There is no shortage of incredible bean recipes on the internet. You’ve got plenty of dishes that celebrate the tasty and nutrition-packed little legume in its own right—plus tons of clever bean recipes that creatively use the ingredient as a vegetarian-friendly substitute in traditionally meat-centric dishes, like burgers, meat sauces, meatballs, and tacos.
And it’s no wonder why: Dense and chewy, beans have a certain heartiness and heft to them that makes things like chilis and veggie burgers feel substantial and comforting. Beyond their ability to take on a meaty quality, beans can be great shape-shifters in the kitchen for other reasons too. For instance, white beans can transform into a creamy dream when puréed with a little fat and liquid. Beans are also great at soaking up the flavors of whatever sauces, spices, herbs, and aromatics they’re being cooked with. And they play nice with other ingredients, like veggies, cheese, or grains.
What’s more, beans are extremely nutritious and filling—especially if you’re a vegetarian, or just looking to swap out some of the meat in your diet for more plant-based protein sources. While the nutritional content depends on the variety of bean you’re looking at, beans are generally high in protein and fiber, two nutrients that are important for satiety. Speaking of different types of beans, that’s another strength of this powerhouse ingredient: from kidney to fava and navy to pinto, you’ll never run out of new beans to try. The varieties lend themselves well to different kinds of dishes too.
And not to go on and on about the many wonderful properties of beans here, but beans are a very convenient ingredient for the home chef. Cooking beans often involves little more than popping open a can, rinsing the beans, and adding them to the mix. (No need to worry about getting a properly seared skin!)
We’ve got the full spectrum of beans covered in these 26 recipes: black bean recipes, garbanzo bean recipes, white bean recipes, and more. Most of them call for canned beans, but if you’re wondering how to make beans from scratch, a number also include instructions on soaking and cooking dried beans. (For more recipes that specifically call for dried beans, check out these Instant Pot recipes.) And while some call for specific bean varieties, you’ve usually got some wiggle room in subbing in different types of beans.
So the next time you want to go meatless but still want something comforting and filling, make one of these satisfying bean dishes. There’s a recipe for everything from bolognese to burgers to un-chicken salad, so every taste and craving is covered.
1. Vegan Un-Chicken Salad from Blissful Basil
This recipe combines mashed chickpeas with artichoke hearts and a bit of vegan mayonnaise to make this sandwich taste pretty close to the real thing.
Get the recipe here.
2. BBQ Bean Burritos from Amuse Your Bouche
The barbecue flavor in this burrito recipe comes from a sauce made of paprika, garlic powder, vinegar, and hot sauce—and it tastes pretty damn close to BBQ-pulled pork when paired with black beans.
Get the recipe here.
3. Lentil Bolognese from The Iron You
Lentils lend a thick, chewy texture that is surprisingly similar to ground beef in this saucy recipe. Serve over pasta, of course.
Get the recipe here.
4. Meatless Chili Con Carne from Hurry the Food Up
A mix of kidney beans and lentils is the secret behind the meatiness of this vegan chili con carne. Serve with avocado slices and tortilla chips.
Get the recipe here.
5. Loaded Sweet Potato Skins from A Couple Cooks
It’s never a bad idea to put beans and sweet potatoes together. (Nor is adding crunchy green onions and melty cheese on top.)
Get the recipe here.
6. Lentil Sloppy Joes from Wholefully
Because no one (no one!) should have to miss out on the messy glory that is a sloppy joe, vegans and vegetarians included.
Get the recipe here.
7. Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas from Ambitious Kitchen
To be quite honest, we kind of prefer this creamy, avocado-y, vegan enchilada casserole to most other kinds. Plus, it’s packed with fiber from the beans and squash.
Get the recipe here.
8. Vegan Niçoise Salad from Minimalist Baker
Skip the tuna on your next Niçoise salad, and try the French classic with some zesty, protein-rich chickpeas instead. They pair beautifully with earthy beets.
Get the recipe here.
9. Vegan Swedish Meatballs and Noodles from Connoisseurus Veg
A clever blend of mushrooms, breadcrumbs, and cannellini beans makes these meatless balls a satisfying substitute for the real thing. You won’t miss the beef or pork one bit.
Get the recipe here.
10. Vegetarian Meatball Subs from Love and Lemons
These “meatballs” harness the meaty texture of mushrooms and the nutritional benefits of black beans for a filling, veggie-friendly take on the original.
Get the recipe here.
11. Moroccan Eggplant and Chickpea Stew from Green Kitchen Stories
A lot of Moroccan stews are filled with slow-cooked meat. This recipe replicates the flavors and the texture with some help from chickpeas and eggplant.
Get the recipe here.
12. Asian Lentil Lettuce Wraps from Cooking Classy
The lentils in this recipe are combined with soy and hoisin sauce, along with rice vinegar and all your favorite chicken lettuce wrap fillings (water chestnuts, walnuts, and green onions).
Get the recipe here.
13. Sweet Potato and Lentil Shepherd’s Pie from Minimalist Baker
Make this enormous sweet and savory casserole on Monday and enjoy leftovers all week long. Vegetarian comfort food at its very finest!
Get the recipe here.
14. Bean and Grain Stew with Garlic and Chiles from Bon Appétit
A vegan bean soup recipe as flexible as it is delicious. You can use a wide variety of beans (like soldier, cranberry, or pinto beans) and whole grains (like black barley, rye berries, or wheat berries), depending on what you prefer or have on hand. Feel free to get creative with your veggies too—spinach or green beans would work well.
Get the recipe here.
15. Vegetarian Chili With Lots of Fritos from Bon Appétit
The recipe for the actual chili here is pretty standard fare, to be honest—it’s the toppings that really kick it up a notch. Think sliced avocado, shredded cheese, scallions, jalapeños, or sour cream—plus the titular Frito chips, of course!
Get the recipe here.
16. Pantry Pasta With Vegan Cream Sauce from Bon Appétit
This is not your typical bean recipe—or your typical pasta sauce. Dairy-free cream sauces usually rely on ingredients like puréed cashews, silken tofu, or cauliflower, but this one is essentially a low-effort mash-up of cannellini beans and starchy pasta water.
Get the recipe here.
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Blessed Vegan Protein is a pretty common vegan protein powder, however costs a lot more than alternatives.