! We're talking a creamy, flavorful dip ready in just 5 minutes!
Making the dip in the food processor: This recipe is really as simple as adding all of the ingredients to your food processor and processing until you reach your desired creaminess and smoothness!
I like to leave a small amount of texture in the dip so I don't ever over-process the dip mixture.
Taste and adjust the flavor: You can easily adjust the flavor after blending. Add more lime for tang, a bit of maple syrup for sweetness, or extra jalapeno for spice.
More Vegan Dip Recipes
If you are looking for more fresh, flavor-packed vegan dip recipes you should definitely try my chipotle guacamole recipe together with my Salsa Fresca recipe - they work so well together with chips, fresh veggies and Mexican inspired dishes too.
Another fan favorite dip recipe is my quick and easy creamy hummus recipe - hummus has never been easier to make and so tasty too! Hummus is just the best on all sorts of dishes and having a reliable and tasty recipe on hand is a must!
Another two of my favorite dips you must try are a delicious vegan French onion dip that is perfect for any occasion. A great creamy dip recipe to try alongside that is my vegan nacho cheese sauce which is not only a dip - it's a great vegan cheese sauce you can add to almost any dish to amp up the flavor!
Top Tip
Tasting your black bean dip after processing it is a crucial part of this recipe.
With the strong flavors of jalapeño, cilantro and garlic as well as finer flavors of lime juice and salt - one flavor could easily come through too strong and overpower the dip. Especially if you allow the dip to refrigerate before serving and allow the flavor to develop further.
Taste your bean dip after processing and adjust the flavors accordingly:
- if you bean dip is too salty or tangy from the lime juice, add some maple syrup to balance it out
- if the flavors of the dip are not popping enough, add some more lime juice and salt to brighten the flavor
- if the dip is too strongly flavored overall, add some homemade vegan sour cream to lighten the entire dip and add some creaminess
I hope this recipe inspires you to incorporate black bean dip into your appetizer/spread rotation. If you give this recipe a try, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating it! And don’t forget to take a picture and tag it @eatingbyelaine and #eatingbyelaine so I can see!
@eatingbyelaine Happy Cinco de Mayo 💃🏼 #blackbeans #blackbeandip #homemadedip #cincodemayorecipes #mexicanrecipes ♬ original sound - eatingbyelaine
Creamy Vegan Black Bean Dip
- Total Time: 7 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
One of my favorite appetizers for game day, social gatherings, or just an afternoon snack is this creamy vegan black bean dip! It's filled with jalapeno, lime, cilantro, and red onion for that perfect flavor that's just right for dipping. Kids and adults both love it and it comes together in less than 5 minutes.
Ingredients
Black Bean Dip
- 1, 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves (large stems removed)
- ¼ cup red onion, peeled and diced
- ¼ jalapeno (~ 1 tablespoon diced), seeds removed*
- 2 large garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 large juicy lime, zested and juiced
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup**
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnishes:
- Easy Homemade Vegan Sour Cream (highly recommend - pairs perfect with this dip)
- fresh cilantro leaves
- finely diced red onion
- thinly sliced jalapeno or diced jalapeno
- lime zest
- Homemade Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in food processor in the order listed above. Puree until smooth and creamy. You may need to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
- Taste and adjust flavors as needed. You may want to add more jalapeno for added spice, more salt to bring out the flavors or a touch more of garlic or lime zest.
- Serve with your favorite raw veggies or tortilla chips. Or, use in burritos, tacos, wraps or sandwiches.
- Garnish with desired toppings from above. I highly recommend swirling a good amount of the vegan sour cream in the center.
- Store leftover black bean dip (without the garnishes) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
* The amount of jalapeno you use is very personal depending on how spicy you like your food. If you are making this for kids leave the jalapeno out as it makes the dip quite spicy. Removing the seeds helps to reduce the amount of heat but even without the seeds ¼ of a jalapeno pepper is still quite spicy. If you are a fan of spicy foods feel free to use as much as you want. I recommend starting with a small amount, tasting and adding more as needed.
** Maple syrup is optional - I really like it for a touch of sweetness but some prefer the dip without. I like it paired with the spicy of the jalapeno, pungent garlic flavor and the zesty lime juice.
If you want an extra creamy black bean dip, add ¼ cup vegan sour cream into the food processor before processing. Really good!
- Prep Time: 7 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Food Processor
- Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: easy vegan black bean dip recipe
Johan says
What a great recipe! I will definitely be making this again!
Elaine Gordon says
Thank you so much, Johan!