26 Recipes for Canned Beans

Whether they’re served alongside a main ingredient or playing a prominent role in a meal, canned beans are a quick and easy way to add a healthy boost of protein to any dish.

Start Slideshow

1 of 27

Pumpkin With White Beans and Bacon

Con Poulos

Bits of bacon add a salty, crisp bite to this hearty side dish.

Get the recipe.

2 of 27

Eggplant With Peppers and Beans Sandwich

Danny Kim

Create a tasty spread by mashing cannellini beans with garlic, tahini, and lemon juice.

Get the recipe.

3 of 27

Greens and Bean Salad With Grapes

Danny Kim

Sweet red grapes perk up this simple, 20-minute salad.

Get the recipe.

4 of 27

Pork Cutlets With Sautéed Peppers and Beans

Yunhee Kim

Olives, parsley, and red wine vinegar give this meal a hit of bright flavor.

Get the recipe.

5 of 27

White Bean and Escarole Soup With Chicken Sausage

Paul Sirisalee

Brown the sausages first to add extra depth to this quick and easy soup.

Get the recipe.

6 of 27

Watercress and Bean Salad With Almonds and Ricotta Salata

Anna Williams

A delicious addition to the salad, ricotta salata is a pressed, salted, and dried variety of ricotta that has a firm, crumbly texture and a mildly nutty flavor.

Get the recipe.

7 of 27

Beef and Bean Enchiladas With Sautéed Zucchini

José Picayo

Want to make these enchiladas vegetarian? Use an additional can of pinto beans in place of the beef.

Get the recipe.

8 of 27

Slow-Cooker Pork and Black Beans With Fresh Salsa

Christopher Baker

Serve this comforting dish over white rice with salsa, avocado, and hot sauce on the side.

Get the recipe.

9 of 27

Couscous With Beans, Avocado, and Scallions

Levi Brown

Turn plain couscous into a filling side with kidney beans, chopped avocado, scallions, and fresh lime juice.

Get the recipe.

10 of 27

Crispy Quinoa and Bean Cakes With Salad

Anna Williams

Form the patties out of quinoa, sweet potatoes, kale, and kidney beans for a healthy alternative to hamburgers.

Get the recipe.

11 of 27

Spiced Shrimp With Beans

Paul Sirisalee

Ground coriander and paprika provide the warming spice in this recipe.

Get the recipe.

12 of 27

White Bean Salad

Raymond Hom

The perfect make-ahead dish (it’ll keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator), this salad is delicious served cold or at room temperature.

Get the recipe.

13 of 27

Salmon, Black Bean, and Corn Tostadas

Romulo Yanes

For a change from tacos, serve crunchy tostadas topped with an unexpected mixture of salmon, black beans, corn, lettuce, and salsa.

Get the recipe.

14 of 27

Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew

Paul Sirisalee

Similar to a Moroccan tagine, this meatless stew is filled with veggies—zucchini, butternut squash, tomatoes, and onion.

Get the recipe.

15 of 27

Chopped Winter Salad With Butternut Squash

Yunhee Kim

This vegetarian meal-in-a-bowl has a wonderful mix of flavors and textures.

Get the recipe.

16 of 27

Swiss Chard and Chickpea Fritters With Yogurt

Christopher Baker

A take on falafel, these fritters make a great snack or appetizer when served with a dollop of yogurt.

Get the recipe.

17 of 27

Chicken, Squash, and Chickpea Salad With Tahini Dressing

Jonny Valiant

Pair roasted chicken with tender butternut squash, chickpeas, romaine, and a Middle Eastern dressing for a satisfying one-bowl meal.

Get the recipe.

18 of 27

Spiced Chicken With Chickpea and Cucumber Salad

Jonny Valiant

Sprinkle the chicken with sesame seeds and paprika before cooking for a quick flavor boost.

Get the recipe.

19 of 27

Lamb Chops With Braised Escarole and Chickpeas

José Picayo

A good source of vitamins A and C, escarole is a leafy green with a slightly bitter bite.

Get the recipe.

20 of 27

Curried Tomatoes and Chickpeas

Paul Sirisalee

To turn this protein-rich salad into a delicious dinner, serve it with basmati rice, a dollop of yogurt, and warm naan or pita bread.

Get the recipes.

21 of 27

Chickpea and Raisin Salad

Charles Masters

Simple and satisfying, this side salad comes together in just 15 minutes.

Get the recipe.

22 of 27

Slow-Cooker Bean and Spinach Enchiladas

Marcus Nilsson

Fill the tortillas with black beans (both mashed and whole), chopped spinach, corn, and Cheddar for a warm and comforting meal.

Get the recipe.

23 of 27

Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur

Marcus Nilsson

You can make the zucchini-bean mixture and the bulgur up to 12 hours in advance.

Get the recipe.

24 of 27

Pan-Roasted Vegetables and Beans

Marcus Nilsson

This recipe calls for pinto beans, but you can swap in black beans, navy beans, or even chickpeas.

Get the recipe.

25 of 27

Bean and Cheese Taquitos

Charles Masters

Fry corn tortillas stuffed with black beans and Cheddar until crisp for a hot, cheesy snack.

Get the recipe.

26 of 27

Seared Lamb With White Bean and Mint Salad

Quentin Bacon

Lamb might sound intimidating, but this dish is incredibly easy. Just sear the lamb chops, then roast in the oven; the no-cook salad comes together in mere minutes.

Get the recipe.

Replay gallery

26 Recipes for Canned Beans

1 of 27

Pumpkin With White Beans and Bacon

2 of 27

Eggplant With Peppers and Beans Sandwich

3 of 27

Greens and Bean Salad With Grapes

4 of 27

Pork Cutlets With Sautéed Peppers and Beans

5 of 27

White Bean and Escarole Soup With Chicken Sausage

6 of 27

Watercress and Bean Salad With Almonds and Ricotta Salata

7 of 27

Beef and Bean Enchiladas With Sautéed Zucchini

8 of 27

Slow-Cooker Pork and Black Beans With Fresh Salsa

9 of 27

Couscous With Beans, Avocado, and Scallions

10 of 27

Crispy Quinoa and Bean Cakes With Salad

11 of 27

Spiced Shrimp With Beans

12 of 27

White Bean Salad

13 of 27

Salmon, Black Bean, and Corn Tostadas

14 of 27

Butternut Squash and Chickpea Stew

15 of 27

Chopped Winter Salad With Butternut Squash

16 of 27

Swiss Chard and Chickpea Fritters With Yogurt

17 of 27

Chicken, Squash, and Chickpea Salad With Tahini Dressing

18 of 27

Spiced Chicken With Chickpea and Cucumber Salad

19 of 27

Lamb Chops With Braised Escarole and Chickpeas

20 of 27

Curried Tomatoes and Chickpeas

21 of 27

Chickpea and Raisin Salad

22 of 27

Slow-Cooker Bean and Spinach Enchiladas

23 of 27

Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur

24 of 27

Pan-Roasted Vegetables and Beans

25 of 27

Bean and Cheese Taquitos

26 of 27

Seared Lamb With White Bean and Mint Salad

Share the gallery

Up Next

Share the gallery