Smoky Black Bean and Corn Hearty Soup (Printable Version)

Hearty soup with smoky spices, black beans, corn, and vegetables. Ready in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 medium carrots, diced
06 - 1 celery stalk, diced

→ Beans & Corn

07 - 2 cans (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - 1½ cups frozen or canned corn kernels, drained if canned

→ Liquids

09 - 4 cups vegetable broth
10 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes with juices

→ Spices & Seasonings

11 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - ½ teaspoon ground coriander
15 - ¼ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
16 - 1½ teaspoons salt
17 - ½ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnishes

18 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
19 - Sliced avocado
20 - Lime wedges

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, garlic, bell pepper, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and onion becomes translucent.
02 - Add smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, coriander, chipotle powder, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir constantly for 1 minute until spices become fragrant, being careful not to burn them.
03 - Pour in the black beans, corn, diced tomatoes with their juices, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients and distribute spices evenly throughout the soup.
04 - Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce to low heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and cook for 25–30 minutes, stirring every 8–10 minutes to prevent sticking.
05 - For a thicker consistency, use an immersion blender to pulse the soup 3–4 times, leaving some chunks intact. Alternatively, transfer 1–2 cups of soup to a standard blender, puree until smooth, and return to the pot.
06 - Taste the soup and adjust salt or pepper if needed. Ladle hot soup into bowls and top with fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The smoked paprika and chipotle create this incredible depth that tastes like it cooked all day but comes together in under an hour
  • Its one of those rare soups that actually gets better overnight, making it perfect for meal prep
  • Everything comes from pantry staples so you can make it on impulse when comfort food calls
02 -
  • The longer you let the spices bloom in the hot oil with the vegetables, the deeper your flavor will be
  • Resist the urge to skip the smoked paprika, it is what transforms this from bean soup to something special
  • Blending just a portion of the soup gives you body without losing all the beautiful texture
03 -
  • If your soup tastes flat, try a splash of apple cider vinegar to brighten everything
  • A diced jalapeño with the vegetables adds heat without being overpowering

Go Back