How to make beans enjoyable?

Dried beans cooked with sea salt and water are delicious, but adding an onion, garlic, or other aromatics to the pot will make them even more flavorful! These simple additions turn the starchy bean cooking liquid into a fragrant broth that's just as tasty as the beans themselves.

How to spice up beans?

You can add crushed whole seeds (coriander, cumin, fennel, mustard, etc.), woodsy herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage), red pepper flakes, crushed garlic cloves, and of course salt and pepper.

How to pimp your baked beans?

One idea is to add marmite (trust me, it's lovely if you like marmite). You can also spice up you're your baked beans by adding a teaspoon of your favourite spice, for example smoked paprika, cumin or chilli powder if your feeling adventurous.

What can I add to canned baked beans to make them better?

Maple syrup, molasses, ketchup, vinegar, mustard—basically throw every sweet, salty, tangy condiment you've got at those canned baked beans and you know they're going to taste delicious.

Why do restaurant beans taste better?

While lard has been replaced with vegetable oil or shortening in many households, the distinct richness and velvety texture it imparts to a skillet of refried beans is hard to beat. The closest substitute for lard is bacon grease, which is another form of rendered pork fat that's arguably even more flavorful.

What adds flavor to beans?

Salt, spices, and aromatics are the keys to flavorful beans.

How do you jazz up a tin of baked beans?

Caramelized Onion + Bacon + Espresso Powder Slowly caramelize a chopped onion in a bit of oil, then add bacon and cook until crispy. Add the can of beans and stir, making sure to scrape up any tasty bits that have stuck to the pan. To finish, toss in a pinch of espresso powder for an extra hit of earthy flavor.

Which spice is best for beans?

Get down-to-earth with cumin, garlic, and citrus juice Cumin is a bean's best friend.

Should I rinse canned green beans?

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

What is the baked bean challenge?

Hold your baked bean cans or other, in each hand. Extend your arms to the sides to form a straight line between your hands, elbows and shoulders. Return arms to your sides and then raise them hands as high as you can above your head. Repeat five times gradually increasing the pace you do these movements.

What goes well with baked beans?

Not only do many vegetables go with baked beans, but salads, fruit, cornbread, and potato dishes pair well.

What makes Bush's baked beans so good?

The beans that are met with smiles at any gathering. Bush's® Original Baked Beans are a Secret Family Recipe of navy beans slow-cooked with specially cured bacon, fine brown sugar and our signature blend of spices.

27 Bean Recipes That Are Anything But Boring (2024)

Recipes By Ingredient
Bean Recipes

Fill up on These Satisfying Meals

Cathy Jacobs

A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 08/3/21

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27 Bean Recipes That Are Anything But Boring (2)

Whether you're on a budget, trying to eat more meatless meals, or need a delightful new appetizer for your New Year's party, there's a delicious way to incorporate beans. Dried and canned beans are not only inexpensive and filling, they are versatile enough to be a favored ingredient in many cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, French, and Middle Eastern. These recipes for soups, salads, mains, and even breakfasts will inspire you to cook more with legumes.

Black Beans: Selection, Storage, and Preparation

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Vegan and Vegetarian Bean and Rice Burrito
Make fresh, filling, healthy bean and rice burritos for your next meatless Monday, or a quick vegan dinner the rest of the week. Spruce up leftover cooked rice with lime juice and cilantro, saute canned black or pinto beans with onion, garlic, and Mexican spices, and stuff it all into warmed flour tortillas. Feel free to add vegan cheese, avocado slices, or any other of your favorite toppings.
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Caribbean Yellow Rice and Pink Beans
Rice and beans are staples in Caribbean cuisine, where they are often enjoyed as an inexpensive meal on their own. Serve them for an easy vegetarian dinner or as a hearty side dish for chicken, with this colorful recipe that flavors canned pink beans and yellow rice with sofrito, a strong, highly-seasoned sauce.
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Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e fa*gioli
Pasta e fa*gioli is a delicious, Italian-American soup that makes an inexpensive meal for families on a budget. This restaurant-style recipe adds ground sausage to transform this humble soup of canned tomatoes, canned beans, aromatics, and herbs into a meaty, filling main course in one bowl.
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French Chicken and Sausage Cassoulet With White Beans
This chicken and sausage cassoulet with white beans is a modern update on the classic French country recipe. Cook the ingredients separately at first, and then together, for a complex, hearty stew with bold, distinct flavors. It takes some time to make, but the delicious results are well worth the effort.
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See Also
White Bean Soup Recipe on Food52 Crisped Chickpeas in Spicy Brown Butter Recipe 20 10-Minute Lunch Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever Two Peas & Their Pod's Enchilada-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Recipe on Food52
05 of 27
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Make this your go-to recipe for refried beans to use in tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. The instant pot cooks up Mexican restaurant-style refried beans in a fraction of the time they would take on the stove-top, with no presoaking required.
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Classic American Senate Bean Soup
Classic bean soup with ham has been on the menu in the U.S. Senate dining room for over 100 years. It uses inexpensive ingredients, is hearty enough to make a meal, and while it needs a long cooking time, there isn't much work to do. The original recipe included a cup of mashed potatoes, but this one calls for instant mashed potato flakes, making your job easier.
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Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup
Fully loaded, Mexican vegetarian taco soup with three kinds of beans is a filling, healthy meatless meal that's delicious as all get-out. Just add ingredients into the slow cooker and leave to cook for hours for a winning game day food. Top bowls with tortilla chips, grated cheese, or any other taco toppings you like.
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Black Bean Hummus
Add Southwestern flair to a buffet table with this rich-tasting hummus dip that uses canned black beans instead of chickpeas. Whip it up in just 10 minutes in your food processor, and serve with flat breads, crackers, or raw veggie sticks.
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Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
Win your next potluck with this tasty vegan black bean and sweet potato chili. It's hearty and flavorful enough to please even meat-eaters, with sweet potatoes, black beans, carrots, canned diced tomatoes, and classic chili spices. If you use water, instead of stock, it is gluten-free, too.
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Black Bean and Mango Salad
Hearty black beans and sweet, juicy mangoes mingle with crunchy bell pepper, jalapenoes, fresh cilantro, and a zippy lime vinaigrette dressing in this simply delicious vegetarian, vegan, high-protein, low-calorie, and gluten-free bean salad.
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Carolina Barbecue Beans
Carolina-style barbecue beans are a popular side dish for pulled pork and other cookout foods. This tasty recipe uses canned pork and beans, kidney beans, and lima beans, baking them in an ultra-tangy barbecue sauce that includes cider vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.
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Easy Black Bean Salad
Make a winning dish for potlucks and picnics with this quick and easy, Southern-style black bean salad. Black beans and fresh or frozen corn are the starring ingredients, with fresh tomatoes, red onion, avocado, cilantro, jalapenos, and a zesty lime vinaigrette dressing adding plenty of extra texture and flavor.
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See Also
Farfalle With Smoked Trout & Lemony Crème Fraîche Recipe on Food52
Chicken and Red Bean Chili
Chicken and red bean chili is a fabulous alternative to beef or pork chili, and this tasty version with canned white beans and extra vegetables is healthier, too. Use a combination of chicken thighs and chicken breasts for maximum flavor. This recipe makes a big batch of chili, perfect for a game day party or tailgating.
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Falafel With Fava Beans
A popular Middle Eastern restaurant dish gets a fresh makeover with this fava bean and chickpea falafel recipe. Soak the beans overnight, before combining in a food processor with onion, parsley, baking powder, and spices. Form into balls and pan-fry until golden brown and then top with tahini sauce.
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Crockpot Stuffed Peppers With Black Beans and Rice
Stuffed peppers with a savory filling of cooked rice, black beans, sweet corn kernels, and diced fresh tomatoes are a tasty, meat-free alternative to the classic peppers stuffed with ground beef. Use your crockpot to make them for a delicious and fuss-free vegetarian family meal.
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Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread Casserole
You already know that chili and cornbread taste great together, so why not combine them into one delicious dish? This genius recipe does just that, using an easy vegan chili with kidney beans, mock meat, tomatoes, and Mexican spices as the filling for a savory, dairy-free, baked cornbread casserole.
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Vegan Spicy Black Bean Burger
Delight vegetarians at summer barbecues with tasty vegan and vegetarian black bean burgers. You only need a handful of ingredients, including beans, salsa, cornmeal, flour, and spices, to form the patties in the food processor. Serve on toasted hamburger buns with your favorite toppings.
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Cheesy Salsa Verde Rice and Beans Breakfast Bowl
Warm up on cold winter mornings, and put pep in your step, with a hearty Mexican-style breakfast bowl. Make it in minutes, layering cooked brown rice with warmed kidney beans, onion, garlic, salsa verde, and sharp cheddar cheese. Top with a perfectly-fried egg, and optional hot sauce.
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Brunswick Stew With Potatoes, Corn, and Lima Beans
While every Southern family has its own version of Brunswick stew, most include a tomato-based broth with corn, lima beans, and potatoes. This tasty recipe uses chicken and calls for flavoring the savory broth with ground red pepper and dried oregano.
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Spicy Black-Eyed Peas With Tomatoes and Peppers
Make a plant-based side dish for your holiday table by combining black-eyed peas with tomatoes, bacon, onions, celery, and a variety of fresh peppers (including spicy jalepenos). Simmer together in a Dutch oven on your stovetop, until tender and heated through.
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Texas Bean Bake With Ground Beef
Tasty Texas-style baked beans with ground beef make a hearty barbecue side dish, or a satisfying family meal with cornbread. Brown ground beef in bacon drippings, then add to a casserole dish with three kinds of canned beans and barbecue sauce. Top with crumbled bacon, and bake until hot and bubbling.
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Vegetarian Three Bean and Grape Salad
Add grapes to a classic three-bean salad for a light and cooling lunch or barbecue side dish. Assemble it in minutes with juicy green grapes, refreshing cucumber, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and white cannellini beans, all tossed in a tangy honey-mustard vinaigrette.
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Oven-Baked Refried Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Taquitos
Traditional Mexican taquitos are rolled, stuffed corn tortillas that are fried until crispy, transforming them into crunchy tubes of deliciousness. These amazing vegetarian taquitos include canned refried beans and cheddar cheese, can be baked or fried, and are always a popular appetizer at parties.
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Sicilian Fava Bean and Fennel Soup
Velvety, pureed fava bean soup with a unique licorice note from fennel is a rustic Sicilian dish with an Ancient Roman history. To make it, simmer beans and vegetables on the stove-top until tender, then puree until smooth. Top bowls with a drizzle of olive oil, and optional grated Parmesan cheese.
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Tex-Mex Meatloaf With Black Beans
Kids will love this tasty, Tex-Mex meatloaf that boosts the usual ground beef filling with a generous helping of black beans, mouth-watering spices, and shredded Mexican cheeses. Make it for family dinners, slice for sandwiches, or bake it in muffin tins for cute mini-meatloaves.
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Turkish Navy Bean Salad
Enjoy legumes for lunch, with this Turkish-style recipe that seasons navy beans with vinegar, and combines them with chopped fresh vegetables and parsley. Garnish with optional black olives, sliced hard-boiled egg, and lemon wedges.
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Molasses Baked Beans With Salt Pork
Rustle up a pot of molasses baked beans for serving with burgers and hot dogs. Soak beans overnight, before combining in a baking dish with molasses, mustard, brown sugar, salt pork, and some of the bean soaking liquid. Leave to cook low and slow for several hours, then enjoy.