Black Bean Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Hearty sandwich filled with seasoned black beans and melted cheese for an easy, flavorful meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Black Bean Filling

01 - 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/4 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
11 - 1 tablespoon lime juice

→ Sandwich

12 - 8 slices sandwich bread (whole wheat or white)
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
14 - 4 tablespoons butter, softened

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Stir in black beans, ground cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder if using, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, mashing some beans with the back of a spoon to combine flavors.
03 - Remove from heat. Stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice, then set the filling aside.
04 - Lay out bread slices and spread a thin layer of softened butter on one side of each slice.
05 - Place half of the bread slices buttered side down. Evenly distribute the black bean filling over them, then top with shredded cheese. Cover with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
06 - Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Cook sandwiches for 3-4 minutes on each side, pressing lightly, until bread is golden brown and cheese has melted.
07 - Slice sandwiches and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feeds four people for the cost of what you'd spend on one cafe lunch.
  • The black beans stay creamy inside while the cheese gets perfectly gooey and the bread turns golden and crisp.
  • You can make it in twenty minutes flat, start to finish, no special equipment needed.
02 -
  • Don't skip the mashing step—whole beans won't hold together as well, and you want the filling to stay inside the sandwich instead of squishing out the sides.
  • Medium heat is non-negotiable; high heat will burn the bread before the cheese inside has time to melt properly.
03 -
  • Cook your bean filling while you butter the bread—it saves time and lets the flavors meld while you're prepping the rest.
  • If your butter isn't soft enough to spread easily, take it out of the fridge five minutes before you start; cold butter will tear the bread.
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