If you’re trying to figure out what to do with those beans in the pantry, this list of Easy Canned Beans Recipes will give you some great ideas.
For more ideas of what to make, check out all of our recipes.
Canned beans are one of those pantry staples that you buy at the grocery store because they’re cheap and your brain says you need to have canned goods in the closet. At all times. In case of emergency.
And then, you keep shoving those beans out of the way to get to the canned corn and the chicken broth.
And finally, you get to the point where you start resenting those cans because the tops are accumulating dust and they’re always in the way. But you need them. Just in case.
Just in case of what, you don’t know.
Until now because you’ve come to the right place. We put together a list of easy meals to make with those canned beans.
Beans are a really budget-friendly ingredient. And cooking at home is a great way to save money. For more help with that, check out our The Ultimate Guide To Saving Money By Cooking At Home.
Easy Canned Bean Recipes
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Real quick. If you’re going to be cooking with any type of beans besides refried beans, you’re going to want to drain them. I used to pour the can of beans into a large handheld strainer. Which always worked, but it was annoying large and bulky.
So, I bought a can colander and it’s the best kitchen gadget I’ve bought in a really long time. You open the can, put the can colander on top, flip it over, and it drains. That’s it.
So, if you’re going to be cooking with cans of beans, you’re gonna wanna spend the couple dollars on one of these. Trust me.
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken With Corn And Beans
Black beans are added to the slow cooker along with corn, chicken, and salsa to make this really hearty salsa chicken in the slow cooker.
You can swap the beans for kidney beans instead if you have a can of those in the pantry waiting to be used.
Taco Pie with Crescent Rolls
This taco pie is probably my favorite thing to make off of this list.
It’s a really comforting and easy dinner, made of a layer of refried beans, seasoned meat, and a crescent roll crust. You can top it with sour cream and fresh cilantro for extra flavor.
Chicken Chili
Chili is known for being filled with beans, so of course, you’ll find beans in our chicken chili. It actually only has two cans: dark kidney beans and black beans.
Of course, there are other ingredients like bell peppers (which aren’t usually found in chili) and chili powder (which is), making it a really nice twist on a traditional chili.
Mexican Kidney Beans
A can of kidney beans is the main ingredient in these Mexican kidney beans, which taste just like beans you’d get at a restaurant.
They’re the perfect addition to your Taco Tuesday dinners.
Taco Dip
Refried beans are the base of this taco dip, which is the perfect recipe for game day.
The beans are topped with all your favorite taco toppings, like lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Buy your favorite tortilla chips and enjoy.
Cucumber Chickpea Salad
Canned chickpeas are the base of this cucumber chickpea salad.
They work better than dried chickpeas because you don’t need to soak them overnight in order to make the salad, which means you can make this salad in just minutes.
Vegan Kale And Bean Soup
I can eat soup no matter what season it is. If you’re the same way, this vegan kale and bean soup is for you.
Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll love this soup, which features a can of black beans and a can of cannellini beans. There’s also kale and carrots and other veggies too.
Turkey Chili
You’ll use both black beans and dark red kidney beans to give this turkey chili a really rich color.
There’s a bunch of seasoning in this chili (including my secret: Worcestershire sauce), which make it super flavorful. You won’t be wishing you used ground beef.
Easy Cheesy Refried Bean Dip
Refried bean dip is the most popular way to use a can of refried beans. This dip uses one can of those, plus other ingredients you probably already have at home.
I might be biased, but this is the best version of refried bean dip that I’ve ever had. I mean, that’s why I make it this way. But, honestly, every time I make it, even the pickiest of eaters inhale it.
Wonton Taco Cups
If you’re throwing a party and looking for a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these wonton taco cups are it.
They’re super simple to make. And one can of refried beans along with a few ingredients is all you need to make two dozen.
Chickpea And Spinach Vegan Burger
When you’re talking about bean recipes, there has to be a bean burger on the list. And ours is this chickpea and spinach vegan burger, which is made with two cans of chickpeas.
Patties made from chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, hold together a lot better than other beans do. So, the next time you’re hungry for a bean burger, try this one.
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
When you want tacos, but you also want soup, this slow cooker taco soup is a great dinner idea.
Cans of pinto beans and kidney beans are added to the slow cooker along with the other ingredients to give the soup a nice texture and flavor.
Black Bean And Kale Pasta
One of our most popular pasta dishes is this black bean and kale pasta. I think it’s because it uses really simple ingredients, including a can of black beans.
The beans add such a rich flavor and helps to coat the pasta, so you don’t even need a tomato sauce with it.
Taco Rice Casserole
The recipe we make most on this list is taco rice casserole because it’s Pete’s favorite.
And I can’t blame him. This recipe is so good. You brown a pound of ground beef, fill a casserole pan with the meat and the rest of the ingredients (including a can of black beans) and bake. It’s really hands off and an easy weeknight dinner.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
If you’re looking for a really easy recipe, this slow cooker chicken burrito bowl is it because the slow cooker does most of the work.
We use a can of pinto beans in this recipe, but you could use a can of black beans, if that’s what you prefer.
Vegan Chickpea “Tuna” Salad
For a fun, vegan twist on a classic tuna salad sandwich, try our vegan chickpea tuna salad.
Now, of course, there isn’t actually tuna in the recipe. But, the chickpeas are made to mimic the flavor and texture of tuna, thanks to a little help from seasoning.
Vegetarian Couscous with Zucchini, Chickpeas, and Tomatoes
Roasted chickpeas are the canned bean in this vegetarian couscous. They’re roasted along with the vegetables, then mixed into couscous with green onion and feta cheese.
We absolutely love this for dinner. If you’re making this for someone who needs meat with every meal, you could add in some cooked chicken.
Chicken Burrito Bowl
A can of seasoned pinto beans gives so much flavor to this chicken burrito bowl.
Each main ingredient is cooked separately then combined at the end, just like you get at those fast casual Mexican restaurants.
Tuscan Bean Soup
Believe it or not, this Tuscan bean soup only uses two cans of cannellini beans and no other beans. But trust me when I tell you, this is super bean forward.
It’s Pete’s mom’s recipe. And we make it how she did … although we do throw it over some pasta to make it a little more filling.
Which of these easy canned bean recipes are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments.