17 Recipes to Make with Canned Beans (2024)

How do you enhance the flavor of canned beans?

My favorite ways to add flavor is using vegetables, herbs, and spices depending on the recipe. Onions, garlic, carrots, Italian seasoning, black pepper, cumin, and many others add flavor and interest to a plain can of beans. Smoked meats and flavorful broths can also enhance their taste.

Should you rinse canned beans?

Yes, they should be rinsed unless they are prepared canned beans like baked beans or Cuban-style beans. Those are meant to be consumed as is. But if you are using the beans in a recipe they will usually require draining and rinsing.

Are canned beans good for you?

Canned beans are just as wholesome as dry beans made from scratch. They contain the fiber and nutrients that their dry counterparts offer. However, they could contain more sodium. Draining and rinsing them helps eliminate some of it. You can also buy reduced-sodium beans if you are sensitive to salt.

White bean recipes

White beans have a mild, nutty flavor with a smooth and creamy texture. There are different types of white beans including cannellini beans, navy beans, great northern beans, and lima beans. I’m partial to cannellini beans with navy beans coming in a very close second.

White bean soup

This soup is wholesome and tasty. Made with canned cannellini beans, onions, carrots, celery, potatoes, herbs, and spices, it’s easy and budget friendly.

Ham and bean soup

This easy soup is loaded with vegetables, white beans, and ham. It’s made with a combination of fresh and pantry ingredients that cut down on the prep work and cooking time.

Turkey white bean chili

This turkey chili is made with convenience ingredients like canned tomatoes, canned beans, and chicken broth. Then, onions, garlic, and spices are added to give it a homemade taste.

Sausage white bean and kale soup

This soup is loaded with vegetables, including onions, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. The Italian sausage and the creamy cannellini beans make it a hearty meal.

Sausage minestrone soup

This sausage minestrone soup has all the wholesome ingredients of the classic vegetable soup but with an extra kick from flavorful Italian sausage.

Smoked sausage soup

If you are looking for a fast and simple dinner option, this soup is it. With smoked sausage, potatoes, and white beans it’s perfect for cold days and busy nights.

Pinto bean recipes

Pinto beans have a pinkish-beige color with a mild nutty flavor and creamy texture. So creamy in fact that they’re perfect for refried beans. They’re commonly used in Mexican dishes and work well with other ingredients.

Pinto bean soup

This soup recipe is easy to make, wholesome, and so tasty. Sure, it’s made with canned pinto beans, but vegetables and spices give it a homemade taste.

Refried beans

In this recipe, canned pinto beans, onions, garlic, broth, and spices combine for a flavorful dish that will complement your favorite Mexican-style and Tex-Mex favorites.

Black bean recipes

Black beans have an earthy, mildly sweet flavor. They’re a staple in Caribbean and Latin cuisine, frequently served with white rice or as a standalone soup. Black beans are usually prepared with a sofrito which is a combination of herbs, spices, and tomato product giving them rich flavor.

Quick Cuban style black beans

This is one of the few bean recipes where we don’t drain and rinse the beans. Instead, we used simple spices, oil, and vinegar to enhance the flavor.

Refried black beans

A different take on classic refried beans. These black refried beans make a fantastic addition to tacos, burritos, tostadas, or a dip for tortilla chips.

Creamy black bean soup

Here, we start with canned black beans then add vegetables and spices to get a soup that’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Huevos rancheros

A corn tostada with refried black beans, warm salsa and a fried egg. Then it’s garnished with queso fresco, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro.

Red bean recipes

Red beans have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and a creamy texture. They are popular in Latin and Creole cuisine and frequently found in rice dishes that are heavily seasoned. In Cuban cuisine they are prepared as a thick soup with vegetables and smoked meat, like in this from-scratch Cuban-style red beans.

Easy chili mac

This easy chili mac recipe is a one-pot meal that will please the whole family. It’s budget-friendly and uses a combination of fresh and pantry ingredients for a homemade taste without a lot of fuss.

Beef and bean chili

This beef and bean chili is loaded with ground beef, red beans, black beans, tomatoes, and spices. It’s an easy way to get a big pot of hearty chili for any night of the week.

Turkey taco soup

If you’relooking for a quickmeal for a busy night,try this easy turkey taco soup.Simple ingredients combine to makea delicious soup that’s a little bit spicy and totally satisfying.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas have a nutty and earthy flavor with a firm, slightly grainy texture. They work well in soups of course but are perfect for salads because they hold their shape and won’t become mushy. Chickpeas are common in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Latin cuisines.

Chickpea soup

For this delicious soup we use canned chickpeas and cook them with smoked pork shanks, vegetables, and spices. It’s flavorful and hearty.

Three bean salad

Three bean salad is a simple, affordable recipe. Green beans, red kidney beans, and chickpeas are combined with a sweet and tangy dressing.