This collection of over 45 bean recipes includes a mix of pantry-friendly meals, sides, and appetizers made with canned beans, along with classic from-scratch favorites using dried beans. You’ll find comforting soups and chilis, easy family dinners, fresh salads, and some great options for entertaining.
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Beans are one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. I use them to stretch meat-based recipes, making meals more filling and budget-friendly, and I love how easy they are to keep on hand for everything from quick pantry dinners to big, savory pots of soup or chili for casual get-togethers.
These are the bean recipes I make on repeat for easy meals and laid-back entertaining. Whether you need a quick, wholesome dinner or have the time to cook beans from scratch, you’re sure to find a few favorites in this collection.
Table of contents
Easy Recipes with Canned Beans
Canned beans make it easy to pull together filling, flavorful meals with very little prep. This group includes soups, chilis, casseroles, salads, and simple mains that come together quickly and fit easily into everyday cooking.
Soups, Stews, and Chilis
Sausage and Bean Soup
This Sausage and Bean Soup is quick and easy to make thanks to fully cooked sausage and canned white beans. The hearty, savory broth makes it comforting, satisfying, and perfect for busy weeknights.
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White Bean and Ham Soup
Make use of canned beans to make this easy stovetop White Bean and Ham Soup. It’s cozy, comforting, and a perfect way to use up leftover ham.
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Sausage White Bean and Kale Stew
This rustic, comforting Sausage White Bean and Kale Stew is just the thing you need to warm you up on a chilly day. A wonderfully easy, delicious, and satisfying fall meal.
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Chicken and Sausage Stew
An easy stovetop method and simple ingredients create this flavor-packed Chicken and Sausage Stew with white beans and spinach. A rustic, comforting choice for a cold winter evening.
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Three Bean Turkey Chili
This flavorful Turkey Chili recipe will satisfy even the heartiest of appetites. It’s packed with lean ground turkey, three kinds of beans, and a variety of Mexican spices. Serve it with the toppings of your choice for a delicious, comforting meal.
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Halftime Chili
This hearty Halftime Chili is deliciously seasoned and chock full of beef, beans, and beer! Get all the work done in advance so you don't miss a minute of the next big game.
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White Chicken Chili
A delicious blend of chicken, spices, beans, and peppers come together to create this hearty White Chicken Chili. A bowl of this flavorful chili will warm you up from the inside out.
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Ground Beef Chili
This homemade Ground Beef Chili is loaded with classic flavor. It's an easy, comforting meal that's perfect for game day entertaining.
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Chicken Minestrone Soup
This Chicken Minestrone Soup is an easy, wholesome meal for a busy day. Vibrant vegetables, rotisserie chicken, and elbow pasta make it a simple but hearty meal in itself.
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Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone
This Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone is loaded with fresh vegetables, ground beef, and pasta. This hearty, comforting soup is a meal in itself. Slice a loaf of crusty bread, pour a glass of wine, and dinner is served!
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Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
A flavorful blend of spices adds big flavor to this Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup. Make use of pantry staples to create this easy, super satisfying meal.
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One-Pot, Skillets, and Casseroles
Chili Cornbread Casserole
Flavorful chili is baked over a layer of cornbread with plenty of melted cheese. This Chili Cornbread Casserole is a hearty choice for your next game day gathering or a comforting meal any night of the week.
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Taco Pasta Bake
This cheesy Taco Pasta Bake is loaded with a saucy ground beef and bean mixture and baked until bubbly. A hearty, comforting casserole for a busy day.
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Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet
This cheesy one pot Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet is loaded with corn, peppers, and black beans for a hearty, delicious meal. It's ready in just 30 minutes and cleanup is a breeze!
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Skillet Sausage and White Beans with Spinach
This comforting Skillet Sausage and White Beans with Spinach is on your table in just 30 minutes. Serve with a loaf of crusty bread to soak up the delicious broth for a flavorful, satisfying meal.
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Mexican Stuffed Peppers
A delicious filling made with seasoned ground beef, rice, black beans, and corn is topped with cheese and baked inside pretty colored bell peppers. Mexican Stuffed Peppers are a vibrant, super tasty meal.
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Easy Red Beans and Rice
This Easy Red Beans and Rice recipe is a quick version of the classic Creole dish that takes a fraction of the time to make. Andouille sausage and red beans simmered in a flavorful broth are served over white rice. This hearty meal is easy enough to make any night of the week.
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Easy Seasoned Pinto Beans
Plain canned beans can be bland and uninteresting, but it only takes a few minutes to turn them into something special. These Easy Seasoned Pinto Beans are a simple, flavorful side dish for tacos, enchiladas, or any Mexican-inspired meal.
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Burritos, Bowls, and Tostadas
Beef and Bean Burritos (Freezer-Friendly)
Skip the freezer aisle and make your own freezer-friendly Beef and Bean Burritos at home. Flour tortillas are layered with a well seasoned ground beef filling, two kinds of beans, and plenty of shredded cheese.
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Cheesy Baked Bean and Rice Burritos
An oven fry method creates these crispy Baked Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos. Bake up a sheet pan full of these satisfying meatless burritos for an easy meal or a healthier game day party snack!
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Chipotle Burrito Bowl (Copycat Recipe)
This Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe combines the best of the famous restaurant recipes you love in one delicious meal. Make it a Chipotle night without leaving the house!
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Southwest Ground Turkey Taco Bowls
These flavorful Ground Turkey Taco Bowls with a Southwest twist are a delicious way to lighten up your menu. You won't believe how quick and easy they are to prepare!
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Veggie Tostadas
These oven baked Veggie Tostadas are a deliciously healthy way to satisfy your craving for Mexican food. Crisp corn tortillas are smeared with refried beans and loaded with colorful sautéed vegetables to create these low calorie, vegetarian tostadas.
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Chicken and Veggie Baked Tostadas
Perfectly crisped, oven-baked tortillas make the perfect base for these Chicken and Veggie Baked Tostadas. A quick and wholesome meal!
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Mexican Scrambled Eggs
These hearty Mexican Scrambled Eggs are cooked with onions, peppers, tomato, and melted cheese. Serve them with avocado, black beans, and tortillas for a protein-rich start to your day or an easy breakfast for dinner!
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Easy Baked Bean Recipes
Spicy Baked Beans
These easy Spicy Baked Beans are a zippy, flavorful take on the classic summer potluck dish.
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Kielbasa Baked Beans
These Kielbasa Baked Beans make for a hearty and flavorful summer side dish or spoon them over rice for an easy, satisfying meal.
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Italian Baked Beans
These rustic Baked Italian Beans are quick and easy to make and add a super comforting element to a meal. Tender cannellini beans and sautéed greens are baked in marinara sauce with fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
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Calico Beans
A variety of canned beans and ground beef come together to create these classic Calico Beans. These smoky, flavorful beans are perfect for summer gatherings!
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Cold Bean Dishes and Salads
Mexican Bean Salad
This vibrant Mexican Bean Salad is a fresh, zesty side dish that’s perfect for potlucks, barbecues, or easy meal prep. With a colorful mix of beans, corn, and bell peppers tossed in a tangy dressing, it’s as flavorful as it is versatile.
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Three Bean Salad Recipe
This homemade Three Bean Salad recipe is so much tastier than the store-bought variety. The dressing gives it a sweet, vinegary bite that is irresistibly good!
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Mango Corn Salsa with Black Beans
Brighten up your summer party menu with this Mango Corn Salsa with Black Beans. This vibrant salsa is a delicious dip, topping for tacos or burrito bowls, or a fresh side dish!
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Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing
This Classic Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing is loaded with crunchy iceberg lettuce, seasoned ground beef and beans, diced tomatoes, creamy avocado, and crushed tortilla chips. It's all topped with zesty Catalina dressing for a tangy and sweet twist to the classic Mexican flavors.
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Mediterranean Chicken Salad
This Mediterranean Chicken Salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, pepperoncini and a creamy feta dill dressing. It's fresh, crunchy, and loaded with BIG flavor!
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Italian Chopped Salad
This Italian Chopped Salad is a flavorful mix of crisp romaine, radicchio, salami, smoked mozzarella, tomatoes, chickpeas, and zesty pepperoncini, all tossed in a tangy Italian vinaigrette and topped with Parmesan and pine nuts. Irresistible flavor and texture in every bite!
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Appetizers and Dips
White Bean Crostini Appetizer
This White Bean Crostini appetizer is a flavorful mix of creamy white beans, smoky black-eyed peas, and avocado tossed in a citrusy-sweet dressing. A fresh, wholesome option for any gathering.
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Warm Cheesy Bean Dip
This warm Cheesy Bean Dip is packed with two kinds of beans and plenty of gooey, melted cheese. A quick and easy party appetizer that's perfect for a game day gathering.
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Beef Enchilada Dip
This Beef Enchilada Dip is a substantial appetizer brimming with beef, beans, enchilada sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. A crowd-pleasing dip that's guaranteed to be a hit at your game day party.
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Cowboy Caviar
A bevy of delicious, colorful ingredients including smoky black eyed peas, black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, and avocado create this healthy and completely irresistible Cowboy Caviar. Guaranteed to go over in a big way at any gathering.
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Fully Loaded Guacamole
This Fully Loaded Guacamole takes guacamole to a new level! Avocados combined with black beans, jicama, corn, bell pepper, jalapeno, cilantro and lime. Tons of flavor and texture in every bite!
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From-Scratch Dried Bean Recipes
These recipes start with dried beans or legumes and are worth the extra time. They’re cozy, satisfying dishes that are great for weekends, make-ahead meals, or stocking the freezer. You’ll find all the tips and tricks you need in each recipe for a perfect result.
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Make use of the bone from your holiday ham and cook up a batch of this Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup. It is the perfect post-holiday comfort food to enjoy with your family.
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Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
Dried beans are cooked to tender perfection without any pre-soaking in this deliciously seasoned Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup. Old fashioned comfort food at its best!
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Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe is a great way to make use of that leftover bone from your holiday ham. Cooking it low and slow is the best method for creating creamy, delicious split pea soup.
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Baked Beans from Scratch
The rich, molasses-spiked flavor and tender texture of these old-fashioned Baked Beans from Scratch make them a true comfort food classic. They’re a perfect make-ahead dish for potlucks, barbecues, or any gathering.
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Instant Pot Baked Beans
These Instant Pot Baked Beans cook up perfectly tender with classic baked bean flavor in a fraction of the time of other methods.
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Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans
Dry pinto beans cook up perfectly tender in a deliciously seasoned sauce in about an hour! These saucy Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans are a fantastic side dish option for a variety of entrees.
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Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
These Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas are pressure cooked with smoked sausage and collard greens with no soaking in advance. Tender, loaded with smoky flavor, and oh so satisfying. This is serious comfort food!
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I hope you find a few new favorites to add to your regular rotation.
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