As Someone Currently In Their "Bean Era," I'm Going To Be Cooking All 85 Of These Easy Bean Recipes
You won't believe everything you can make with a can of beans.
Though beans are arguably most known for being a musical fruit, but they're also pretty darn magical too. Think of it: What’s the one ingredient that's budget-friendly, you can use it to make everything from apps to desserts, AND is full of good-for-you nutrients like fiber and protein? We’re talking about beans, baby! They’re super-versatile, easily accessible, and best of all, we bet you’ve got a few cans of them kicking around your cabinets already. If not, what are you waiting for? Check out our 81 bean recipes for ideas on what to make with them, then stock up.
One of the biggest questions we encounter about beans is whether or not you should use dried or canned. Here’s the honest truth: Cooking beans from scratch is way more cost-effective and will yield flavorful beans, but! The convenience of canned beans really can’t be beat. If it’s between buying canned or not eating beans at all, we think the answer’s obvious. If you do go the route of cooking your own from dried, follow our tips so they’ll come out the best they can be. If not, no judgment! You’ll be-an happy to know, nearly all of the recipes here can use either, so you do you.
Once you’ve got that down, you can make nearly anything with your beans. Looking for an app or starter? Try one of our myriad bean-filled soups, like our black bean soup, our mulligatawny stew, or our pesto rice & bean soup; salads, like our cowboy caviar couscous salad, our four-bean salad, or our anything goes farro & white bean salad; or go for something more game-day-appropriate, like our homemade hummus, our chicken enchilada dip, or our nachos supreme. Looking for a filling side dish? Try our bacon baked beans, our succotash, or our Jamaican rice & beans. They can help add tons of flavor to even the most lackluster of meals. Trying to eat less meat? Beans are full of protein and are perfect replacements for all your favorite meat-y dishes too. Try our vegan meatballs (chickpeas), our black bean burgers, our chickpea “tuna” salad, or our aquafaba chocolate mousse (the cooking liquid from chickpeas acts just like egg whites! 🤯). Speaking of sweets, you can use beans in desserts too, like our white bean blondies, our mochi (red beans), or our black bean brownies. Is there anything beans can’t do?!
Cocktails, maybe. 😉 Check out our favorite beers, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks to go with these recipes.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
Looking for your new favorite way to dress up canned chickpeas? You’re in the right place. Simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy, this vegetarian spin on classic butter chicken will forever change the way you look at a can of beans.
Get the Indian Butter Chickpeas recipe.
Cowboy Caviar
Despite the name, Cowboy Caviar requires nary a fish egg. In the early 1940s, a New York chef named Helen Corbitt created this hearty appetizer for a New Year's Eve party in Texas. Tasked with creating posh dishes using local ingredients, Corbitt elevated the humble black eyed pea to a sought-after delicacy, still popular in Texas and beyond. TMYK!
Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.
Spinach & Artichoke White Bean Skillet
It's no secret that we can't get enough of beans, and our newest obsession features iconic spinach and artichoke dip reimagined as a glossy white bean skillet. We love this pantry-friendly recipe because it’s an easy vegetarian dinner with complex flavor and it’s incredibly affordable—the perfect addition to your weeknight rotation!
Get the Spinach & Artichoke White Bean Skillet recipe.
Homemade Hummus
Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, hummus is the easiest last-minute appetizer or satisfying snack to throw together. After multiple rounds of testing, we found our favorite hack for making a creamy and smooth hummus with a rich and nutty sesame flavor from scratch—no chickpea soaking required!
Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.
Louisiana-Style Red Beans & Rice
All Creole cuisine packs a flavor punch that keeps you coming back for seconds, but red beans and rice are in a league all their own. The red beans soak up the smoky, porky, spicy, and earthy flavors and release some starch to create a rich gravy that’s perfect for spooning over steamed white rice.
Marry Me Chickpeas
Our original Marry Me chicken might be an Internet sensation, but these Marry Me chickpeas are coming for the crown. Chickpeas are tossed in creamy garlic and sun-dried tomato sauce for a simple vegetarian spin on Delish’s favorite dinner.
Get the Marry Me Chickpeas recipe.
Enchilada Casserole
This has all of the flavors of chicken enchiladas (with a few worthwhile additions), but eliminates the only tedious part of making enchiladas: all that rolling. In this recipe, you just layer all your components in a casserole dish, bake until melty and saucy, add your desired toppings, and serve!
Get the Enchilada Casserole recipe.
Succotash
We love using this combo of sweet and savory veg to make a fresh summer side dish that will lighten up any warm-weather meal. Historically, the corn, zucchini, and lima beans would be cooked alongside some form of fresh or dried meat, but in this case, we've opted for bacon, which adds some nice crispy texture and porky flavor.
Get the Succotash recipe.
Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice
We love a burrito bar moment, but at home, we don't want to spend the time washing extra dishes. That's where this baked burrito rice comes in. Cleanup is a breeze, and the leftovers are unbelievable.
Get the Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice recipe.
Baked Beans
Baked beans are sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make—they’re a one-pot wonder! Throw in the fact that one batch feeds a small crowd and that most of the cooking is done unattended in the oven, and you have a winning dish.
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Black Bean Burgers
Finding alternatives to meat can be hard, but we think these burgers really nail it. The secret? Stop trying to make them taste like beef, and focus on the flavor of the beans!
Get the Black Bean Burgers recipe.
Creamy Coconut-Lime Chickpea Skillet
This chickpea skillet is inspired by our one-pan coconut-lime chicken. With a sweet, slightly spicy coconut and tomato sauce that is absolute perfection, and plenty of crisp, nearly creamy chickpeas, this is the coconut-lime variation that won’t leave you missing the meat.
Jamaican Rice & Peas
This quintessential side goes with any main dish in Jamaican cuisine. Fluffy and moist, it has a savory creaminess that comes from the use of aromatics like garlic and onion, in addition to coconut milk. It's a perfect match for classic Jamaican dishes like curry chicken or oxtail stew.
Get the Jamaican Rice & Peas recipe.
Refried Pinto Beans
Mastering this classic Mexican staple takes a little bit of time, a lot of pork fat, and a few helpful hints (like how to speed up soaking your homemade beans!). Trust us, the effort is worth it for the best refried beans you'll ever have.
Get the Refried Pinto Beans recipe.
Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Skillet
We're the kind of people that steal the cheesy broccoli out of broccoli cheddar soup, so this broccoli cheddar chickpea skillet is my dream dinner. Steamed broccoli and chickpeas are tossed together in a light cheesy sauce for a protein-filled one-pan meal that’s primed to become a new family favorite.
Get the Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Skillet recipe.
Classic Chili
Hearty, filling, and versatile, chili is a staple comfort food for very good reason. While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes.
Get the Classic Chili recipe.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are good for so much more than just creamy homemade hummus. (Though that's definitely a good use of them!) They also make for a particularly good salty snack and are infinitely adaptable based on what you've got in your spice cabinet.
Get the Roasted Chickpeas recipe.
Baked Feta Chickpeas
Thought baked feta was over? Think again. Let us introduce you to your next obsession: baked feta chickpeas. Tossed in a fresh garlic-burst cherry tomato sauce and served with slabs of bubbling browned feta, these chickpeas are your weeknight ticket to protein-packed dinnertime bliss.
Get the Baked Feta Chickpeas recipe.
Creamy White Bean Dip
Need an easy dip to share? This white bean dip takes extremely little work and is great for a last-minute appetizer or to make in advance to have the job done. Pair it with lots of spring veggies and pita chips for dipping.
Get the Creamy White Bean Dip recipe.
7-Layer Dip
This truly has everything we could ever want in a dip: refried beans, homemade guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cheese (😍) all topped with fresh veggies for an added crunch. You'll never buy the store-bought version again after trying this homemade dip.
Get the 7-Layer Dip recipe.
