When a busy night leaves me short on ideas, I turn to these seven Kroger picks. Each one helps transform black beans into an easy, satisfying dinner worth making.
Prices were checked at a Kroger in Granbury, Texas on October 31; they vary by store and change with each week’s ad.
1. Kroger Black Bean Each – $1.00
A simple seasoned black bean bowl is my fallback when dinner plans unravel. Warm the beans on the stovetop with spices, then add whatever toppings are already handy for a filling solo meal or an easy family bowl night.
Taste: The beans are mild and earthy, so they readily take on bolder seasonings. Their firm texture holds up well when heated instead of collapsing into mush.
Make It Better: Drain them but skip the rinse when you want a slightly saucier bowl, then season generously as they warm.
Parting Thoughts: For $1.00, this is the dependable pantry starting point I like having in reserve.
2. Kroger Mercado Ready to Cook Flour Tortillas – $1.79
Taco night comes together easily when these refrigerated tortillas meet warm black beans and a few favorite toppings. Cook them briefly on the stovetop, then let everyone build tacos or burritos at the table.
Taste: Once cooked, the tortillas have a fresh flavor and a soft, pliable bite. They bend around a generous bean filling without feeling stiff.
Make It Better: Give each tortilla its own quick turn in the skillet before filling it; that little step makes the meal feel far less thrown together.
Parting Thoughts: Families who enjoy a build-your-own dinner will get plenty of mileage from this 12-count pack.
3. Kroger Mexican Style Blend Shredded Cheese – $2.00
Cheesy black bean quesadillas are hard to beat on a busy weeknight. This refrigerated blend melts evenly, making it useful for quesadillas as well as tacos or burrito bowls.
Taste: Monterey Jack, cheddar, quesadilla, and asadero create a savory, rounded cheese flavor. The shreds melt into a cohesive layer that pairs nicely with the firmer beans.
Make It Better: Keep the bean layer modest so the quesadilla stays easy to handle, then scatter a little extra cheese near the edges to help hold everything together.
Parting Thoughts: At $2.00, it earns its place when a warm, melty dinner is the goal.
4. Kroger Chorizo Ground Sausage – $3.99
For a heartier skillet, brown this refrigerated chorizo on the stovetop and combine it directly with drained black beans. It brings smoky spice and extra substance to tacos, stew, or chili, and it is marked down from $4.29.
Taste: The sausage has a spicy pork flavor with smoky depth. It crumbles as it cooks, so those rich, seasoned pieces distribute throughout the firm beans.
Make It Better: Let the chorizo provide most of the seasoning at first, then taste the combined skillet before adding anything else.
Parting Thoughts: Meat eaters wanting a bolder bean dinner should find this especially satisfying.
5. Kroger Salsa Style Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes – $1.39
Cold evenings call for a pot of black bean chili or soup built around these fire-roasted diced tomatoes. Add them undrained on the stovetop so their juices become part of the smoky broth.
Taste: They offer smoky tomato flavor with mild pepper heat rather than an aggressive burn. The juicy diced texture gives the beans a looser, more spoonable base.
Make It Better: Simmer the tomatoes and beans together so the broth picks up their fire-roasted character, then adjust the seasoning near the end.
Parting Thoughts: Cozy-dinner cooks will appreciate how much depth this $1.39 can contributes.
6. Kroger White Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips – $2.19
Crunchy black bean nachos can rescue an evening when nobody wants a formal meal. Pile warm beans and toppings over these shelf-stable chips, or break them over a taco salad; they are currently down from $2.39.
Taste: The chips bring a classic salted-corn flavor that complements earthy beans. Their crisp restaurant-style texture adds the contrast a soft, saucy topping needs.
Make It Better: Build in smaller layers instead of loading everything onto the top chips, so more bites get beans and toppings.
Parting Thoughts: Choose these when dinner should feel casual, shareable, and pleasantly crunchy.
7. Old El Paso Mild Red Enchilada Sauce – $2.79
Smothered black bean burritos get an easy flavor boost from this shelf-stable red enchilada sauce. Warm it on the stovetop and spoon it over filled tortillas for a comforting dinner with very little decision-making.
Taste: The sauce has a mild tomato-and-chile profile that adds flavor without much heat. Its smooth, pourable consistency coats beans and tortillas evenly.
Make It Better: Warm the sauce separately before spooning it over the burritos, then finish with cheese or another creamy topping if you have one.
Parting Thoughts: Anyone sensitive to spicy sauces may welcome this gentler route to enchilada-style flavor.
