You don’t have to be a vegetarian to appreciate how wonderful and versatile canned beans are. They’re easy to cook with, relatively cheap, and readily available. Not only do they have a longer shelf life than refrigerated protein options, but they also make for delicious, satisfying dinners. If you’re looking to save some cash, eat healthier, or simply move through some items in your pantry, you really can’t go wrong with these scrumptious dinners.
Southwestern Sweet Potato and Black Bean Pasta Salad
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This Southwestern-style pasta combines sweet potato and protein-rich black beans with a tangy, smoky chipotle vinaigrette.
Calico Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Bring this hearty casserole to potlucks, BBQ’s, picnics, camping trips, and more. “I’ve been making this recipe for years, and was glad to find it here on All Recipes. It has a wonderful sweet/savory blend of flavors that’s just fantastic,” says recipe reviewer ksneij. “My entire family loves it… A really hearty, fiber-filled dinner option!”
White Bean Soup
ALLRECIPES /DIANA CHISTRUGA
“Sooooo good! I am looking forward to making this again. I served it to my family and extended family. Everyone enjoyed it. A refreshing different taste from most soups….and I love most soups.” —Marce
Black Beans and Rice
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Black beans and rice make a great 30-minute vegetarian meal that’s filling, delicious, and cheap! It’s great as a side dish or in a burrito bowl, too.
Easy Baked Beans
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
This easy recipe for baked beans uses canned beans instead of dry, so it’s quick and easy to prepare.
“I usually never like what I cook, but these baked beans were perfect,” says reviewer Jennifer. “Better than any BBQ place.”
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck
“This salad is so yummy and super versatile. It’s great by itself, or for a full dinner we like to grill some chicken breasts and throw it all on baked corn tortillas with lettuce for a tostada salad.” —HAWAUD
Slow Cooker Homemade Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
These slow cooker baked beans with bacon are especially great for football Sundays—hearty and nourishing, you can serve them either as a main course or a versatile side dish.
Chana Masala (Indian Chickpea Curry)
“I don’t review a lot of recipes, but I’m sold on this one. Soooo easy and the flavors are amazing,” says reviewer carol. “This may become a staple in my refrigerator for snacking.”
Best Bean Salad
This bean salad is loaded with beans and vegetables in a delicious tangy dressing. Easy to make and packed with protein, they are perfect for parties and picnics, and even better the next day.
Quinoa and Black Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This vegan quinoa recipe is a very flavorful alternative to traditional black beans and rice.
Better Baked Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Tangy, sweet, old-fashioned baked beans are made the easy way using canned beans,” says recipe creator Diane Carman-Young. “This is my grandma’s favorite semi-homemade recipe. She makes it every Thanksgiving, and we usually end up scraping the pan clean! There are never any leftovers.”
Butter Chickpea Curry
Photo by Marisa Ramirez
This satisfying curry is filling, easy to make, and won’t bust your budget. Sushi0306 calls it “a delicious, creamy chickpea and potato curry, full of flavor and so simple. You control the spice! Serve over a bed of rice.”
Vegan Black Bean Soup
This simple soup is a meal in itself thanks to plenty of filling black beans.
Quick and Easy Refried Beans
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Made with leftover pinto beans to serve with homemade chicken quesadillas, and a side of salsa, and chips. So yummy! My daughter LOVED them!! I have never gotten her to eat any other refried beans before.” —April Schoolfield
Simple Baked Beans
Yoly
These baked beans with bacon are my favorite side dish. Mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup add a delicious flavor to the beans and they’re so much quicker to make on the stovetop than bake.
Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas
Allrecipes Magazine
These spicy quesadillas are full of beans but still cheesy and delicious. This is a great quick meal to whip up after a busy day.
Balela Salad
Photo by SHUBHA
If you prefer your salad with even more beans, this Middle-Eastern-inspired recipe is a great one to try. It features garbanzo beans, black beans, mint, parsley, onion, and grape tomatoes and a quick, flavorful blender dressing with jalapeno peppers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.
Black Bean Chili
Meatless chili that’s so good, you won’t even miss the meat. “This chili recipe is fantastic,” says MONKEYD. “My only problem with this recipe is that we didn’t make a double batch (it did not make 8 servings for us). You will not miss the meat at all.”
Quinoa Black Bean Burgers
These vegetarian quinoa-black bean burgers are quick and delicious! Serve them on a whole wheat bun with garlic-lemon mayo, fresh spinach leaves, sliced tomato, and caramelized onions.
Boston Baked Beans
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Slow-cooked in the oven with bacon, onions, and a sweet, syrupy sauce, these classic baked beans capture an old-fashioned taste that everyone will enjoy.
“This easy recipe has been served by my family for over 29 years and originally came from my mother-in-law,” says recipe creator AJRHODES3. “It tastes great served with fresh cornbread or biscuits and honey.”