Author: If you've got a can of beans hanging out in your pantry and no idea what to make with it, you're in the right place! These 50+ easy bean recipes are packed with ideas that turn chickpeas, black beans, lentils, butter beans, white beans, kidney beans, and more into seriously tasty meals.
Here you'll find quick and budget-friendly weeknight dinners, cozy curries, hearty salads, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, dips, snacks, and plenty more. I have the best bean recipes that will keep you busy in the kitchen and feeling nourished!
Beans are one of my favorite ingredients for making everyday vegan meals because they're affordable, filling, protein-rich, and incredibly versatile. Many of these recipes are quick enough for busy weeknights, while others are great for meal prep, make-ahead lunches, or stocking the freezer.
After more than 13 years of developing vegan recipes, I've cooked with beans in just about every way imaginable. I handpicked this collection to give you plenty of variety, so you can find something that works for whatever you're craving, whatever beans you have on hand, and however much time you have to cook.
Table of Contents
Jump to your preferred section by clicking the links below 🔗
Find the Perfect Recipe
Must Try: Pizza Beans
Classic Favorite: Vegan Chili
Quick Dinner: 30-Minute Chickpea Curry
Cozy Dinner: Lentil Meatloaf
Lunch/Meal Prep: Dense Bean Salad
Something Different: Sweet Korean Lentils
Sandwich: Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Snack: Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
Helpful Tips for Cooking with Beans
- Canned beans are perfect for quick meals. They're already fully cooked, affordable, and ready to add to salads, soups, curries, tacos, and more. Dried beans are usually less expensive per serving, but they take longer to prepare.
- Rinse canned beans unless the recipe says otherwise. Draining and rinsing removes the thick canning liquid and some of the sodium, gives the beans a fresher taste, and may also help reduce gas and bloating. Some recipes use the starchy liquid, though, so always check the instructions first.
- Save your aquafaba! The liquid from a can of chickpeas makes an amazing vegan egg replacer and can be used for everything from meringues and marshmallow fluff, to the perfect vegan egg wash for pie crusts.
- Swap similar beans when needed. Cannellini, navy, and great northern beans are often interchangeable, and chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, and other varieties can sometimes be swapped too. For the best results, choose a bean with a similar size and texture.
- Beans are great for meal prep. Cooked beans and many bean-based soups, stews, curries, and chilis freeze beautifully. Check the individual recipe for specific storage and freezing instructions.
The Best Vegan Bean Recipes
Chickpea Recipes
Chickpeas are inexpensive, protein-rich, and easy to use in everything from sandwiches and salads to curries and pasta. They're mild enough to pair with almost anything, but incredibly tasty when seasoned well.
Chickpea Curry: Made in one pot with pantry staples and ready in under 30 minutes, it's cozy, creamy, and packed with warm Indian-inspired spices. Vegan, gluten-free, and budget-friendly too.🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Thai Mango Chickpea Curry: An easy weeknight meal. Just 25 minutes to make! Sweet juicy mango, hearty chickpeas, in a coconut milk sauce infused with aromatic Thai yellow curry on a bed of steamy, fluffy rice. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Chickpea Salad with Creamy Smoky Tahini Dressing: Fresh, filling, and full of bold flavor. It's quick to make with fresh veggies and protein-packed chickpeas, and tossed with a silky-smooth, smoky tahini dressing that takes it to the next level. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Chickpea Salad Sandwich: Creamy, tangy, and packed with flavor. Made with simple ingredients in just 10 minutes, it's perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, or an easy no-cook dinner. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad: Fresh, crunchy, creamy, and packed with flavor! Made with tender pasta, hearty chickpeas, crisp vegetables, olives, fresh herbs, and a zippy homemade dressing. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
The Best Hummus Recipe: Ultra-creamy, oil-free hummus is light, fluffy, and full of flavor. It's easy to make with simple ingredients, and thanks to a few key tricks, it turns out silky smooth every time, no peeling chickpeas required! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Easy Vegan Crab Cakes: Just 9 ingredients and super-easy to make. Can be made in a skillet or a pan but I have also included air-fryer instructions as well as baked options! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Easy Vegan Lemon Soup: This hearty and healthy, one-pot meal is based on a traditional Greek Avgolemono soup and only takes 30 minutes to make using simple ingredients like orzo, chickpeas, lemon and dill! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Vegan BBQ Chickpea Pizza: Made with a homemade vegan mozzarella that only takes 15 minutes to make. Layered with spicy and smoky BBQ chickpeas for the ultimate hearty cheeseless pizza. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Smoky Spicy Chickpea Stew: Super quick and easy to make, but don't be fooled by the simplicity of this recipe, it's bursting with complex flavors. It gets even better the next day so it's a perfect make-ahead meal. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Vegan Ranch Chickpea Sandwich: Creamy, zesty easy-to-make vegan ranch dressing takes this sandwich to the next level! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Best Crispy Roasted Chickpeas (Actually Crunchy!): These crispy roasted chickpeas are golden, crunchy, and seriously addictive! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Creamy Lemon Pepper Chickpeas: Perfect as a side served with salad and some potatoes or rice, spooned over pasta, or as a scrumptious open faced sandwich on top of toast. You're going to want these saucy chickpeas everywhere! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Buffalo Chickpeas Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: The spicy, silky, tangy, sizzle of bufflao sauce coated chickpeas, combined with the sweet, creamy, fluffy sweet potatoes. YUM. An easy vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free dish. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
BBQ Chickpea Salad: BBQ Chickpea Salad: hearty, healthy, satisfying, eat your veggies and lick your fingers kind of salad. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Veggie Wrap with Hummus (Easy, Healthy & Delicious!): This veggie wrap with hummus is fresh, creamy, crunchy, and loaded with colorful veggies. Made with simple ingredients in just 10 minutes, it's perfect for quick lunches, meal prep, or an easy no-cook dinner. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🕒 30 Minutes or Less
Dense Bean Salad: Hearty, bold, and loaded with flavor. Made with tender beans, marinated vegetables, fresh herbs, and a savory sun-dried tomato dressing, there's no lettuce here, just a satisfying, protein-packed salad that gets better as it sits. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein
One Pan Tomato Rice Bake: A cozy, Mediterranean-inspired dish that's bursting with roasted cherry tomatoes, garlic, and warm spices, all baked together with fluffy rice in one pan. 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Moroccan Sheet Pan Dinner: Just toss the veggies and chickpeas with a warm Moroccan-inspired spice blend, roast until caramelized and tender, and serve with a creamy dairy-free yogurt sauce over rice, couscous, or quinoa. 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein
Kale Salad: Fresh, crunchy, hearty, and packed with flavor! Made with finely shredded kale, a zippy lemon Dijon dressing, chewy dried cranberries, crunchy almonds, and crispy chickpeas or croutons, this easy salad is anything but boring. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: packed with fresh veggies, protein-packed chickpeas, and zesty lemon dressing-it's the perfect light and healthy meal that comes together in under 30 minutes! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Chocolate Hummus: Creamy, chocolatey, rich, and decadent, it tastes like brownie batter! Made with just 6 simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, this sweet dip is a guilt-free way to satisfy your sweet tooth. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Black Bean Recipes
Black beans are hearty, satisfying, and one of my favorite ways to bulk up a meal. Here you'll find them tucked into tacos, quesadillas, burritos, burgers, salads, and more, with plenty of options for quick weeknight dinners and easy lunches.
Vegan Spicy Black Bean Pita Sandwich: 20-minute sandwich loaded with spicy black beans, a creamy tangy mayo, and a mountain of fresh veg. Oil-free and gluten-free options are included. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Vegan Tortilla Soup: The perfect hearty soup for a chilly night, but surprisingly easy to make. Tomatoes, hearty black beans, pops of sweet corn, seasoned to perfection with Mexican spices. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Vegan Pepper Black Bean Stir-Fry: Just 10 ingredients and 15 minutes to make, this is the vegan version of a pepper steak dish. It's not only incredibly delicious, but it's easy to make. Perfect for meal prepping. Gluten-free, oil-free versions. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Chipotle Black Bean Kale Salad: Hearty, spicy, bursting with a flavor bomb of beans, topped on hearty kale, and then drizzled with a little Chipotle Lime Dressing this is my new favorite salad. It's like a fiesta in your mouth. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
20 Minute Teriyaki Black Bean Tacos: Super quick to make vegan tacos, perfect for a weeknight. Sweet, sour, and tangy flavor, hearty black beans, on a fire toasted tortilla topped with crispy red pepper, sweet pineapple, spicy red onion, and fresh cilantro. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Vegan Breakfast Burritos: Hearty, satisfying, and totally customizable! Packed with crispy potatoes, tofu scramble, black beans, and melty vegan cheese, they're the ultimate make-ahead breakfast. Perfect for busy mornings, just grab one from the freezer, heat, and go! 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Cheesy Vegan Cauliflower Nachos: Tortilla chips are substituted with roasted cauliflower florets that are then drizzled with a stretchy melty homemade vegan nacho cheese sauce, and loaded with a ton of toppings. 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Vegan Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas: Spiced black beans and corn, on top of a homemade melty dairy-free cheese, with diced tomato, green onions, and cilantro. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Vegan Loaded Baked Potato: Soft fluffy vegan baked potatoes loaded with saucy BBQ beans and drizzled with melty vegan nacho cheese. Crispy skins, fluffy centers, smoky BBQ beans, and creamy cheese sauce, every bite is packed with flavor. 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Chipotle Burrito Bowl: Build your bowl with rice, protein, veggies, salsa, and creamy toppings for an easy vegan meal that's fresh, flavorful, satisfying, and perfect for meal prep.🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein
Lentil Recipes
Lentils are one of those pantry staples I always keep around. They're protein-packed, budget-friendly, and work beautifully in everything from cozy soups and curries to hearty ragu and salads. These recipes are proof that a humble can or bag of lentils can make some seriously satisfying meals.
Easy Lentil Soup: Cozy, hearty, and loaded with flavor. It's a simple one-pot soup made with pantry staples, lots of veggies, and protein-packed lentils, finished with a squeeze of lemon to make everything taste bright and fresh. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
The Best Ever Lentil Ragu: This easy vegan pasta takes just 15 minutes to make! Vegetarian ragu recipe is hearty, rich, slightly smoky, and makes for the perfect weeknight meal. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Moroccan-Spiced Lentil Salad: Bursting with warm spices, sweet dried fruit, crunchy nuts, and a zesty lemon dressing - it's a total flavor explosion! It's the perfect easy make-ahead lunch, ideal for meal prep. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Red Lentil Curry: The perfect weeknight dinner-quick, easy, and incredibly delicious! Ready in just 40 minutes, this creamy, flavorful dish is vegan, gluten-free, and packed with hearty plant protein. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Hearty Vegan Lentil Stew: Packed with carrots, celery, potatoes, peas, and lentils this rich stew is full of good-for-you veggies, that are simmered in a hearty gravy sauce made with red wine. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Sweet Korean Lentils: All the flavors of Korean BBQ made vegan and gluten free! Sweet and mildly spiced, just 15 minutes to make! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Vegan Curry Lentil Soup: Made with lentils, tomatoes, coconut milk, and curry powder, it's an easy one-pot meal that's perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or whenever you need a big bowl of something cozy and nourishing. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Easy Lentil Hummus: This Easy Lentil Hummus recipe uses all the same seasonings as traditional hummus but instead of using chickpeas, it's made with red lentils! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free
Vegan Lentil Meatloaf: Hearty, flavorful, and easy to make! Packed with protein-rich lentils, savory mushrooms, and comforting spices, it bakes up perfectly with a sticky, caramelized glaze. 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Lentil Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce: This recipe is quick and easy, it takes under 30 minutes to make. The avocado cilantro sauce makes these tacos a real keeper. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep
Puff Pastry Wrapped Lentil Loaf: The Ultimate Vegan Wellington recipe - a rich, delicious filling wrapped in flaky, buttery pastry. It's a stunning centerpiece, perfect for holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and Christmas. With mushroom-free, nut-free, and gluten-free options, this loaf is sure to impress even the non-vegans at the table! 💪 High Protein 🧊 Freezer Friendly 🌾 Gluten Free
Easy Homemade Lentil Tofu: Requires just 2 ingredients (red lentils and water), and is super quick to whip up! This is the perfect recipe for anyone who cannot eat soy, or just wants to change it up a bit. The end result is a tofu that can be crisped up on the outside and is melt-in-your-mouth tender in the middle. 💪 High Protein 🌾 Gluten Free
Lentil Shepherd's Pie: Perfect for the holidays or a hearty weekend meal. The garlic mashed potatoes take this from ordinary to extraordinary! 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Vegan Beet Burgers Homemade veggie burgers packed with beets, oats, lentils, and seasonings. Delicious and a fan favorite recipe. 🍱 Meal Prep 🧊 Freezer Friendly 🌱 Oil Free
White Bean & Butter Bean Recipes
White beans and butter beans are creamy, hearty, and incredibly versatile. They're perfect for cozy soups, curries, salads, pasta-inspired dishes, and easy weeknight meals.
Pizza Beans: Creamy butter beans are simmered in a garlicky marinara, topped with a simple homemade vegan cheese sauce, and finished with basil. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe: Super quick to whip up and can be enjoyed as a dip with tortilla chips or could be served as a side dish. With a zesty lime and smoky chipotle dressing, this recipe is perfect for potlucks or BBQ's. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Creamy Chipotle Bean Salad: Bold, zesty, and packed with protein. Made with three kinds of beans, fresh veggies, and a smoky chipotle lime dressing, it's perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or an easy no-cook dinner. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Smoky Vegan Beans on Toast: An easy, hearty and satisfying 20-minute meal. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free
Creamy Coconut Butter Bean Curry: Made in just one pan in 30 minutes with pantry staples, it's also packed with fiber and plant-based protein. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 💪 High Protein 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly
Marry Me Butter Beans: Creamy, cozy, and ready in about 30 minutes! These Marry Me Butter Beans are simmered in a rich sun dried tomato cream sauce with garlic, Italian herbs, and spinach for an easy one pan dinner you'll want to make again and again. 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly 🍱 Meal Prep
Smoky Tofu and Bean Soup: A vegan version of ham and bean soup with sweet, smoky, salty, and chewy tofu bites topping the soup. 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein 🧊 Freezer Friendly
My Go-To Vegan Soup Recipe: 20-minute white bean & kale soup because it's simple, packed full of veggies, gluten-free, made with ingredients you likely already have on hand, and will make you feel great! 🕒 30 Minutes or Less 🌾 Gluten Free 🌱 Oil Free 🧊 Freezer Friendly 🍱 Meal Prep
Kidney Bean Recipes
Kidney beans are hearty, meaty, and perfect for cozy comfort food. These are two of my favorite ways to use them, from a classic vegan chili to ultra-comforting chili mac and cheese.
The Best Vegan Chili Ever: Packed with protein and fiber this award-winning vegan chili is not only perfect for game day or entertaining but also easy to make, full of good-for-you ingredients, and freezes beautifully for meal prep. 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein
The Best Vegan Chili Mac and Cheese: Hearty, vegan meaty, vegan cheesy, total comfort food bliss! Easy to make and can be made ahead of time. You won't even know it's vegan!! 🍱 Meal Prep 🌾 Gluten Free 💪 High Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Do canned beans need to be cooked?
Nope! Canned beans are already fully cooked, so you can drain and rinse them and use them right away in salads, sandwiches, dips, and other no-cook recipes. Of course, you can also add them to soups, curries, tacos, and other cooked dishes.
Do you have to soak dried beans before cooking?
It depends on the type of bean and the cooking method. Soaking can help dried beans cook more quickly and evenly, but it isn't always necessary. For the best results, follow the instructions for the specific variety of bean you're using.
How do you make beans taste better?
Season them! Beans have a fairly mild flavor, which is exactly why they work in so many different recipes. Garlic, onion, spices, fresh herbs, sauces, citrus, vinegar, and other bold seasonings can completely transform them. Many of my favorite bean recipes also combine different textures, such as creamy beans with crunchy vegetables or crispy toppings.
What can I make with a can of beans?
So many things! Depending on the type of bean, you can turn a can into tacos, curries, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, dips, chili, pasta dishes, or even pizza. That's exactly why I put this collection together: scroll through the recipes above, find the beans you already have in your pantry, and pick whatever sounds good!
If you try any of these recipes, let us know by leaving a comment and rating it. I'd love to see what you made. Share your creation in the It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken Community (this is where we're all hanging out now!) or tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
Nan Pep says
These recipes look fantastic! I’m going to try all of them! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww yay, Nan! I hope you find lots of new favorites in the list! Happy cooking! 💚
Fifi says
Thank you so much for curating these bean recipes all in one place. Everyone of your recipes is great! Thank you for sharing all of your hard work with us. I greatly appreciate you.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww Fifi, thank you so much! That really means a lot to me. I hope you find lots of new bean-filled favourites to try!