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Today I’ll be sharing a collection of bean recipes that are amazingly delicious, easy to make, economical, and perfect for feeding your whole family.
Give them a try, and I promise beans will be your new favorite thing!
If you’ve been around for a while, then you know that one of my favorite ingredients EVER are legumes. I’ve already rounded up recipes featuring chickpeas, lentils and peas, but it took me so long to share my bean recipes.
And I LOVE beans so much, and for good reasons. Where do I even begin?
Firstly, beans are a superstar ingredient for meatless meals. They’re a terrific pantry staple to keep on hand for busy weeknights and great to whip up quick family meals.
I mean, nutrient-dense meals that taste delicious and save money.
Because beans are healthy. Their amazing high fiber and protein content make them an affordable substitute for meat, sure to keep you and your family feeling full and satisfied.
Best part? This affordable plant-based protein powerhouse is versatile and tastes delicious, too.
Their hearty flavor and fluffy texture add depth and richness to any dish. They make filling fresh salads, thick and delightful creamy soups, hearty pastas. They’re also great on bruschetta and toasts!
I always have dried or canned beans in my pantry ready for a quick meal, the possibilities are endless – and so YUMMY.
Today I’ve finally rounded up my bean recipes in this collection, recipes that I cook everyday for my family, so you can see how amazing these humble legumes can be!
Whether you’re a meat-lover or a vegetarian, I hope that a few of these bean recipes make it into your regular rotation too!
Enjoy!
Bean Recipes
Black Bean Soup
Let's start with a show-stopping black bean soup with a creamy texture and bold flavor, sure to satisfy even the most die-hard meat-lovers in your life. I love it becasue it’s super easy to make and a touch of fresh lime juice makes it extra delicious!
Cannellini Bean Salad
In this easy recipe canned cannellini beans and their amazing texture are combined with juicy tomatoes, savory olives, and refreshing parsley. All tossed in a fantastic homemade lemon garlic dressing, perfect combination for quick bean salad full of protein and big flavors.
Pasta with Black Beans {Bolognese Style}
What about a pasta recipe that turns your canned black beans into a terrific vegan bolognese sauce? This scrumptious pasta uses everyday ingredients, it's full of flavors and makes a wonderful family meal that is filling and delicious.
Bread and Beans, the Italian way!
Meet one of my favorite, no-frill, fresh-and-flavorful, speedy lunch: bread and beans. Simple, amazing ingredients that make a terrific combination, crispy and deliciously fresh with the olive oil, herbs and bright lemon juice. And it’s ready in less than 10 minutes.
Pasta Fazool (pasta fagioli recipe)
This amazing pasta fazool, aka Italian pasta fagioli recipe, is a must in every Italian family and it has been one of my staples for as long as I can remember. It's truly the ultimate comfort food - a simple, hearty, affordable meal that is nourishing and totally delicious.
One-Pot White Bean Pasta (15 Minutes!)
Love wonderful one-pot meals ready in less than 15 minutes? This white bean pasta is everything you want for a quick family meals: it's comforting, packed with fresh ingredients, protein, and veggies. A balanced meal that tastes scrumtious and perfect to please everybody.
White Bean Salad
This white bean salad is packed with flavor and makes a no-frills quick meal or side dish that is super simple, filing and delicious. And you can make using cupboard essentials and it's ready in less than 10 minutes.
Hearty Bean Stew
In this terrific recipe the beans and the medley of vegetables are simmered in a rich, glossy red wine broth. It’s a wonderful, inexpensive stew full of flavor and plant-based protein. It’s truly a meal in a bowl that tastes incredible, absolutely delicious with crusty bread on the side. YUM!
Smoky Beans on Toast
In this bean recipe the combination of crispy bread, garlic, smoked paprika, and fluffy cannellini beans is darn GOOD. Again, simple ingredients and convenient canned beans make a healthy, inexpensive light meal or snack guaranteed to please everybody.
The Best White Bean Soup
I'm sure you're going to LOVE this soup, seriously. The recipe uses two of my favorite secret-weapon ingredients: rosemary and a dash of white wine and the end result is wonderfully creamy and full of delicious flavor. This is soup heaven, and it gained hundreds of rave reviews here on the website, just saying...
White bean soup, the Italian way
This is not an average bean soup, this is an awesome Italian white bean soup with big bold flavor. I cook it the way my mum used to, loaded with chili flakes, parsley, and garlic, a burst of flavor! Another amazing bean recipe that gets great feedbacks: "This soup is excellent! It has amazing flavour and is creamy. Total win". - Lori.
Mediterranean Bean Salad
This bright deliciously messy salad packs some of the best Mediterranean flavor boosters. The soft white beans are combined with fresh cucumber, tomatoes, onions and cupboard essentials like juicy Kalamata olives, extra virgin olive oil, and oregano. It's a healthy, filling plant-based meal ready in 10 minutes.
Lima Bean Soup
Another great bean soup, friends! In this recipe the lima beans are cooked in a rich and thick tomato broth that is super yummy. It makes a delicious meatless family meal, extremely simple to make, filling, and perfect with easy Italian focaccia or golden croutons on the side.
White Bean and Kale Soup
I seriously could eat this soup every day! It's hearty and chock full of veggies and fluffy, creamy beans. It’s the kind of soup that warms you up, filling, healthy, and it’s low calories too. One of my reader says: "Amazing! Its fantastic and so simple!" - Lauren.
Italian Artichoke and Bean Salad
Looking to turn white beans into a salad? This quick recipe turns a jar of grilled artichokes and canned beans into a fabulous starter or side dish perfect all year round. It’s full of flavor and so simple to throw together in 10 minutes.
Pinto Bean Soup
I am in love with this super nourishing pinto bean soup! The hearty beans break and melt into a rich tomato broth that’s full of herbs and smoky flavour. It’s so delicious and creamy that all you want is croutons or crusty bread to dunk in! A rewiew says: "Absolutely delicious and very easy to make!" - Megan.
Loved these bean recipes?
If you enjoyed this collection of recipes, you might be interest in more roundups that use up specific ingredients!
Here are a few ideas:
- Arugula recipes
- 13 quick pasta ideas
- Artichoke recipes
- 15 Mozzarella recipes
- 35 Italian appetizers
- 17+ olive recipes
Lastly, I hope if you enjoyed these bean recipes, and if you have any questions, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you and get your feedback! x
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15 Yummy Bean Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 onion, diced (any color)
- 2 medium-sized carrots, diced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 3 garlic cloved, minced
- ½ Tbsp paprika
- 1 ½ tsp dried rosemary (or 1 sprig of fresh)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or oregano)
- ½ tsp dried thyme (or a few sprigs of fresh)
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (leveled)
- ¾ cup dry red wine
- 2 cans (14oz/400 grams each) borlotti beans, drained (or cannellini, pinto, kidney beans)
- 2 cups low sodium broth (or adjust to the desired consistency)
- ¼ – ½ tsp salt, to taste (start with ¼ tsp)
- ⅛ tsp black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1 Tbsp soya sauce
Instructions
- Warm 1 Tbsp of the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot, celery and cook, stirring often, until the vegetable have softened and the onion turns translucent. It takes about 10 minutes.
- Add spices, garlic and herbs, stir well and cook for 1 or 2 minutes to enhance their flavor.
- Add the second Tbsp of olive oil, tomato paste and flour. Stir to combine until you make a paste (this is called roux, it helps to thicken the broth).
- Stir in the red wine, mix well with the rest of the ingredients, and let it cook for about 1 minute or so. You have a creamy red wine mixture now.
- Add the beans, the broth, and the salt (start with ¼ tsp), bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 20 minutes.
- Finally, add 1 Tbsp of soya sauce, cook for a further minute, taste and make sure you're happy with the seasoning.
- Serve warm with crusty bread or steamed or boiled rice. Garnish with fresh parsley if you wish. Enjoy!
Ann Arnebold
I made your Mediterranean Chickpea Soup and it was delicious. I am going to make Pasta Fazool Soup this weekend. Also, plan on making your Mediterranean Bean Salad and Cannellini Bean Salad. I love all the ingredients and I should enjoy them. I grew up eating beans, Chickpeas and Cannellini beans. Happy I can adjust the number of servings. I only want to make a salad for two. I freeze portions of the soup. I just started the change in my diet and happy I found your web site. I sent you an email a few weeks ago telling I was going to try your recipes. Glad I did. Thank you.
Katia
What a lovely feedback, Ann!
I’m very pleased you enjoy my recipes, thanks again for your email and for taking the time to share. x