Our Top 10 Favorite Bean Recipes

Beans are the pillars of the pantry; they’re easy to prepare, packed with plant-based protein and a host of other vitamins and minerals, versatile, flavorful, and adaptable.

We love adding them to stews, transforming them into burgers, or serving them cold and dressed for a bright and hearty salad. With so many varieties available, from pinto beans and black-eye peas to navy beans and chickpeas, your recipe options are truly endless.

Depending on how you cook them, beans can be creamy and elegant or toothsome and refreshing, which is why it’s important to have a stock of both canned beans and dried beans in your pantry.

This Monday, grab a can of beans and experiment with one of our top 10 favorite bean recipes.

Hearty White Bean and Millet Soup

All the flavors of your favorite Italian restaurant — roasted garlic, crushed tomatoes, dry white wine — packed into one hearty, comforting bowl of soup.

For the Hearty White Bean and Millet Soup recipe, click here.

Tahini Quinoa Bean Salad

Tahini is made from pulverized sesame seeds; its creamy nuttiness is magic when used as a dressing for this colorful quinoa bean salad.

For the Tahini Quinoa Bean Salad recipe, click here.

Navy Bean Bruschetta 

Sure, traditional bruschetta is made with diced fresh tomatoes, but this version boasts a bit more protein thanks to a base of navy beans.

For the Navy Bean Bruschetta recipe, click here.

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

For authentic red beans and rice, you’ve got to start with dry beans. Soak overnight and boil with some aromatics for a bean dish that is unlike anything you’ve ever tasted before.

For the New Orleans Red Beans and Rice recipe, click here.

Farro and White Bean Veggie Burger

Although the recipe calls for a handful of ingredients, you can make the base of these burgers using just farro (a yummy, toothsome grain) and white beans. Add any other additional vegetables, seasonings, or bread crumbs to round out the flavor and texture.

For the Farro and White Bean Veggie Burger recipe, click here.

Butternut Squash Black Bean Chili

This chili is rich and smoky thanks to the liberal use of chipotle and ancho chili powder, cumin, and, of course, lots and lots of black beans.

For the Butternut Squash Black Bean Chili recipe, click here.

Quick and Easy Hummus

To make hummus requires four ingredients — chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, salt — and a food processor. Yep, that’s it. Enjoy.

For the Quick and Easy Hummus recipe, click here.

Vegetarian Hoppin’ John

Though traditionally made with ham or bacon, this vegetarian version of Hoppin’ John doesn’t lack for flavor thanks to hot sauce, liquid smoke, and yummy black-eyed peas.

For the Vegetarian Hoppin’ John recipe, click here.

Easy Eggplant Vegan “Meatballs”

Meatless “meatballs” made with eggplant and white beans beautifully the meat versions. The flavor is all there, too, with onion and garlic, herbs, and top with your favorite marinara or pesto on top of noodles or zoodles.

For the Vegan Eggplant “Meatballs” recipe, click here.

Fantastic Falafel

Falafel is always a crowd-pleasing meal that’s also very versatile – it can be served in a pita pocket, over rice or couscous, submerged in a tasty curry sauce, or flattened to be a delicious Mediterranean-style sandwich.

For the Fantastic Falafel recipe, click here.

Click here for more Meatless Monday recipes. When posting pictures of recipes to your social media network, tag @MeatlessMonday use #MeatlessMonday to show the plant-based community your creation.