What is the most delicious bean?

America's favorite bean is pinto beans , according to the U.S. Dry Beans Council, often used to make refried beans. Navy beans, Great Northern beans, red kidney beans and black beans round out the rest of the top five.

How can I make my beans more flavorful?

Those aromatics in the pot will revolutionize the beans' final flavor . The aromatics I tend to use are onions, carrots, garlic, and celery, and then heartier, woodsy herbs, like rosemary, sage, and thyme, which marry beautifully with the earthy-sweet flavor of beans.

How do you get the most flavor out of beans?

Bump up the flavor with tomato paste Remember your old friend tomato paste? It's great to add into beans. Throw in a dollop or two to the aromatics once they've cooked, and sauté in the hot fat for a minute or two, just to cook out the tinny flavor. Harissa paste also works nicely for this.

Which is the king of all beans?

Raj-ma : The King of Beans and the Mother of all things yum – Kidney Beans.

What is the prettiest bean?

'Amethyst' – Widely available, this beautiful bean's purple pods are thin and straight, averaging 5-5½ inches long. They grow on medium-sized, upright plants and have tan colored seeds.

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 are the best spices to put in beans?

Toss drained/rinsed/dried beans with a bit of olive oil (or avocado oil) and your favorite seasonings. 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 .

What spices go good with beans?

In general, most beans go well with herbs like parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, and thyme . You usually can't go wrong with garlic and onions, either. Specific kinds of beans, like fava beans or mung beans, have other affinities with particular herbs and spices. This is not to say that other combinations won't work.

Why add vinegar to cooked beans?

Wait until the beans are tender but not quite done to add a splash of apple cider vinegar and a couple teaspoons of salt to the pot. The apple cider vinegar breaks down indigestible sugars to help digestion and also brightens the flavor of the beans without the need for excess salt .

Do you cook beans covered or uncovered?

Cook the beans uncovered until they're tender . Some foam might gather on top of the pot; skim it off with a spoon as necessary. If the water level drops below the beans, add more water so the beans are covered at all times.

What do you add to beans to reduce gas?

To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars. I tested this while fixing one of my favorite slow cooker recipes: red beans and sausage.

What is the sweetest tasting bean?

Mung Beans Their slightly sweet flavor and soft texture make them great for use as an ingredient in a variety of desserts like puddings, sweet soups, and cakes.

What is America's favorite bean?

Did you know that pinto beans are the most consumed beans in the United States? The popular Pinto (Spanish for “painted”) bean has a mottled brown and pink surface that, when cooked, becomes a uniform auburn color.

Which bean is the sweetest?

adzuki beans are quite sweet and used to make various desserts in Asia.

25 Best Bean Recipes - Love and Lemons (2024)

Not sure how to use that can of beans? You're in the right place. These easy bean recipes include something for everyone - chilis, tacos, and more!

Jump to recipe

If the grocery store shelves are any indication, we’re all on the hunt for good bean recipes right now. I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but in Chicago, it’s hard to find canned or dried beans anywhere. Jack and I may have had to visit a few extra grocery stores as a result, but at the same time, I’ve been happy to see that people are buying beans. They’re a fantastic source of plant-based protein, fiber, and other nutrients, they keep for weeks, and they’re delicious!

What’s more, they’re incredibly versatile. Heat them on the stove with salt and pepper and serve them as a side dish, puree them into a creamy dip or pasta sauce, stuff them into tacos, or bake them into a hearty vegetarian pot pie. Your options are endless, but these 25 easy bean recipes are a great place to start.

Bean Dip Recipes

White Bean Dip
If you have white beans, olive oil, and lemons, you can whizz together this zesty dip in no time! I like to add rosemary and basil to make it extra fresh, but if you don’t have any on hand, swap in whatever herbs you do have, or skip them. It’ll be creamy and bright either way.

Hummus
7 ingredients. 5 minutes. 1 big bowl of smooth, creamy dip! In terms of taste, texture, and simplicity, hummus is hard to beat.

Bean Soups and Stews

Easy Vegetarian Chili
No list of bean recipes is complete without a classic chili made with kidney beans and tomatoes. I spice mine up with adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo. It’s smoky, savory, and so. darn. good!

Creamy Potato Soup
There’s no cream or dairy in this plant-based potato soup. Instead, it gets its comforting creamy texture from blended potatoes and white beans!

Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Roasted red bell peppers, carrots, and fennel give this vibrant soup its bold color and flavor, while a handful of blended white beans perfects its creamy texture. This recipe is also on page 203 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook.

Creamy Wild Rice Soup
I use white beans 2 ways in this nourishing soup! I leave some whole for hearty texture and blend the rest with cashews, miso paste, and Dijon mustard to make the soup’s lightly creamy, savory base.

Pasta & Bean Recipes

Creamy Vegan Pasta
Move over, mac and cheese! A can of white beans blends into a bright, nutty sauce that’s every bit as luscious and creamy as one made with cheese, cream, or butter.

Vegan Pasta Salad
Little navy beans make this bright and briny pasta salad hearty enough to be a meal on its own!

Spaghetti and Meatballs
Sometimes, nothing but a homey bowl of spaghetti and meatballs will do. I make hearty, smoky veggie balls out of black beans and mushrooms and pile them onto pasta with a big scoop of homemade tomato sauce. Trust me, you won’t miss the meat!

Tagliatelle with Tomatoes and Greens
This tagliatelle uses a handful of pantry ingredients – canned tomatoes, pasta, carrots, shallots, and cannellini beans – but it’s tangy, rich, and satisfying all the same. It’s also on page 95 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook.

Bowl Bean Recipes

Mango Ginger Rice Bowl
In this recipe, I take the classic combination of beans and rice in a totally new direction. I dress them up with crisp veggies, creamy avocado, diced mango, and a tangy tamari-lime sauce. A scoop of pickled ginger takes it all over the top.

Buddha Bowl
I make this vibrant bowl with mung beans, but in a pinch, French green lentils work just as well. They add heft to this mix of veggies and brown rice, while a turmeric tahini sauce fills it all with bold flavor.

Brown Rice and Adzuki Bean Bowl
Adzuki beans are small red beans with a rich, nutty, and slightly sweet flavor. They make this nourishing combination of crisp veggies, red beans, and rice unique and delicious, but if you can’t find them, feel free to use black beans instead.

Portobello Burrito Bowl
Mix black or pinto beans with chopped chipotles from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and you have the tastiest burrito bowl fixing around. I love to accent their smoky flavor with a scoop of sweet and spicy pineapple salsa.

Simple Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl
As long as you have a grain, a veggie, and canned or dried beans in your pantry, a tasty grain bowl is never far away. Here, I combine quinoa, chickpeas, and roasted sweet potatoes to make a simple weeknight dinner, but almost any mix of grains, legumes, or vegetables would work here. Just add a big squeeze of lemon, and enjoy!

Main Dish Bean Recipes

Cozy Vegan Mushroom & White Bean Pot Pie, page 141 of Love and Lemons Every Day
Thyme, mushrooms, and cannellini beans are the star ingredients in this homey, savory pot pie filling. It’s delicious under the crumbly, flaky crust, but I love this filling so much that I’d happily devour a bowl of it on its own!

Quinoa White Bean Risotto
Who says you need cheese or cream to make a creamy, comforting risotto? This vegan version, from The First Mess Cookbook, swaps quinoa for the traditional rice and gets its rich, creamy texture from – you guessed it – blended white beans.

Spinach Artichoke Pizza
This spinach artichoke pizza embodies everything you love about the classic dip (creamy! delicious!), but it’s so much lighter! Its creamy sauce is a zingy blend of artichokes, lemon, and white beans.

Vegetarian Tacos
Roast whatever veggies you have on hand, toss them with black beans, and stuff them into tortillas for an easy, healthy weeknight dinner. This recipe includes a tangy avocado sauce, but if you don’t have any avocados on hand, my creamy chipotle sauce would be equally delicious.

Sweet Potato Chili Fries
What’s more comforting than hot veggie chili? Hot veggie chili over sweet potato home fries! This is an A+ combination on its own, but tangy yogurt sauce, crisp cabbage slaw, and/or pickled red onions really take it to the next level.

Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas
Black beans, scallions, and roasted butternut squash are one of the simplest – and tastiest – enchilada fillings out there. Roll them in tortillas and top them in smoky enchilada sauce, and you won’t be able to get enough! This recipe is also on page 259 of The Love & Lemons Cookbook.

More Pantry Basics

If you love these bean recipes, check out these pantry-friendly recipe roundups next:

30 Healthy Pantry Recipes
25 Easy Pasta Recipes
50 Easy Dinner Ideas
25 Super Fun Baking Recipes
Produce Prep Part 1: How to Store Vegetables
Produce Prep Part 2: How to Freeze Vegetables

Bean Recipes: Pinto Bean Chili

rate this recipe:

5 from 39 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 35 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Serves 6 to 8

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This easy chili recipe is one of our favorite bean recipes! It's quick to make and it freezes well.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (14-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups cooked kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup water or broth
3 chipotle peppers from canned chipotles in adobo, diced, plus 3 tablespoons sauce*
1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
½ teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving

serving suggestions:

Avocado or Guacamole, Greek yogurt, jalapeños, cilantro, or Pickled Onions

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, a few pinches of salt and pepper, and stir. Cook until the onion is translucent, 5 minutes, then add the garlic and red pepper. Stir and cook until soft, 5 to 8 minutes, turning the heat down as needed.
Add the tomatoes, beans, water, chipotles, adobo sauce, corn, salt, and a few grinds of pepper. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili has thickened.
Stir in the lime juice and season to taste. Serve with desired toppings.

Notes

*Chipotle peppers vary in spice level, so if you’re sensitive to spice, start with less. If you love spice, add more to taste. If your chili is too spicy, add more lime juice and a bit of olive oil to tone it down.