45 Classic And Creative Bean Recipes (2024)

You can always add on additional toppings like corn salsa, avocado ranch, or endless crunchy veggies like radishes or pickled red onions, but here we keep things simple. With ingredients you're likely to have on hand, these tostadas make for an easy, last-minute meal you'll have on repeat.

Get the 5-Ingredient Black Bean Tostadas recipe.

This quintessential side goes with any main dish in Jamaican cuisine. Fluffy and moist, it has a savory creaminess that comes from the use of aromatics like garlic and onion, in addition to coconut milk. It's a perfect match for classic Jamaican dishes like curry chicken or oxtail stew.

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Hummus is a Middle Eastern dip made of chickpeas and tahini, though garlic, roasted red peppers, olives, and other spices are common additions. It's great as a veggie dip, with pita chips, or even as a salad dressing!

Get the Creamy Garlic Hummus recipe.

While we use chicken broth here to add a layer of savoriness without actually adding meat, feel free to substitute it with vegetable broth or water. Depending on personal taste, you can also use whatever type of canned beans you’d like (or make your own from scratch!).

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Lots of chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour, sometimes even more. But that’s tough when you are looking to get dinner on the table after a long workday. Ours is a chili recipe that you can make in just 40 minutes!

Get the Beef Chili recipe.

Mastering this classic Mexican staple takes a little bit of time, a lot of pork fat, and a few helpful hints (like how to speed up soaking your homemade beans!). Trust us, the effort is worth it for the best refried beans you'll ever have.

Get the Refried Pinto Beans recipe.

Remember that baked feta pasta a la TikTok that took the world by storm? Well, now you can have it for breakfast (or breakfast-for-dinner). Introducing: feta baked eggs. There's no pasta involved, but white beans add a hearty creaminess, and a side of crusty bread or pita is highly encouraged.

Get the Baked Feta Eggs recipe.

There are lots of iconic game day foods—Buffalo chicken wings, chili, sliders, spinach artichoke dip—but none are more iconic or beloved than nachos. Loaded with beef, beans, two types of cheese, and a plethora of fresh toppings, these are sure to take your game day snacking to the next level.

Get the Nachos Supreme recipe.

We love a giant grain salad that is full of so many beautiful things. This farro and white bean salad has roasted veggies, like springy carrots and leeks, along with crunchy veggies like bell pepper and radicchio, and all tied together with a simple honey-lemon dressing.

Get the Anything Goes Grain Salad recipe.

Although nothing's faster than picking up a sandwich from your favorite falafel joint, we promise that making these falafel balls from canned chickpeas at home is a cinch. These are herby and savory, and the crispy outside gives way to a perfectly tender and spicy interior that's perfect tucked into a pita.

Get the Homemade Falafel recipe.

This black-eyed pea bruschetta is a twist on the traditional hot preparation for collard greens and black eyed peas. Simply toss canned black-eyed peas with raw chopped collard greens, bell pepper, scallions, and garlic, and toss with an apple cider vinaigrette. Pile the mix onto toasted baguette slices and top with crispy, smoky pork to complete this summery, shareable appetizer.

Get the Black-Eyed Pea Bruschetta recipe.

Few comfort foods satisfy like a hearty bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Now vegans and vegetarians can enjoy those cozy vibes too! These chickpea-based meatballs pack tons of flavor, come together quickly, and even provide a good amount of protein and fiber. Pair with spaghetti or whatever pasta shape you like.

Get the Vegan Meatballs recipe.

With roots in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and England, there are endless iterations of Mulligatawny soup, a brightly colored blended lentil and chickpea soup with the perfect balance of spicy, creamy, and sour with a hint of sweetness. This protein-packed version is completely vegetarian and can easily be made vegan too!

Get the Mulligatawny Soup recipe.

Chickpeas are good for so much more than just creamy homemade hummus. (Though that's definitely a good use of them!) They also make for a particularly good salty snack and are infinitely adaptable based on what you've got in your spice cabinet.

Get the Roasted Chickpeas recipe.

Mochi is a sweet, chewy rice pastry that hails from Japan. Traditionally made from cooked and pounded rice, mochi are also easily made with rice flour. Here, each ball is filled with a sweet red bean paste, but you're just as likely to see ice cream, a matcha green tea filling, or black sesame paste inside mochi.

Get the Mochi recipe.

Black beans are blended with lots of garlic, jalapeño, and cheese, and then topped with even more cheese before baking (cue the perfect cheese pull). Pile on the delicious topping after baking for a truly delectable dip.

Get the Loaded Black Bean Dip recipe.

This versatile chickpea salad is a great summer side but can easily be a full meal on its own! Adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to your red wine vinaigrette makes it creamier in both taste and body—consider it your secret weapon in making a classic dressing just that much better.

Get the Antipasto Chickpea Salad recipe.

This green chili chowder takes after its red-tinged Manhattan cousin, but departs from it in a few key ways. It gets its kick (and color) from hatch chiles and salsa verde, and instead of the customary potatoes, we’ve subbed in tender white beans to add a bit of richness.

Get the Green Chili Clam Chowder recipe.

We love using this combo of sweet and savory veg to make a fresh summer side dish that will lighten up any warm-weather meal. Historically, the corn, zucchini, and lima beans would be cooked alongside some form of fresh or dried meat, but in this case, we've opted for bacon, which adds some nice crispy texture and porky flavor.

Get the Succotash recipe.

Finding alternatives to meat can be hard, but we think these burgers really nail it. The secret? Stop trying to make them taste like beef, and focus on the flavor of the beans!

Get the Black Bean Burgers recipe.