20 Easy Dinners To Make With Canned Beans

Ready to use the moment you open the can, canned beans are a lifesaver for easy, budget-minded meals. They're also nutritional comfort food, full of protein, fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate, and iron while being very low in fat. I keep my pantry stocked with canned beans so that I can whip up salads, soups, vegetarian Mexican-inspired dishes, and more. Enjoy these 18 recipes that call for canned beans that you can whip up for lunch or dinner any day of the week.

Borracho Beans

Contributor Esteban Castillo says, "Frijoles borrachos (borracho beans) are a traditional side dish from South Texas that typically include bacon, tomatoes, chiles, spices, and dark Mexican beer—talk about a flavorful broth. The beer is what makes them borrachos or "drunk," and extra special."

Chili Beans With Rice

Four cans of pinto beans, a can of crushed tomatoes, and 1 pound of ground beef or turkey make up the bulk of this satisfying lightly-spicy meal that comes together in 45 minutes. Serve on top of rice or, if you'd prefer, mashed potatoes.

Kale with White Beans and Sausage

If you have half an hour, you can make this quick and easy meal with sautéed kale, white beans (try navy, cannellini, or great northern), and sweet or spicy Italian sausage. Sub chard, turnip greens, beet greens, or collards if you have them on hand.

Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Season canned black beans with cumin and garlic, then them with red cabbage, avocado, salsa, cheese, and sour cream on top of rice. The combination of flavors and textures makes a pleasing, flavorful dish.

Ground Turkey Chili With Black Beans

It takes just 15 minutes to get this chili going. Start with canned black beans and ground turkey. Throw in some fresh carrots, onions, and red bell peppers plus pantry staples like chicken stock and spices, then let it all simmer for 75 minutes. Leftovers freeze well.

Three Bean Salad

A hearty lunch or a side for dinner or cookout, this salad has cannellini, kidney, and garbanzo beans. Toss the beans with celery, onion, parsley, and rosemary then drizzle with an easy-to-make vinaigrette. It takes just about 10 minutes to make, then it chills in the fridge for the flavors to meld.

Lemony Broccoli Rabe with White Beans

This bright, bitter, and creamy dish works as a vegetarian main dish or a side for roast chicken. Broccoli rabe sautéed with lemon slices combine with cannellini beans and some crushed red pepper for a little heat. Delish!

Breakfast Quesadilla with Black Beans and Eggs

Quick, easy, and nutritious, scrambled eggs, cheese, and black beans fill a tortilla. Give it a quick pan fry and serve with salsa. Make a batch and freeze some for quick breakfasts all week.

Easy Tuscan Bean Soup

The classic soup trio of carrots, onion, and celery joins white beans and spinach or kale in a chicken stock-based soup. Parmesan-topped toast on the side is great for dipping.

Marry Me Beans

Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, "Any kind of white bean will work, like cannellini, navy, and Great Northern."

Black Bean Nacho Bowl

This speedy dinner comes together in about 5 minutes, with no chopping required. All you do is assemble common pantry and refrigerator staples.

White Chicken Chili

This calmer, nicer cousin of a Texas chili has chicken and white beans instead of beef and kidney beans. It's savory and warming. To make the dish extra easy, use rotisserie chicken.

Southwestern Three Bean Salad

Tex-Mex ingredients such as crumbly Cotija cheese, black beans, pinto beans, jalapeño peppers, and cilantro join green beans for a southwestern twist on the classic three bean salad. A sweet lime dressing tops it all off.

Coconut Rice and Beans

This riff on the beans and rice from the Caribbean uses canned kidney beans as a shortcut. Simmer the rice with coconut milk for extra richness. Scotch bonnet chili brings some heat. Serve for lunch or as a side for jerk chicken.

Creamy Polenta with White Beans and Roasted Broccoli

Polenta and beans add plant protein to this creamy bowl full of yum. Nutritional yeast adds a nutty flavor and roasted broccoli brings the veg. Feel free to sub roasted cauliflower or Brussels sprouts.

Southwest Skillet Chicken with Beans and Corn

Make this skillet meal with marinated chicken, black beans, and southwestern flavors for dinner. Then use the leftovers for shredded tacos tomorrow night. Brilliant.

White Bean Tuna Salad

This salad is full of pantry staples—canned beans, canned tuna, onions, and lemon (or lime). Arugula adds some color and a barely bitter bite to this easy salad. It keeps in the fridge for 3 days, so make extra and bring it to work for lunch.

Southwestern Vegetarian Casserole

Canned beans, canned tomatoes, canned salsa verde, southwestern spices, plus lots of fresh veggies make a delicious casserole. Topped with cheddar cheese biscuits, it's a comforting meal all in one dish.

Stovetop Taco Soup

If you love beef tacos, you'll love this soup. Take canned beans out of your pantry along with fire-roasted diced tomatoes, diced green chilis, and corn for this soup full of pantry staples. It makes great use of your dried spices, too. Add your favorite toppings to this thick, hearty soup.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas add protein to this salad that's full of artichoke hearts, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and scallions. Top with feta cheese and a tangy vinaigrette. It's customizable with what you have on hand, too. Don't have olives? Try capers. No chickpeas? Use white beans. Goat cheese works as well as feta.