The ultimate set it and forget it meal, this slow cooker black bean ragout is hearty and delicious, especially served over roasted sweet potatoes!
slow cooker black bean ragout on roasted sweet potatoes

Once upon a time, four score and two apartments ago, I totally had a slow cooker in my life.

We were a little bit inseparable during my college days. “Besties”, is the totally technical term that I think the kids these days would call it.

And then I had to ruin things when I up and went vegetarian. And gave it away to one of my old roommates.

Judas priest. Right here.

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And now I’m back with my proverbial tail between my legs trying to, uh, unstab it in the back.

Wish me luck?

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As it turns out, slow cookers are not all about the beef or the pork or the “cream ofs”. They can totally be vessels for fresh flavored, delicious, veggie-full food just as much as the oven or the skillet or the saute pan. With the only difference being that you can spend five minutes in the morning prepping, walk away for the day, and then have dinner ready when you get home.

Somehow I forgot all of this until I borrowed my mother’s crockpot to make this recipe. And I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I was to have it when I woke up on one particularly crazy morning of one particularly hectic day and realized we had nothing to have for dinner nor did I have any time to throw anything together.

And then BAM. Twenty minutes later I was out the door with dinner pretty much cooking itself.

Hearty lime-and-tomato-with-a-hint-of-spice infused black beans served atop roasted sweet potatoes. Classic. Healthy. Delicious.

Needless to say, I won’t be returning my mother’s crockpot anytime soon. And I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

This is my submission to this month’s Recipe Redux, the theme of which was “The No-Casserole Crockpot”. To see what everyone else whipped for this, check out these entries:

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One year ago...Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Two years ago...Caramel Crumb Bars, Green Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk and Warm Spices

Three years ago...Apple, Sausage and Brie Pizza on a Pumpkin Pizza Dough Crust, Ohio Creamed Corn with Bacon

Four years ago...Funfetti Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

Slow Cooker Black Bean Ragout on Roasted Sweet Potatoes
 
The ultimate set it and forget it meal, this slow cooker black bean ragout is hearty and delicious, especially served over roasted sweet potatoes!
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
For the bean ragout
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 lb dried black beans, soaked overnight
  • 1 dried chile
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 10 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 4-6 sweet potatoes
For the lime-pickled red onions
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • ¼ medium red onion, finely diced
  • salt
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 400. Pierce sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast until tender, 45-60 minutes.
  2. Put the onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, paprika, black beans, chile, tomato paste, salt, and vegetable broth in a 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 6 hours.
  3. To make the lime-pickled red onions, toss the red onion with the lime juice and a pinch of salt and let sit for 15 minutes.
  4. Cut a slit in the center of the sweet potatoes and fill with the black beans. Garnish with lime-pickled red onions and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ⅙th of recipe

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69 Responses to Slow Cooker Black Bean Ragout on Roasted Sweet Potatoes #reciperedux

  1. Monica says:

    I love sweet potatoes and all kinds of beans. Great recipe and good way to use that slow-cooker!

  2. gloria says:

    look awesome Joanne!! xo

  3. ramblingtart says:

    I absolutely adore my crockpot. ๐Ÿ™‚ I use it for veggies, soups, savory beans, etc. So, so good. I love the sounds of your black beans. ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Black beans and sweet potatoes are two of my favs! This looks awesome…time to bust out my slow cooker!!

  5. bellini says:

    My slow cooker hides in the back of the cupboard but it does make some tasty treats like this one.

  6. It’s ridiculously hard to come up with vegetarian dishes in a crock pot. There’s no luxury of cover A or B meat with sauce X, Y, or Z and you’re done. But I think the extra effort is totally worth it, and this dish proves it! Sounds fantastic.

  7. Crock pot cooking is the best! I don’t do it nearly often enough. Black beans and sweet potatoes are one of my favorite veggie meal combos. This looks awesome!

  8. Kelster says:

    I use my slow cooker every single week. I am not sure that I remember how to cook on my stovetop. There was never even a question when I made black bean ragout last week.

  9. Slow cookers make life soooo much easier! Love this recipe friend!

  10. That potato needs to GET IN MY BELLY!!!!! This is packed with so much hearty goodness… I love stuffed sweet potatoes.

  11. Oh yes yes yes! I use my slow cooker every Fall to make batch after batch of applesauce. This is another great use. Target, my friend. Go to Target and get another one. Stat!

  12. Erica says:

    I am a huge beans fan! This a delicious meatless idea for Thanksgiving!I love my slow cooker!

  13. I love sweet potatoes and black beans together! This looks fantastic!!

  14. Looks refreshingly GREAT!! Thanks for posting this one.

  15. I absolutely need a slow cooker and I will hunt down the stores here. For now I will have to contempt myself with your appetizing pictures Joanne. =)

  16. Slow cooker recipe, HELL yeah! Plus it is super healthy! Love it!

  17. As a black bean lover, I welcome this recipe so much! Love that you slow cooked them! Happy Monday!

  18. cquek says:

    what beautiful colors and delicious flavors!

  19. I had a similar crock pot experience. I had gotten rid of mine several years ago when I moved and just recently got a new one. I haven’t used it as often as I would like, but each time I have, it’s been fantastic! I’m so excited to have one back in my life.

  20. Pam says:

    You definitely don’t need a crock pot for just meat dishes! These beans look flavorful and delicious stuffed into that sweet potato. YUM.

  21. Nice! You are going to love having a slow cooker again. You can make veggie curries, veg broth and all kinds of bean dishes – such a time saver!

  22. like you said – my slow cooker and I are besties #BFFS #forlife ๐Ÿ™‚

  23. I love slow cooker recipes! Strange that I have always used pressure cooker to cook beans…I have to give it a try. The bean ragout looks delicious on sweet potato!

  24. I’m reporting you for sweet potato porn. Also I’m running out of witty comments for all your recipes because there are officially too many I want to make. I can no longer get away with commenting that I will definitely make them….SLOW DOWN!

  25. I love stuffing sweet potatoes with all kinds of stuff! And this one looks super yummy!! I have got to get some beans!

  26. We love beans in our home, and this is one heck of a good looking dish my dear.

  27. Kate says:

    Slow cookers are THE way to go for beans. No one has time to sit and watch a bean pot on the stove.

  28. I would’ve never thought of this pairing but as I continued to read, I was converted and convinced immediately! What a great combination, Jo!!

  29. Hey, this looks delicious and since we LOVE black beans and sweet potatoes, what could be better?
    right ?

  30. You silly girl! ;} I love my slow cooker for beans, I hardly ever use it for meat ๐Ÿ™‚
    I have all of these ingredients all ready on hand! Today is my lucky day!

  31. Um, I am with you on the whole I didn’t know you could “slow cooker” that kind of thing-y. This is genius! I need more veggies in my life:)

  32. Ashley says:

    This looks wonderful!! I have never had luck mixing beans and tomatoes in the slow cooker, but you make it sound so good that I don’t think I can resist trying this one out!

  33. Tracey says:

    The slow cooker is where it’s at, though admittedly I’ve never done beans in it. This would be a fantastic lunch during the week, going on my menu soon!

  34. Yum! Makes me wish I had a slow-cooker!

  35. Hotly Spiced says:

    Every winter I swear I’m going to get myself a slow-cooker and come the end of winter (our winters are very short) I’ve managed to get through without one. I really must buy one though because I love the idea of putting dinner on at breakfast time, going out for the day and walking in through the door knowing dinner is waiting for me – what a thrill! This bean dish looks lovely and I love how it is served drizzled over roasted kumeras xx

  36. I love this, Joanne! Looks like such a wholesome, hearty and comforting meal.

  37. I need these in my mouth right now or I’ll cry.
    They look way too awesome to be real… so delish!

  38. Pam says:

    Way to go, Joanne! It looks and sounds delicious and I’ll be dragging out the slow cooker now!

  39. debbie says:

    Adding this to the shopping list…now….and another thank you, Joanne!

  40. Tara says:

    I love my slow cooker but never remember to use it until it’s too late. There is nothing like coming home to a delicious smelling house.

  41. Kristi says:

    I loved my slow cooker, and then I stopped eating meat, too. I didn’t really use my slow cooker after than, but am excited to start trying new recipes soon. I love black beans and sweet potatoes together.

  42. I don’t use my slow cooker nearly as much as I should. This is just the perfect meal!

  43. Yeah, the slow cooker would be very helpful in cooking up those dried black beans- which are much better than canned beans. AND I’m glad you said ‘Judas Priest.’ I say that phrase all the time and you are the only other person I know that says it!

  44. We pretty much just use our crockpot to cook dried beans for other recipes, but I’ve been meaning to try out more vegetarian crockpot recipes. I love the idea of having dinner waiting for me when I get home!

  45. joanne, this sounds really good! i can’t wait to try it out ๐Ÿ™‚

  46. Christine says:

    Wasn’t buying the veggie-crock pot thing till I saw the third photo down and yum! Remembered how much I love black beans with tomatoes. The lime pickled red onions as a topping was a great idea! Looking forward to checking out all the other Recipe Redux recipes.

  47. P says:

    This looks soooooooo good! I will totally be investing in a crock pot when I start grad school ๐Ÿ˜€

  48. Eileen says:

    I have never owned a slow cooker, but given these clearly exciting beans…maybe sometime soon I will change my tune! Also, sweet potatoes and black beans are best friends, clearly.

  49. Veronica says:

    I went vegan and gave away our smoker. Will never forgive myself, and not just because i want to smoke cheese. I eat meat again and dang, smoked meat is the bomb. ๐Ÿ˜‰ glad you’re slow cooking it up again – that appliance can be a real dinner saver!

  50. I love it Joanne! Bursting with flavors!

  51. I’ve never used a slow cooker but I’m sure it’s perfect for beans! Great recipe Joanne ๐Ÿ™‚

  52. This is the sort of dish I love, but I always make mine without a slow cooker and so know it’s not quite as good as those versions with soaked in flavours! Gorgeous ๐Ÿ™‚

  53. You are right, this does look incredibly easy! The hardest part will be getting my crockpot out of the closet:-)

  54. Somehow I never got into slow cookers. Perhaps because I’m vegetarian, but like you know, they can certainly be used to whip up some amazing meat-free dishes. I wish for them most when I get home from work and would love for dinner to magically be already made!

  55. Everything on roasted sweet potatoes! I can’t eat enough of the lovely things, especially when topped with a black bean ragout. And especially since I bought a slow cooker specifically for the recipe redux and I don’t know what else to do with it!

  56. I’m sort of a stranger to the slow cooker. I’ve cooked 1 great recipe and 1 horrible one. Never been back to it since the bad one, but I best dust it off so I can try this black bean dish. My husband will go crazy over this!

  57. I love sweet potatoes and think this is a great way to make them a meal. The pickled onions sound fab too!

  58. Beth says:

    What a great way to use a crockpot! And I’ll definitely have to check out some of those other links.

  59. Ooooh, this looks delicious! I totally support your commandeering your mother’s slow cooker ๐Ÿ™‚

  60. Jeanette says:

    This sounds amazing and I think my friend that I’m cooking for would love it!

  61. Shannon says:

    I always forget about my slow cooker until I use it… this looks like a fabulous way to do it ๐Ÿ™‚

  62. Reeni says:

    I love black beans with sweet taters! This rocks! I bet it made your entire apartment smell insanely delicious.

  63. Wendy says:

    These potatoes look like just the thing to warm your soul and stomach after a long day at work! I have a larger crock pot that I use for my meat centered recipes but find that most veggie recipes do better in a slightly smaller crock pot. (The crock works optimally when 3/4 full.) Also, many veggie crock pot recipes call for shorter cooking times than meat recipes, so a crock pot with a programmable timer has been great!

  64. grace says:

    black beans and sweet potatoes make an excellent team. this is unique and sounds wonderful to me!

  65. Nutmeg Nanny says:

    Yes! I am loving this recipe, it looks so satisfying ๐Ÿ™‚

  66. Serena says:

    These are in the slow cooker RIGHT NOW! Can’t wait till they are done. They smell so yummy!

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