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Cheesy bean baked potato

Microwave a potato, then fill it with black beans and cheddar. A dinner for one with no oven or stovetop cooking.

16 minutes total · 1 serving · dinner

Prep: 4 minutes. Cooking: 10 minutes. Waiting: 2 minutes, included in total time.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium potato — About 8 oz each; larger potatoes need longer to cook.
  • 1/2 cup Canned black beans (85 g) — Approximate; measure after draining and rinsing.
  • 1/4 cup Shredded cheddar (28 g) — Shredded cheese; measure loosely, without packing it down.

Equipment and available appliances

  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • 1 × Microwave-safe bowl or deep glass dish
  • 1 × Fork
  • 1 × Small kitchen knife
  • 1 × Cutting board
  • 1 × Can opener
  • 1 × Small strainer
  • 1 × Measuring cups and spoons
  • 1 × Oven mitts
  • 1 × Lidded food container

Method

  1. Scrub the potato under running water. Pierce it several times with a fork and put it in a microwave-safe bowl.
  2. Microwave on high for 4 minutes. Carefully turn it with heat protection, then continue in 1-minute bursts until a fork slides easily into the center, usually 3–5 minutes more.
  3. While it cooks, drain and rinse the beans. Let the cooked potato stand for 2 minutes, then carefully split it on a cutting board; steam will escape.
  4. Return the potato to the bowl, add the beans and cheese, and microwave in 30-second bursts until the filling is steaming hot and the cheese melts.

Helpful notes

  • Potato size and microwave power change the time. Check tenderness instead of relying only on the clock.
  • Do not wrap the potato in foil in the microwave.

Before you start

Original starter recipe; not yet kitchen-tested. Follow safe food handling and check product labels for allergens. The amounts and times shown here describe one original batch. The planner estimates sequential batches for larger portions of heated meals so the suggested cookware remains suitable.

  • Wash hands and produce before preparing food. Refrigerate perishable ingredients and leftovers promptly.
  • Use microwave-safe containers and heat protection. Power and portion size change cooking time.

Keep the cheese refrigerated. Transfer any unused opened beans to a covered food container and refrigerate promptly. Eat the cooked potato promptly, or refrigerate leftovers promptly.

  • The container count allows separate storage for unused opened canned ingredients. The planner can reuse one storage container across recipes using the same leftover ingredient.

Food-handling guidance and sources

  • Wash hands, produce, utensils, and work surfaces. Clean can lids before opening. Keep refrigerated foods at 40°F / 4°C or colder and frozen foods at 0°F / −18°C. Refrigerate perishables and leftovers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F / 32°C. Divide larger leftovers into shallow containers. Reheat leftovers to 165°F / 74°C. FDA: Safe food handling
  • Use a container labeled microwave-safe, leave room for bubbling, and vent any cover. Start with the stated time, stir or turn as directed, and extend in short intervals as needed. Container, steam, and food can be very hot. USDA: Cooking safely in microwave ovens

Dietary tags describe the listed basic ingredients. Check every product label for allergens, cross-contact, and animal-derived additives; tags are not an allergy guarantee.

Grocery price references

Default prices are dated U.S. retailer reference prices checked October 10, 2026, with source links provided. Some retrieved pages may be cached. These are not live or local checkout quotes, and the examples do not form a single-store basket. Prices, promotions, stock, package sizes, tax, delivery, and other fees may differ. Edit prices to match your store; your edits remain separate from the linked references.

  • Medium baking potato — Walmart reference: Russet Baking Potatoes Whole Fresh, Each. 1 potato (retailer estimated price; weighed at checkout) — $0.55; checked 2026-10-10. The retailer estimated $0.55 for one potato at $0.79 per pound. This is not a fixed price for the recipe’s approximately 8 oz potato; actual weight determines the checkout charge.
  • Canned black beans — Walmart reference: Great Value Black Beans, 15 oz. 15 oz can; assumes 255 g drained yield — $0.92; checked 2026-10-10. The price covers the full 15 oz can, including liquid. Shopping quantities assume 255 g usable drained beans per can; actual drained yield may differ.
  • Shredded cheddar — Walmart reference: Great Value Mild Cheddar Finely Shredded Cheese, 8 oz. 8 oz bag — $1.97; checked 2026-10-10.

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