Black Bean Corn Chili Lime (Printable Version)

A hearty dish packed with black beans, corn, bold spices, and tangy lime crema.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

→ Beans & Corn

06 - 2 cans (15 oz each) black beans, drained and rinsed
07 - 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, with juices
08 - 1 1/2 cups frozen or canned corn, drained
09 - 1 cup vegetable broth

→ Spices

10 - 2 tablespoons chili powder
11 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Lime Crema

16 - 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
17 - Zest of 1 lime
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
19 - Pinch of salt

→ Garnishes

20 - Chopped fresh cilantro
21 - Sliced avocado
22 - Sliced green onions

# How to Prepare:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, diced bell pepper, and jalapeño. Cook for an additional 3 minutes until vegetables are fragrant and tender.
03 - Add drained black beans, diced tomatoes with juices, drained corn, and vegetable broth to the pot.
04 - Sprinkle in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all spices.
05 - Bring mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and cook for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - While the chili simmers, combine sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime zest, fresh lime juice, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Mix until smooth.
07 - Taste the chili and adjust salt, spices, and heat level as needed.
08 - Ladle chili into bowls and top each serving with a dollop of lime crema. Add optional garnishes of fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, and green onions.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's ready in under an hour, which means you can go from bare ingredients to something restaurant-quality without the stress.
  • The lime crema is the secret weapon that makes people ask for the recipe before they've even finished their bowl.
  • It tastes even better the next day, so you're not just making dinner, you're making tomorrow's lunch too.
02 -
  • Canned goods vary wildly in sodium content, so taste your ingredients before you add them to know what you're actually working with.
  • The lime crema is not optional; it's what transforms this from a good chili into something people remember and crave.
  • Resist the urge to cook it longer than 25 minutes or the beans start to fall apart and lose their shape.
03 -
  • Frozen corn actually has more flavor than canned because it's frozen at peak ripeness; don't worry about fresh here.
  • If you're serving this to guests, make the lime crema earlier in the day so you have one less thing to think about when people arrive.
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