Black Bean Grilled Cheese (Printable Version)

A warm, flavorful sandwich featuring seasoned black beans and melted cheese for a quick meal.

# What You Need:

→ Black Bean Filling

01 - 1 can (15 oz) 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 softened butter

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add black beans, ground cumin, smoked paprika, optional chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, mashing some beans gently with the back of a spoon.
03 - Remove skillet from heat. Stir in chopped cilantro and lime juice. Set filling aside.
04 - Arrange 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 black bean filling over these slices, then sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Cover with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
06 - Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place sandwiches in pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing lightly, until bread is golden brown and cheese has melted.
07 - Cut sandwiches and serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms pantry staples into something that tastes way more interesting than it has any right to.
  • The whole thing comes together faster than ordering takeout, and it actually costs less.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about biting into melted cheese with these warm, spiced beans.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining and rinsing the beans or your filling will turn into soup and your bread will become soggy—learned this the hard way.
  • Medium heat is non-negotiable; if your skillet is too hot, your bread will char before the cheese melts, and if it's too low, the bread stays pale and the cheese takes forever.
03 -
  • Press the sandwich gently as it cooks—not so hard you squeeze out the filling, but enough to help the bread make contact with the pan and toast evenly.
  • Keep the heat at medium; medium-high will char the bread and leave the center cold, which defeats the entire purpose.
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