30+ Best Bean Recipes

By: Author Karen - SoupAddict

Posted on December 24, 2025

Bean lovers, unite! Browse over 30 of my best Bean Recipes gathered in one place. You’ll find cozy bean soups, hearty one-pot meals, simple sides, and filling salads that work year-round. If you love meals that are comforting, practical, and full of texture and flavor, check out this list of bean dishes and find your new bean inspiration.

Photo collage of 6 bean recipes with a banner reading 30+ Best Bean Recipes across the middle.

Beans might just be the most underrated ingredient in your pantry. They’re affordable, endlessly versatile, and bring serious comfort and heartiness to everything from soups and stews to skillet meals and fresh salads. Whether you’re cooking on a budget, feeding a hungry crowd, or just trying to get a satisfying dinner on the table, beans are always there to help.

Soups

There's nothing quite like a bowl of bean soup to warm you from the inside out. Beans add incredible body and heartiness to soups, transforming simple broths into satisfying, stick-to-your-ribs meals. Whether you're in the mood for a classic minestrone, a smoky black bean soup, or a creamy white bean creation, these recipes prove that bean soups are comfort food at its finest. Plus, they're perfect for meal prep and often taste even better the next day!

Smoky Black Bean and Sausage Soup

Smoky Black Bean and Sausage Soup in a large white Dutch oven.

My Smoky Black Beans and Sausage Soup is ready in just 30 minutes and delivers incredible depth of flavor with minimal effort. Smoked paprika, fire-roasted tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, smoked sausage and lots of beans combine to create a hearty, protein-packed soup that tastes like it's been cooking all day.

Ham and Bean Soup

An overhead photo of a pot of Ham and Bean Soup, ready to serve.

This Ham and Bean Soup is classic comfort food! Smoky ham, white beans, and aromatic veggies simmer into a thick, rich, and hearty soup that’s cozy and delicious. Perfect for using up leftover ham or making a budget-friendly meal the whole family will love.

Red Beans and Rice Soup

Overhead view of red beans and andouille sausage in a pot, with a side of rice.

This Louisiana-style Red Beans and Rice Soup is slow-simmered to perfection with smoked sausage, a ham hock, and zesty Creole spices. The holy trinity of onions, celery, and green bell peppers builds a savory base, while the beans become creamy and rich as they cook for satisfying dinner your family will love.

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Tuscan White Bean in a bowl, ready to serve.

A warm, comforting soup, this Tuscan White Bean Soup has it all — hearty cannellini beans, creamy texture, and savory parmesan cheese, finished with a helping of vibrant spinach. It’s a must-try for busy weeknights or relaxed weekends!

Senate Bean Soup

Overhead view of Senate Bean Soup in a large white dutch oven.

Senate Bean Soup is a beloved, historical recipe made with just navy beans, a ham hock, and a few vegetables. This hearty soup has been served in the U.S. Senate for decades and is a true classic for soup lovers.

Cuban Black Bean Soup

Overhead view of a bowl of Cuban Black Bean Soup in a white bowl with a black rim.

This Cuban Black Bean Soup is a slow-cooked classic made from scratch with dried beans, aromatic vegetables, seasonings, and a smoky ham hock. The beans are cooked until tender and creamy, resulting in a rich, hearty soup full of traditional Cuban flavors.

BBQ Black Bean Soup

BBQ Black Bean Soup in a large white Dutch oven.

BBQ Black Bean Soup is a hearty bowl of comfort that’s a delicious cross between BBQ baked beans and chili. Made extra flavorful with bacon, it’s the perfect meal for chilly fall and winter evenings.

Creamy White Bean Tortellini Soup

An overhead view of Creamy White Bean Tortellini Soup in a black bowl.

A one-pot soup that’s low on effort but big on flavor and wonderful textures from the beans and tortellini. Creamy White Bean Tortellini Soup is weeknight easy but weekend hearty!

West African Peanut Soup

Overhead view of West African Peanut Soup in a large white Dutch oven.

This West African Peanut Soup is a unique soup that every soup lover needs to try. The creamy peanut butter melts into the spicy tomato broth, creating a velvety base for hearty sweet potatoes. Often cooked with chicken, white beans step in for a protein-packed hit of full-bodied texture. It's unexpected, completely crave-worthy, and guaranteed to add some excitement to your soup rotation.

15 Bean Soup

15 Bean Soup in a large Dutch oven.

A hearty and flavorful soup made with over a dozen different types of beans, smoked ham hock, kielbasa, and a medley of vegetables. The variety of beans creates a blend of flavors and textures that make this 15 Bean Soup a welcome meal on a cold winter day.

Sardinian Longevity Minestrone

Overhead shot of a bowl of Sardinian Longevity Minestrone.

Nutrition-loaded and full-flavored, this healthy soup deserves a spot in your regular soup rotation. With loads of beans and vegetables, Sardinian Longevity Minestrone is based on the soup enjoyed by the long-living Sardinians profiled in The Blue Zones Netflix special.

Mushroom Lentil Adzuki Bean Soup

Mushroom Lentil Adzuki Bean Soup in a large black Dutch oven.

This brothy, savory Mushroom Lentil Adzuki Bean Soup combines some big hitters of healthy eating — mushrooms and legumes — along with lots of vegetables for a bowl of soup you just want to huddle over on those frigid winter days.

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken Enchilada Soup has everything you love about enchiladas — zesty sauce, melty cheese, rotisserie chicken, all the Tex-Mex goodness — in one easy, no-fuss pot. This soup is cozy, creamy, and destined to be your new weeknight hero: no tortilla rolling required.

Pasta e Fagioli

Pasta e Fagioli in a bowl with a spoon.

Hearty and crave-worthy, my Pasta e Fagioli soup recipe features Italian sausage, pasta, white beans, and vegetables simmering in a rich, fragrant, tomato-boosted broth. It's a satisfying meal that cooks up weeknight-fast, perfect for family dinners and cozy evenings.

Green Curry Lentil Soup

Green Curry Lentil Soup in a large Dutch oven.

This cozy Green Curry Lentil Soup combines Thai green curry paste with hearty lentils, tender sweet potatoes, and smoky sausage in a rich coconut milk broth. This comforting soup recipe is packed with protein and vegetables, making it a complete meal that's perfect for cold days.

Marry Me Red Lentil Soup

Marry Me Red Lentil Soup in a large Dutch oven.

This Marry Me Red Lentil Soup is a bold, flavorful twist on classic red lentil soup. Inspired by Marry Me Chicken, it features smoky bacon, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, and coconut milk for a creamy, irresistible base. Easy to make and packed with legume protein, this soup is hearty, satisfying, and absolutely delicious!

Creole Lentil Soup with Andouille Sausage

Overhead view of 2 bowls of Creole Lentil Soup.

Creole Lentil Soup with Andouille Sausage straddles the wonderfully blurry line between soup and stew. If you cook it up and serve it immediately, it’s a rich and hearty soup. If you make it ahead and stash it for later, the lentils will break down a little and become stick-to-your-ribs thick. Different texture; same lovely flavors, inspired by the cuisine of the Big Easy.

One-Pot Meals

When you need dinner on the table with minimal cleanup, these one-pot bean meals are absolute lifesavers, creating complete, satisfying dinners that the whole family will love. From hearty chilis to filling skillet meals, these recipes keep things simple without sacrificing any flavor.

Mediterranean White Bean Skillet

Overhead view of Mediterranean White Bean Skillet in a cast iron skillet.

Even when we're cooking at home, fast food often leans unhealthy'ish because things like pasta and deli meats and anything made for the microwave are easy to pull together into a meal. Here's one answer to that: A quick skillet meal filled with lots of beans, veggies, tubers, and greens in a savory tomato base. Mediterranean White Bean Skillet is vegetarian, Blue Zones-friendly, and yes, I top it with shredded cheese because I'm extra like that.

Southwest White Chicken Chili

Overhead view of Southwest White Chicken Chili in a rustic bowl.

Southwest White Chicken Chili brings authentic Tex-Mex flavors to your dinner table with rotisserie chicken, creamy white beans, zesty green chiles, and tangy salsa verde. Ready in minutes using simple ingredients, this hearty chili is perfect for busy weeknights. Serve with your favorite toppings for the ultimate cozy meal.

Tex Mex Beef and Rice

Tex-Mex Beef and Rice in a braiser with light blue handles.

Tex Mex Beef and Rice brings southwestern comfort to your dinner table with ground beef, rice, peppers, beans, and corn all simmered together with warm spices. It's the kind of hearty, flavorful meal that proves one-pot cooking doesn't mean sacrificing taste.

Vegetarian Lentil Chili

An overhead view of Vegetarian Lentil Chili in a dark gray bowl, with toppings.

Here my favorite black beluga lentils simmer in a curried BBQ sauce until smoky and zesty. Vegetarian Lentil Chili is a unique and unexpected flavor powerhouse. Serve with your favorite chili toppings, and no one will think twice about it being plant-based.

Curried Lentil Stew

Overhead view of Curried Lentil Stew in a white serving bowl.

Recipes like this Curried Lentil Stew showcase the versatility of the whole stew genre. Meatless and vegetarian, lentils step in to create a full-bodied and satisfying base, simmering in a smoky, curried sauce.

Chickpea Peanut Stew

Three bowls of chickpea peanut stew with cauliflower rice blend

Hearty, filling, and vegan, the heady aromas invite you to enjoy the thick and creamy spiced peanut sauce and vegetable goodness of this Chickpea Peanut Stew.

Sides & Salads

Beans shine just as brightly in supporting roles as they do taking center stage. These sides and salads bring color, texture, and nutrition to any meal, whether you're looking for a fresh summer salad, a warm side dish for dinner, or something to bring to your next potluck.

Marry Me White Beans

An overhead view of Marry Me White Beans in a two-handled cast iron skillet.

Marry Me White Beans is a quick and easy side dish made with creamy white beans simmered in the famous Tuscan-inspired sauce with pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and parmesan.

Cowboy Coleslaw

Cowboy Coleslaw with Fritos in a bowl with a fork.

Cowboy Coleslaw adds some serious personality to your salad lineup. This isn't just cabbage and mayo. It's loaded with colorful veggies, lots of black beans, and a zesty southwest dressing that gets its kick from chipotle peppers and ranch seasoning. The game-changer? Chili Cheese Fritos sprinkled on top that you mix in as you eat for the perfect crunch in every bite.

Vegetarian Cobb Salad Lentil Bowl

An overhead view of Cobb Salad Lentil Bowl.

A healthier alternative to the classic salad, this Cobb Salad Lentil Bowl is served vegetarian over wonderful black beluga lentils. It’s protein-loaded and incredibly tasty.

Oven-Baked Canned Baked Beans

Overhead view of Oven-baked Canned Baked Beans in a white baking dish.

This version of baked beans was pretty transformative in my family, as far as sides go. It's my mom's recipe, and not only is it easy to make, but a few small enhancements make a huge difference in the final dish. The caramelized cap created in the oven sends regular ole baked beans completely over the top. In my family, Oven-Baked Canned Baked Beans is not just a summer cookout side, but rather something that's called into play all year 'round.

Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad

An overhead view of Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad in a brown bowl on a wooden serving board.

This Cowboy Caviar Pasta Salad takes the popular dip and transforms it into a satisfying main dish. Loaded with black-eyed peas, sweet corn, colorful peppers, ditalini pasta, mozzarella pearls, and diced ham, all tossed in a smoky Mexican-inspired vinaigrette. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, summer barbecues, or meal prep.

Doritos Taco Salad

Doritos Taco Salad in a clear glass bowl.

Not your average Taco Tuesday entree, Doritos Taco Salad features favorite taco fare, with seasoned ground beef, fresh veggies, and a creamy dressing, but then adds that signature Doritos crunch to make it absolutely irresistible. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you're craving something fun and flavorful!

Eat Your Veggies Salad

Eat Your Veggies Salad in a wooden bowl with metal handles.

When the weather turns cold, this veggie-packed chopped salad becomes my go-to. No greens necessary—just lots of colorful vegetables, fresh herbs, and whatever dressing you're craving. This Eat Your Veggies Salad is easy meal prep that actually makes you excited to eat healthy.

Instant Pot Refried Black Beans

Refried black beans, made in the Instant Pot, finishing up in a cast iron skillet.

When it comes to cooking beans, the Instant Pot is a real time-saver, because most beans don't need to be soaked overnight when cooked in a pressure cooker. Refried beans is one of those dishes that you don't fully appreciate how good they're supposed to taste until you make it from scratch. So delish, and Instant Pot Refried Black Beans are done in about an hour, mostly hands-off, thanks to the pressure cooker.

Herbed White Bean Picnic Salad

Overhead view of Herbed White Bean Picnic Salad in a white serving bowl with a spoon.

This is my go-to peak-summer cookout salad when the blistering heat arrives. Since there are no dairy ingredients, this dish can stand up to the heat a little more readily. Herbaceous and bright, it's a lovely alternative to pasta salads. My Herbed White Bean Picnic Salad is also gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan, so it's very big-crowd friendly.

Whether you’re craving something warm and cozy on a chilly evening or need a fresh, protein-packed salad for lunch, beans have you covered. They add the most amazing heartiness to soups and stews, and they’re just as happy starring in a vibrant cold salad as they are simmering away in a slow-cooking soup.

I hope this list has inspired a love of beans and that you’ll find your new favorite dish to share with your loved ones.

Karen xo