30 Bean Recipes That Are Hearty and Delicious

Fill up on These Satisfying Meals

Written by
Cathy Jacobs
A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Cathy Jacobs
Updated 09/17/20
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup

The Spruce

Whether you're on a budget, trying to eat more meatless meals, or need a delightful new appetizer for your New Year's party, there's a delicious way to incorporate beans. Dried and canned beans are not only inexpensive, they are loaded with nutrients, satisfyingly filling, and versatile enough to be a favored ingredient in many world cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, French, and Middle Eastern. These recipes for soups, salads, mains, and even breakfasts willinspire you to cook more with the healthy legumes.

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  • 01 of 30

    Vegan and Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burrito

    Vegetarian rice and beans recipe

    ​The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

    Make fresh, filling, healthy bean and rice burritos for your next meatless Monday, or a quick vegan dinner the rest of the week. Spruce up leftover cooked rice with lime juice and cilantro, saute canned black or pinto beans with onion, garlic, and Mexican spices, and stuff it all into warmed flour tortillas. Feel free to add vegan cheese, avocado slices, or any other of your favorite toppings.

  • 02 of 30

    Caribbean Yellow Rice and Pink Beans

    Caribbean Yellow Rice and Pink Beans

    StockFood/Getty Images

    Rice and beans are staples in Caribbean cuisine, where they are often enjoyed as an inexpensive, protein-rich meal on their own. Serve them for an easy vegetarian dinner or as a hearty side dish for chicken, with this colorful recipe that flavors canned pink beans and yellow rice with sofrito, a strong, highly-seasoned sauce.

  • 03 of 30

    Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

    Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli

    The Spruce/Jennifer Perillo

    Pasta e fagioli is a delicious, Italian-American soup that makes an inexpensive meal for families on a budget. This restaurant-style recipe adds ground sausage to transform this humble soup of canned tomatoes, canned beans, aromatics, and herbs into a meaty, filling main course in one bowl.

  • 04 of 30

    French Chicken and Sausage Cassoulet With White Beans

    Discard bouquet garni

    ​The Spruce Eats / Nita West 

    This chicken and sausage cassoulet with white beans is a modern update on the classic French country recipe. Cook the ingredients separately at first, and then together, for a complex, hearty stew with bold, distinct flavors. It takes some time to make, but the delicious results are well worth the effort.

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  • 05 of 30

    Instant Pot Refried Beans

    Instant Pot Refried Beans

    The Spruce

    Make this your go-to recipe for refried beans to use in tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. The instant pot cooks up Mexican restaurant-style refried beans in a fraction of the time they would take on the stove-top, with no presoaking required.

  • 06 of 30

    Classic American Senate Bean Soup

    Classic American Senate Bean Soup

    The Spruce/Cara Cormack

    Classic bean soup with ham has been on the menu in the U.S. Senate dining room for over 100 years. It uses inexpensive ingredients, is hearty enough to make a meal, and while it needs a long cooking time, there isn't much work to do. The original recipe included a cup of mashed potatoes, but this one calls for instant mashed potato flakes, making your job easier.

  • 07 of 30

    Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup

    Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup

    The Spruce

    Fully loaded, Mexican vegetarian taco soup with three kinds of beans is a filling, healthy meatless meal that's delicious as all get-out. Just dump ingredients into the slow cooker, and leave to cook for hours, for a winning game day food. Top bowls with tortilla chips, grated cheese, or any other taco toppings you like.

  • 08 of 30

    Black Bean Hummus

    Black Bean Hummus

    The Spruce

    Add Southwestern flair to a buffet table with this rich-tasting hummus dip that uses canned black beans instead of chickpeas. Whip it up in just 10 minutes in your food processor, and serve with flat breads, crackers, or raw veggie sticks.

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  • 09 of 30

    Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

    Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili

    The Spruce

    Win your next potluck with this tasty vegan black bean and sweet potato chili. It's hearty and flavorful enough to please even meat-eaters, with sweet potatoes, black beans, carrots, canned diced tomatoes, and classic chili spices. If you use water, instead of stock, it is gluten-free, too.

  • 10 of 30

    Black Bean and Mango Salad

    Black Bean and Mango Salad

    The Spruce/Emily Hawkes

    Hearty black beans and sweet, juicy mangoes mingle with crunchy bell pepper, jalapenoes, fresh cilantro, and a zippy lime vinaigrette dressing in this simply delicious vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, low-calorie, and gluten-free bean salad.

  • 11 of 30

    Carolina Barbecue Beans

    Carolina Barbecue Beans

    Sabrina S. Baksh/Regarding BBQ Inc

    Carolina-style barbecue beans are a popular side dish for pulled pork and other cookout foods. This tasty recipe uses canned pork and beans, kidney beans, and lima beans, baking them in an ultra-tangy barbecue sauce that includes cider vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

  • 12 of 30

    Easy Black Bean Salad

    Easy Black Bean Salad

    Lauri Patterson/Getty Images

    Make a winning dish for potlucks and picnics with this quick and easy, Southern-style black bean salad. Black beans and fresh or frozen corn are the starring ingredients, with fresh tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, jalapenos, and a zesty lime vinaigrette dressing adding plenty of extra texture and flavor.

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  • 13 of 30

    White Bean Chicken Chili

    White Bean Chicken Chili

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Chicken chili is a fabulous alternative to beef or pork chili, and this tasty version with canned white beans and extra vegetables is healthier, too. Use a combination of chicken thighs and chicken breasts for maximum flavor. This recipe makes a big batch of chili, perfect for a game day party or tailgating.

  • 14 of 30

    Sun-Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Bean Dip

    Sun-Dried Tomato and Goat Cheese Bean Dip

    The Spruce / Jolinda Hackett

    Wow guests at your next house party with this 10-minute, gourmet-style bean dip appetizer that goes beyond the usual flavors. Sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese add tons of tangy taste and creaminess to a classic, garlicky white bean dip. Serve with pita triangles, crackers, or raw vegetables.

  • 15 of 30

    Falafel With Fava Beans

    Falafel with Fava Beans

    PhotoStock-Israel/Flickr

    A popular Middle Eastern restaurant dish gets a fresh makeover with this healthy fava bean and chickpea falafel recipe. Soak the beans overnight, before combining in a food processor with onion, parsley, baking powder, and spices. Form into balls and pan-fry until golden brown and then top with tahini sauce.

  • 16 of 30

    Crockpot Stuffed Peppers With Black Beans and Rice

    Crockpot Stuffed Peppers With Black Beans and Rice

    Smneedham/Photolibrary/Getty Images

    Stuffed peppers with a savory filling of cooked rice, black beans, sweet corn kernels, and diced fresh tomatoes are a tasty, meat-free alternative to the classic peppers stuffed with ground beef. Use your crockpot to make them for a delicious and fuss-free vegetarian family meal.

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  • 17 of 30

    Vegan Three-Bean Pasta With Creamy Spinach Sauce

    Vegan Three-Bean Pasta With Creamy Spinach Sauce

    AwaylGl/Getty Images

    Looking for a vegan-friendly main course to serve at dinner parties? Try this elegant, creamy pasta with spinach and three kinds of beans in a healthy vegan white sauce. Use a short, curvy pasta, such as fusili or gemelli, for catching all that delicious sauce.

  • 18 of 30

    Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole

    Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole

    James Baigie/Getty Images

    You already know that chili and cornbread taste great together, so why not combine them into one delicious dish? This genius recipe does just that, using an easy vegan chili with kidney beans, mock meat, tomatoes, and Mexican spices as the filling for a savory, dairy-free, baked cornbread casserole.

  • 19 of 30

    Vegan Spicy Black Bean Burger

    Vegan Spicy Black Bean Burger

    nata_vkusidey/Getty Images

    Delight vegetarians at summer barbecues with tasty vegan and vegetarian black bean burgers. You only need a handful of ingredients, including beans, salsa, cornmeal, flour, and spices, to form the patties in the food processor. Serve on toasted hamburger buns with your favorite toppings.

  • 20 of 30

    Cheesy Salsa Verde Rice and Beans Breakfast Bowl

    Cheesy Salsa Verde Rice and Beans Breakfast Bowl

    The Spruce / Stephanie Kirkos

    Warm up on cold winter mornings, and put pep in your step, with a hearty Mexican-style breakfast bowl. Make it in minutes, layering cooked brown rice with warmed kidney beans, onion, garlic, salsa verde, and sharp cheddar cheese. Top with a perfectly-fried egg, and optional hot sauce.

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  • 21 of 30

    Brunswick Stew With Potatoes, Corn, and Lima Beans

    Brunswick Stew with Potatoes, Corn, and Lima Beans

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    While every Southern family has their own version of Brunswick stew, most include a tomato-based broth with corn, lima beans, and potatoes. This tasty recipe uses chicken as the main protein and calls for flavoring the savory broth with ground red pepper and dried oregano.

  • 22 of 30

    Spicy Black-Eyed Peas With Tomatoes and Peppers

    Spicy Black-Eyed Peas With Tomatoes and Peppers

    The Spruce/Diana Rattray

    Make a protein-packed, plant-based side dish for your holiday table by combining black-eyed peas with tomatoes, bacon, onions, celery, and a variety of fresh peppers (including spicy jalepenos). Simmer together in a Dutch oven on your stovetop, until tender and heated through.

  • 23 of 30

    Texas Bean Bake With Ground Beef

    Texas Bean Bake With Ground Beef

    The Spruce/Diana Chistruga

    Tasty Texas-style baked beans with ground beef make a hearty barbecue side dish, or a satisfying family meal with cornbread. Brown ground beef in bacon drippings, then add to a casserole dish with three kinds of canned beans and barbecue sauce. Top with crumbled bacon, and bake until hot and bubbling.

  • 24 of 30

    Vegetarian Three Bean and Grape Salad

    Vegetarian Three Bean and Grape Salad

    The Spruce / Jolinda Hackett

    Add grapes to a classic three-bean salad for a light and cooling lunch or barbecue side dish. Assemble it in minutes with juicy green grapes, refreshing cucumber, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and white cannellini beans, all tossed in a tangy honey-mustard vinaigrette.

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  • 25 of 30

    Oven-Baked Refried Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Taquitos

    Oven-Baked Refried Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Taquitos

    The Spruce / Jolinda Hackett

    Traditional Mexican taquitos are rolled, stuffed corn tortillas that are fried until crispy, transforming them into crunchy tubes of deliciousness. These amazing vegetarian taquitos include canned refried beans and cheddar cheese, can be baked or fried, and are always a popular appetizer at parties.

  • 26 of 30

    Bean Stew With Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Apples

    Bean Stew With Sausage, Butternut Squash, and Apples

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Serve up a delicious bowlful of fall flavors with this homey bean stew that features three kinds of beans, plus smoked sausage, butternut squash, apples, and tangy onions. Brown sugar and cinnamon add a warming note and will make your kitchen smell amazing as the stew simmers to perfection.

  • 27 of 30

    Sicilian Fava Bean and Fennel Soup

    Sicilian Fava Bean and Fennel Soup

    The Picture Pantry/Getty Images

    Velvety, pureed fava bean soup with a unique licorice note from fennel is a rustic Sicilian dish with an Ancient Roman history. To make it, simmer beans and vegetables on the stove-top until tender, then puree until smooth. Top bowls with a drizzle of olive oil, and optional grated Parmesan cheese.

  • 28 of 30

    Tex-Mex Meatloaf With Black Beans

    Tex-Mex Meatloaf With Black Beans

    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

    Kids will love this tasty, Tex-Mex meatloaf that boosts the usual ground beef filling with a generous helping of black beans, mouth-watering spices, and shredded Mexican cheeses. Make it for family dinners, slice for sandwiches, or bake it in muffin tins for cute mini-meatloaves.

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  • 29 of 30

    Turkish Navy Bean Salad

    Turkish Navy Bean Salad

    Fatih SÖZERI/Fotolia.com

    Enjoy legumes for lunch, with this Turkish-style recipe that seasons navy beans with vinegar, and combines them with chopped fresh vegetables and parsley. Garnish with optional black olives, sliced hard-boiled egg, and lemon wedges.

  • 30 of 30

    Molasses Baked Beans With Salt Pork

    Molasses Baked Beans With Salt Pork

    grandriver/Getty Images

    Rustle up a pot of molasses baked beans for serving with burgers and hot dogs. Soak beans overnight, before combining in a baking dish with molasses, mustard, brown sugar, salt pork, and some of the bean soaking liquid. Leave to cook low and slow for several hours, then enjoy!