Ham and beans are great, but there are so many more delicious recipes with beans out there. No matter the kind of bean – dried beans or canned – here are 35 delicious recipes that use beans. From breakfast to dessert – there’s something here for every taste!
A Collection of 35 Delicious Recipes with Beans Your Family will Love
We’ve been eating beans for years. Not only do they make a quick weeknight dinner, but they’re also an affordable protein source – great for keeping a low grocery budget by helping stretch or replace meat.
They make great side dishes and appetizers – cowboy caviar or hummus anyone? And we love them in all kinds of soups. If you’re looking for delicious ways to cook up dried beans or use the canned beans you may have in your pantry, any of these recipe ideas will be a great place to start.
Health Benefits of Beans
Not only are beans delicious, they’re also heart healthy. They’re a great source of protein, fiber, iron, amino acids, and vitamins. Some, but not all, beans are part of the legume family if you’re curious. Beans in the legume family are easy to preserve – all you have to do is let them dry on the vine. That makes them good keepers in the pantry because they require no canning or refrigeration.
Beans that are not part of the legume family include green beans and spring peas like sugar snap peas. They have to be canned or frozen to preserve, so they aren’t as versatile. Some of our favorite beans in the legume family include:
- Pinto Beans
- Black Beans
- Garbanzo Beans (also called Chickpeas)
- Kidney Beans
- Navy Beans
- Cannellini Beans
- Black Beans
- Split Peas
- Lentils
I used to cook dried beans in the slow cooker, but now I cook up a big batch of pinto or black beans in my instant pot almost every week. Making pressure cooker beans is so easy. I love that I can cook up a big batch in an hour or less, and that includes time to come to pressure and natural pressure release as well.
We eat simple bean burritos, rice bowls, or sheet pan nachos every single week. You don’t need much to accompany well seasoned beans – sour cream, cheese, tortilla chips, diced tomatoes, and jalapeños if you have them.
Fun fact: Did you know that Native Americans used a growing style they called the 3 Sisters Garden? They grew corn, squash, and beans together because they have a symbiotic relationship. I’ve grown this type of garden too and it’s a lot of fun. If you’re curious about a 3 Sisters Garden, you can ready about it in the linked post.
Difference Between Canned and Dry Beans
You might have two different types of beans in your pantry, dry or canned. Canned beans are just dried beans that have been cooked. Because they’re already cooked, they incorporate into recipes easier. Canned beans are more convenient because you can open and dump.
However, they’re highly processed and they’re often high in sodium. Some people try to avoid the BPA liners that are often used in commercially canned food. Plus, they’re often more expensive than dry beans. If you’re cooking with canned beans, I recommend that you rinse the beans before using.
Dry beans, on the other hand, are a more difficult to use if you don’t plan ahead. They can require long cooking times and overnight soaking. If you want a quick meal but only have dry beans, it’s not as easy. I said earlier that I use my 8 qt. instant pot to cook dry beans which speeds up the cooking time considerably, but it still takes about an hour to turn those dry beans into something I can use in recipes. For more tips on cooking instant pot beans, read my post. It has instructions and cooking times for all types of dried beans.
Where to Buy Dry Beans?
I buy dry beans in bulk at Costco, Azure Standard, and Amish Bulk Food stores like our local-ish Stringtown in Kalona. I’ve also ordered them on Amazon, but the prices are pretty high right now in the middle of Coronavirus. Dried beans are on my list of pantry essentials and I keep them in 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids. They keep so well that I rarely worry about running out of them, but I am always looking for new recipes for beans!
I store smaller quantities of beans in mason jars with handy lids like this. It works really well and makes my pantry look pretty. 🙂
How Should I Store Cooked Beans?
If you want to cook beans ahead of time for use later on, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. Cooked beans keep in the freezer for up to eight months. I portion mine out in serving size quantities and freeze either in freezer bags or plastic containers. They also keep in the fridge for three to five days.
How many beans equal one can?
Since most recipes call for canned beans, it’s helpful to know how many beans are equal to one can. One 15-ounce can of beans equals 1 3/4 cups drained beans.
Now, let’s get to those delicious bean recipes!
If you stockpiled beans to help get you through coronavirus and now you’re wondering what to do with them, here are 35 delicious recipes with beans. Including soups, rice bowls, vegetarian options, desserts, and more, there’s something here for most every taste palette.
A Collection of Delicious Recipes with Beans Your Family will Love
If you stockpiled beans to help get you through coronavirus or just happen to have a lot on hand, here are 35 delicious recipes with beans. Including soups, salads, main dish, vegetarian options, and even desserts, there’s something here for most every taste palette.
Taco Soup from Scratch - Our Family's Favorite Go-To Meal
Delicious Taco Soup Recipe - Our Family's Favorite Go-To Meal. Quickly and easily make this delicious soup from scratch and using dried beans!
Delicious Instant Pot Chili
You will love this delicious instant pot chili recipe made w/ dried beans (no soaking!) bacon, and a few hidden veggies. Super easy and because it's all made right in the instant pot, clean up is a breeze!
Olive Garlic Instant Pot Hummus With or Without Tahini
You will love this delicious and easy Instant Pot Hummus with or without tahini, It's so easy to make instant pot chickpeas - and once you have those, homemade hummus is really quick! Make it the next time you need a healthy snack or a party appetizer!
Our Favorite Freezer Friendly Taco Meat
Made with your choice of ground meat, lots of beans, and homemade taco seasoning, this taco meat has been our family's favorite recipe for yours. It's extremely versatile based on what ingredients you have on hand! Plus, it's freezer friendly for quick meals on the double.
Pot Quick & Easy Taco Dip with Meat & Beans
Looking for a quick and easy appetizer? This instant pot taco dip will be a huge hit at your next family gathering or game day party! You can make this quick recipe even if you don't have a pressure cooker. Instructions for stove top cooking too!
Cowboy Caviar
A delicious dip or topping, Cowboy Caviar is bursting with fresh flavors from the garden. Featuring fresh herbs, tomatoes, bean, corn and more, this easy recipe is a great way to use up leftovers. It makes a popular potluck side dish too!
Crock Pot Ribs and Beans
If you love BBQ, this fix it and forget it recipe for Ribs and Beans is a one pot recipe you’ll truly enjoy. Instead of firing up the grill, create these pork ribs and barbecue beans any time.
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
This is a New Orleans classic for comfort food. Now you can create Red Beans and Rice in an Instant Pot is less time than ever before. Using a few pantry staples, enjoy this for dinner tonight
THE BEST WHITE BEAN SOUP
If you ever thought that beans are boring, this creamy flavor-packed white bean soup will blow your mind!This is a simple, vegan and budget-friendly recipe that tastes and smells amazing.
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Black Beans and Sweet Potato
The BEST healthy Vegetarian Quesadillas for lunch, dinner or an appetizer. Filled with black beans, sweet potato, avocado and cheese you won't even miss the meat!
Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew
Instant Pot Mediterranean Chickpea Stew is delicious, healthy, and so easy to make.
Homemade Bean Burger Tacos: Easy Vegetarian Recipe
Delicious bean burger tacos are packed with veggies and seeds too. No one will miss the meat in this satisfying meal!
Easy Bean Soup
This easy Bean Soup is loaded with warming spices, black-eyed beans and sweet corn for a comforting meal that your whole family will love. Best of all, it’s super easy to make from just pantry staples.
Cajun Shrimp & Sweet Potato Hash
This one-pot dinner of Cajun shrimp and sweet potato hash is filling, quick and easy to make, and has a nice flavor thanks to the Cajun seasoning. A well balanced meal loaded with nutrients, protein, and fiber this recipe uses canned kidney beans and canned corn as well as sweet potatoes which last a long time in the fridge and shrimp which lasts for months in the freezer.
White Chicken Chili
This is a wonderful one pot dish! Fresh ingredients and healthy, using Greek yogurt in place of the traditional sour cream and delicious great northern beans.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Salad – so much flavor and so easy to put together! This mayonnaise-free tuna salad is naturally gluten-free, paleo and low carb.
Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Vegan Edible Cookie Dough
This healthy easy vegan edible cookie dough is made from chickpeas, dates, nut butter, and oats. It takes just 5 minutes to whip up and is a delicious, high protein snack or dessert.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Recipe - The Suburban Soapbox
The ultimate healthy salad, this Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is fresh, hearty and flavor packed.
Instant Pot Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Tomatoes
A quick, flavorful dinner in under 30 minutes! This easy, plant-based curry dish is also always a hit at potlucks and family dinners.
Chickpea, Carrot and Arugula Salad
Marinate the chickpeas for 30 minutes in a light lemony dressing, then add shredded carrots, arugula and olives for a light and colorful salad you'll want to eat all summer long!
BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad Recipe
This BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad is very high in protein while the black beans are as a strong contender in phytonutrient benefits and provide special support for digestive tract health.
Chicken Black Bean Casserole - A Family Favorite
Learn how to make this easy chicken black bean casserole recipe. It’s very adaptable & sure to be your next family favorite.
These aren't your ordinary Tex-Mex Nachos
Great for a crowd or just the family. These BBQ chicken nachos are a fun, delicious twist on classic nachos with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Southwestern Black Bean and Black Eyed Peas Salad Recipe
This Black Bean salad is simple and easy to create. Makes great use of canned staples like corn, black beans, and dried herbs.
7-Ingredient Vegetable Salad Recipe
This recipe for a vegetable salad has black-eyed peas, carrots, onions, celery and a few other ingredients. Great as a side or snack!
Red Kidney Bean Hummus
Want to make hummus but don't have chickpeas? Learn how to use kidney beans to make a delicious hummus too!
Cheese Tortellini Minestrone Soup
A cheesy tortellini minestrone soup can be yours! I make something similar without beans, but I bet the beans are also a very nice addition.
Easy Vegan Thai Greens and Beans Curry Recipe
This easy vegan Thai inspired recipe for greens and beans curry is one the whole family will love! Simmered with savory spices, peanut butter, kale, and white beans, you’ll have this flavorful simple supper on the table in 30 minutes or less.
White Bean Dried Tomato Dip Recipe
A super easy white bean dried tomato dip recipe that’s so good no one will realize how healthy it is! Full of garlic and tomato flavored oil, this wonderfully flavored dip is a great option for parties and BBQs.
Incredibly Easy Refried Beans Recipe
With hardly any hands-on time you can have refried beans seasoned how you like for a fraction of the cost!
Brownie Batter Dip Recipe
This brownie batter dip is an amazing, decadent dip recipe that will have your kids begging for more! But this is more than just a great tasting snack – easy black bean dip is a great healthy snack!
Fudgy Black Bean Brownies with Cherries
Fudgy Black Bean Brownies- fudgy, delicious black bean brownies that are flour free and healthy! Full of fiber and nutrients.
Edamame Hummus
Another variation on hummus, this one is made with edamame and chickpeas! Sounds like a good one to try with your family.
Instant Pot Bean and Sausage Soup
Instant Pot Bean and Sausage Soup is so easy and SO good! Make this delicious healthy meal from dried UNSOAKED black eyed peas and low fat chicken sausage in about an hour.
7 Layer Bean Dip Recipe
This 7 layer bean dip is an extremely versatile Mexican dip. It makes a delicious and easy party food with a 15 minute assembly!
Do you have a favorite recipe with beans that I didn’t mention? Share in the comments!
