25 Meals You Can Make With a Can of Beans

From soups and stews to burgers and nachos, canned beans are the ideal starter for so many meals.

Bean greens stuffed peppers — Credit:
Johnny Miller

Of all the pantry staples in our kitchens, canned beans are the one that we reach for the most. They're one of the most versatile ingredients available, as delicious as a simple addition to a lunchtime salad, blended into a creamy dip, or turned into a full-on cheesy casserole for dinner. Every can contains several nutritious servings of plant-based protein, fiber, antioxidants, and essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and folate.

As much as we love cooking dried beans, using canned ones makes it extra easy to incorporate beans into your daily routine. There’s no need to soak, rinse, or simmer for hours. Just break out the can opener, give them a quick rinse. A can of beans is the start of all the delicious recipes here.

01 of 25

Smoky Black-Bean Soup With Sausage

smoky black-bean soup with sausage — Nico Schinco

Black beans are the star of this hearty soup. If you want to make it vegetarian, simply skip the andouille sausage and add another can of beans. Then, include one minced chipotle chile in adobo when you add the tomatoes—it will compensate for the smoky flavor the sausage brings.

02 of 25

Red-Bean Burgers With Avocado and Lime

Alpha Smoot

Would you believe it if we told you these burgers are just as satisfying as their meaty counterparts and are made with only six ingredients? Carrots add a bit of sweetness, while chili powder and dried oregano add an extra punch of flavor. Canned kidney beans provide structure, so when many veggie burgers fall apart, this one holds its shape until the last bite.

03 of 25

Cheesy Butter-Bean Shakshuka

Cheesy Butter Bean Shakshuka — Nico Schinco

Shakshuka, a North-African tomato and pepper-based dish, is ever-popular amongst the brunch crowd—and for good reason! In this version, meaty canned butter beans (also labeled as lima beans) add a little something extra to the mix. If you can’t find this variety of legume, opt for another creamy variety, like cannellini beans.

04 of 25

Rice-and-Bean Salad With Tahini Sauce

rice and bean salad bowl — Johnny Miller

You can use any type of canned beans and grains for these customizable bowls, along with your favorite crunchy vegetables. Serve it for dinner or take it for lunch all week long. If you get tired of the tahini sauce, swap it in for something bright and herby, like this chimichurri.

05 of 25

Whole-Wheat Tagliatelle With Creamy White Bean and Kale Sauce

whole-wheat tagliatelle with creamy white-bean and kale sauce — Ryan Liebe

This vibrant green pasta dish has a secret—there’s no dairy in the ultra creamy sauce. Cannellini beans are blended with sautéed kale, garlic, lemon, and a few other ingredients to make a creamy pesto-like sauce that the wide noodles take a swim in.

06 of 25

Drunken Mussels With Chorizo and White Beans

drunken mussels with chorizo and white beans topped with parsley leaves — Con Poulos

While the smoky chorizo and meaty mussels might be the stars of this recipe, white beans take a subtle but necessary backseat. They bring extra protein and fiber, and they become so creamy that they practically melt in your mouth.

07 of 25

Cheesy Lentil and Black Bean Nachos

cheesy lentil-and-black-bean nachos — Lennart Weibull

Nachos are usually a meaty affair, but when canned black beans, lentils, and mushrooms come together, they create a deeply satisfying vegetarian chili that’s perfect for topping nachos. This party-ready recipe can and should be topped with lots of melted cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.

08 of 25

Bean Burritos

Bean Burritos — Jake Sternquist

Simple, versatile, and easy to make-ahead—that describes these freezer-ready burritos to a tee. Canned pinto beans simmer with spices to make a quick batch of refried beans, which is paired with rice and cheese inside warm, toasty tortillas.

09 of 25

Salmon With White Beans

Romulo Yanes

This simple meal is one you’ll be turning to week after week—it's just that good, fast, and easy. Lemony herb-infused white beans serve as a bed for flaky salmon fillets that cook in ten minutes flat. All they need is a squeeze of lemon to finish, but if you have a few extra minutes, whisk up a quick yogurt sauce to dollop on top of each serving.

10 of 25

Smoky Black-Bean Salsa

black bean salsa — Chelsea Cavanaugh

Tired of the same old hummus and guacamole? There’s a new dip in town, and it's quick to make and easy to scoop. Rinse and drain the black beans, then toss them with minced chipotle chiles, lime juice, red onions, and cilantro. That's it! Then it's ready to enjoy with crunchy sweet potato chips.

11 of 25

Cannellini-Bean and Greens Stew

white beans greens stew — Julia Gartland

This hearty and healthy one-pot dish is sure to be on endless repeat for future dinners. We like to serve the stew with thick slices of crusty bread fried in sage-infused oil, but it also pairs well with brown rice or your favorite grain.

12 of 25

Vegetable and Bean Soup

Vegetable Bean Soup — Brie Goldman

Endless customization is the name of the game for this hearty bean soup. Use two cans of beans—cannellini are recommended, but any other mild variety, such as kidney, pinto, or navy, will work well. You can even amp up the protein and fiber content by adding lentils or stirring in cooked quinoa.

13 of 25

Cuban Red Beans and Rice

Few things are as satisfying as a bowl of beans and rice. This easy version features onion and bell pepper and is spiced with garlic, cumin, and oregano. It can serve as a humble side dish or a meal on its own. If you prefer black beans, swap them for the red.

14 of 25

Pasta Salad With Chickpeas, Green Beans, and Basil

Pasta Salad with Green Beans and Basil — Ren Fuller

Pasta salad is a crowd pleaser. It wins at all kinds of gatherings, from a summer barbecue to a simple office lunch. This one is bursting with beans—chickpeas and fresh green beans—both benefit from a good soak in the flavorful garlic vinaigrette that defines this potluck classic.

15 of 25

Beans-and-Greens Stuffed Peppers

beans-and-greens-stuffed peppers with cheese — Johnny Miller

These stuffed peppers are surprisingly simple to put together and ready to eat in just 30 minutes. They're broiled, not baked, which speeds things up, as does the delicious filling that's an Italian-inspired combination of nutrient-rich Swiss chard, canned white beans, Parmesan, and garlic. Each pepper is topped with a heaping pile of fontina cheese.

16 of 25

Quick Baked Beans With Bacon

baked beans bacon — Bryan Gardner

Traditional baked beans take hours to make; this recipe cuts that time in half by using canned beans instead of dried. A few slices of bacon are cooked on top, and their flavor permeates the beans, adding a delicious saltiness throughout.

17 of 25

Hummus Without Tahini

hummus without tahini in a white bowl with colorful vegetables and crackers for dipping

The first thing that comes to mind when we think about chickpeas is hummus. This homemade version is tahini-free, so if sesame allergies are a problem, you can still enjoy the crowd-pleasing dip. Blend canned chickpeas with mashed garlic, lemon juice, and plenty of olive oil for a creamy dip you'll scoop, spread on sandwiches, and use in grain bowls.

18 of 25

Roasted Red-Pepper Salad With Anchovy & White Beans

Johnny Miller

This simple and filling salad also manages to be elegant. It pairs canned white beans and charred peppers with an anchovy-sherry vinaigrette that’s just salty enough. Since we’re in the spirit of canned goods, feel free to streamline this recipe by using jarred roasted red peppers instead of turning on the oven to cook your own.

19 of 25

Black Beans and Sausage

The simplicity of this dish allows the true flavors of each ingredient to shine through, meaning the earthy black beans won’t get lost in translation, even when paired with smoky sausage. Though not a soup, these slightly brothy beans are just as quick and easy as any soup recipe out there.

20 of 25

Minestrone With Collard Greens and White Beans

José Manuel Picayo Rivera

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best; this soup is a case in point. It comes together in 40 minutes and uses both canned tomatoes and canned white beans. Those sweet and mild ingredients meld with bittersweet collard greens for a cozy dish. Beans are the bulk of the soup, but we won’t judge if you add an equal amount of Parmesan cheese on top.

21 of 25

Turkey and White-Bean Chili

colorful bowl of turkey chili with condiments

Chili purists say there’s no place for beans in real chili, but since this recipe already bucks tradition by using turkey instead of ground beef, all bets are off. Each satisfying bite is gently infused with cumin, jalapeño, and tomato, with the creamy texture of white beans front and center.

22 of 25

Vegetable and Black-Bean Fried Rice

vegetable and black bean fried rice — Con Poulos

This dish is a perfect example of why canned beans are our go-to for quick weeknight dinners. When you add in pre-cooked rice, you've got the ultimate fast combo. Add some sautéed vegetables, scrambled eggs, avocado, and tortilla chips, and this Tex-Mex-inspired dish will be on the table in no time.

23 of 25

Chipotle-Shrimp Tacos With Fennel and Beans

Chipotle-Shrimp Tacos with Fennel and Beans — Con Poulos

Canned pinto beans hold their own next to the smoky, plump shrimp in these tacos. Pile the mixture into warm flour tortillas with a quick crunchy fennel, and dinner is served.

24 of 25

Lamb and Bulgur Stew With White Beans

This one-dish stovetop stew stars creamy white beans. Each bite of brothy ground lamb and beans is flavored with sweet paprika and a touch of red pepper flakes—the perfect savory and spicy balance. Bulgur rounds out the meal and adds a pleasant chewiness to the dish.

25 of 25

Guacamole Hummus

Guacamole hummus with tortilla chips and vegetables for dipping on a platter — Kelsey Hansen

When you can't decide between hummus and guacamole, it's time to make this best-of-both-worlds dip. Adding ripe avocado makes hummus greener, creamier, and more delicious.

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