38 Easy Vegan Recipes You Can Make With A Can Of Beans (2024)

Posted on Apr 12, 2020

Looking for new recipes you can make with food you already have in your pantry? We got you.

by Whitney JeffersonBuzzFeed Staff

38 Easy Vegan Recipes You Can Make With A Can Of Beans (2)

Now that we've all been cooking meals in our kitchens on a daily basis, you may find that you're looking for a new recipe to help break up the monotony. Or maybe you stocked up on cans of beans and are looking to jazz them up. Perhaps you don't fit into either category but are in the market for some plant-based meals you can make at home. Whatever your needs, the following recipes will hopefully cause you to never look at beans the same way again!

1. Easy Black Bean Soup

Eating Bird Food / Via eatingbirdfood.com

This recipe calls for 2½ cups of black beans (roughly 1 pound) that blend together with carrots, onions, and other goodness for a hearty and filling soup.

2. Vegan Sloppy Joes With Beans

Ela Vegan / Via elavegan.com

Two cups of cannellini beans combine with tomato sauce, garlic, onions, and peppers for a delicious plant-based sloppy joe recipe.

3. Healthy and Vegan Refried Bean Dip

Simply Quinoa / Via simplyquinoa.com

Layers of warm refried beans, queso, guacamole, and pico de gallo in this recipe will look impressively made and will leave you dreaming about it for days afterward.

4. Vegan White Bean "Chicken" Parmesan

Rabbit and Wolves / Via rabbitandwolves.com

Yep, the "chicken" patties in this tasty recipe are made from cannellini beans! Absolute wizardry, I say.

5. Easy Vegan Chickpea Curry

Vegan Huggs / Via veganhuggs.com

Easy for beginner chefs to prepare, this chickpea curry recipe truly lives up to its name.

6. Deliciously Herby Persian Bean Soup With Croutons

Rebel Recipes / Via rebelrecipes.com

Red kidney beans and chickpeas are the featured legumes in this recipe, which blends lots of veggies together for a yummy warm meal.

7. Vegan Chickpea Meatballs in Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

The Curious Chickpea / Via thecuriouschickpea.com

This meatball recipe requires only 10 ingredients — 3 cups of chickpeas and 2 cups of rice being two of them — and will wow meat eaters and vegetarians alike.

8. 30-Minute Tuscan White Bean Skillet

The Wanderlust Kitchen / Via thewanderlustkitchen.com

This recipe for a white bean skillet comes together in under half an hour. Serve with bread, over rice, or with whatever you have in your pantry!

9. Black Bean Tamale Pie

10. One-Pan Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka

Yumsome / Via yumsome.com

This tasty recipe can be made in just one pan — not that you'd ever notice it by the taste!

11. Vegan White Bean Alfredo

Pasta Based / Via pastabased.com

If you're looking at these photos and wondering where the white beans are, you won't find them easily! In this recipe, they're blended together to make the Alfredo sauce itself!

12. Vegan Black Bean Burgers

A Virtual Vegan / Via avirtualvegan.com

Black bean burgers are a familiar dish to vegetarians and vegans everywhere. Learn how to make your own with this zesty recipe.

13. Chickpea Turmeric Soup

I Love Vegan / Via ilovevegan.com

Need a recipe that uses pantry staples and comes together within 45 minutes? Look no further.

14. Vegan Burritos

Vegan Heaven / Via veganheaven.org

Black beans are the star of this delicious burrito recipe that you can make with canned black beans and canned corn. Make a bunch and save them for a full week of lunches!

15. Spinach and Artichoke White Bean Dip

The Simple Veganista / Via simple-veganista.com

If you have amassed a lot of crackers in your quarantine kitchen, use them up with this classic recipe for spinach and artichoke dip.

16. Smoky Tomato and White Bean Soup

Vegan Huggs / Via veganhuggs.com

If you're looking for a tomato soup recipe that is really filling, try this one!

17. Vegan Chickpea Nuggets

Delish Knowledge / Via delishknowledge.com

One can of chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) can morph into these meatless "chicken" nuggets if you have a food processor or blender at home!

18. Easy Vegan Chickpea and Spinach Enchiladas

Veggies Don't Bite / Via veggiesdontbite.com

This recipe is so good, you'll forget that you're eating a can of beans.

19. White Bean, Coconut and Roast Pepper Stew

20. Vegan Chickpea and Rice Casserole

From My Bowl / Via frommybowl.com

This "dump and bake" recipe is simple to put together: Toss rice, chickpeas, broth, milk, and veggies and you're on your way to a filling meal.

21. Healthy Baked Beans

The Simple Veganista / Via simple-veganista.com

If you aren't stocked up with canned baked beans in your home, try making your own with this recipe for dried beans.

22. The Best Vegan Chickpea Salad

Vegan Blueberry / Via veganblueberry.com

If you've never made a chickpea salad, you must try this recipe! You can use it in sandwiches, salads, or anything else you'd use chicken or tuna salad in.

23. Fully Loaded Black Bean Nachos

Two Spoons / Via twospoons.ca

I don't know about you, but nachos are one of my comfort foods. Learn how to make a spread like you see here with this recipe.

24. The Best Hummus

From My Bowl / Via frommybowl.com

Have chickpeas, will make hummus. Get the recipe here.

25. Vegan Red Beans and Rice

38 Easy Vegan Recipes You Can Make With A Can Of Beans (3)

26. Vegan White Bean Soup With Potatoes

Ela Vegan / Via elavegan.com

Cooked white beans are the star of this simple recipe for a savory and satisfying soup.

27. 3-Ingredient Black Bean Dip

Bites of Wellness / Via bitesofwellness.com

Black beans, salsa, and cumin spice are all you need to make this quick and easy recipe.

28. Healthy Chickpea and Vegetable Pasta Salad

The Simple Veganista / Via simple-veganista.com

Give your regular pasta salad some oomph by using this recipe and adding a can of chickpeas.

29. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Stew

Healthy Living James / Via healthylivingjames.co.uk

There's not much better than a stew to cook in these trying times — try this recipe, which features beans and sweet potatoes!

30. Vegan Chickpea Scramble

Vegan Bell / Via veganbell.com

Need a breakfast dish that uses beans? You're all set with this recipe for a chickpea scramble that's filling and full of veggies.

31. Broccoli Chickpea Curry

Bakerita / Via bakerita.com

This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, and a total crowd-pleaser.

32. Instant Pot Black Beans and Brown Rice

Cozy Peach Kitchen / Via cozypeachkitchen.com

If you have an Instant Pot, this recipe comes together quicker than you can say, "I'm hungry."

33. Chickpea Cheese Sauce

Healthy Midwestern Girl / Via healthymidwesterngirl.com

Another recipe where you can't exactly *see* where the beans are...but they are actually used in this sauce for a scrumptious mac 'n' cheese!

34. Vegan Chickpea Tomato Ragù

The Vegan 8 / Via thevegan8.com

This recipe will show you how to make a hearty and chunky tomato sauce to spread on top of the pasta of your choice.

35. Cowboy Beans

Contentedness Cooking / Via contentednesscooking.com

Yeehaw! This recipe requires *6* cups of beans to make a stewlike meal that anyone would love.

36. Vegan Bean Stew With Fennel

Lazy Cat Kitchen / Via lazycatkitchen.com

The fennel in this particular stew gives a unique flavor that's bound to excite whoever's sitting at your dinner table. Get the recipe here.

37. Vegan Chickpea Stir-Fry Bowl

Build Your Bite / Via buildyourbite.com

You can use up so many canned goodies in this stir-fry recipe: canned corn, canned water chestnuts, and canned chickpeas!

38. Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs

Connoisserurus Veg / Via connoisseurusveg.com

Another meatball recipe? You bet. This recipe also uses chickpeas but is extra spicy — taste buds, beware!

Looking for more recipes? Try these:

• 32 Vegan Recipe Ideas You Can Make With Pantry Staples, Cans Of Vegetables, And Ingredients You Already Have At Home

• 23 Amazing Foods You Can Make With Aquafaba (The Liquid Inside Cans Of Beans)

• Vegan Baking Ideas For Anyone Who's Been Stress-Baking Lately

• 24 Quick And Easy Vegan Instant Pot Recipes

For the latest news, binge-watching suggestions, tips for caring for your mental health, and more, check out all of BuzzFeed's coronavirus coverage.

38 Easy Vegan Recipes You Can Make With A Can Of Beans (2024)

FAQs

How to make a can of beans good? ›

Be sure to add some seasonings

In order to wake up the flavor of canned beans, you'll want to season them with the spices of your choice. Don't fall into the common trap of over-salting your beans—since most beans already contain a good amount of sodium, they actually don't require too much extra salt.

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Which canned beans are vegan? ›

All beans are vegan in their natural unprocessed form. Most canned and dried beans are vegan; however, with all things processed even dried beans can have added ingredients derived from animals like ham. Even though most canned beans and dried beans are vegan be sure to read the label.

Are canned beans healthy? ›

Put canned beans — a healthy pantry staple — in the spotlight. Beans boast protein, fiber, folate and lots of minerals, like iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. If you're worried about sodium, rinse and drain beans before using to cut back on the salt by as much as 40 percent.

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Can you cook beans from the can? ›

Pour the beans directly into the pot and season for how you plan to use them. Allow it to simmer, stirring occasionally. Continue to stir and heat beans until they reach the desired temperature and consistency, about 5-10 minutes.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you spruce up canned beans? ›

They're cheap and cheerful, so I always keep a few cans on hand. My technique, typically, was to caramelize the onions and garlic a bit, then add the drained cannellini beans, finishing with salt, lemon zest, sherry vinegar or lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs.

Can vegans eat rice? ›

Yes, absolutely! Rice is a common grain in all cooking and has a significant place in the plant-based world too. Some rice dishes may not be suitable for vegans though, so if you're eating out or following a recipe make sure there are no meat, fish or other animal products being used before you tuck in!

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What makes beans not vegan? ›

The traditional recipe for baked beans often includes ingredients like bacon or pork, which would make them non-vegan.

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How do vegans eat beans? ›

You can add them to soups, salads, and main dishes, or you can eat them on their own as a side dish. Beans are an important part of a vegan diet because they provide a good source of protein.

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Should you rinse canned beans? ›

Even if you are not concerned about sodium, in most cases it's a good idea to rinse canned beans. Rinsing beans can improve the flavor and texture of the final dish and can help cut down on how much gas they produce.

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Is it OK to eat a can of beans everyday? ›

Yes! "Eating beans, including canned beans, every day is one of the best things you can do to help increase nutrients [that you may fall short on] and substantially improve the quality of your diet," says Papanikolaou.

Why can't you boil canned beans? ›

Beans in the can are already well cooked--they are essentially pressure cooked as part of the canning process. While only a speculation, it is highly likely that they are now fragile and bringing them to a full boil would mar their appearance--fewer whole beans--from the agitation.

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Can you eat canned beans straight out of the can? ›

The reason that beans are safe to eat straight from the can is pretty simple: They're already cooked. Per Epicurious, beans are blanched before being canned with water, salt, and other additives, and then sealed and cooked under steam pressure at a high temperature before landing at your local grocery store.

Should you rinse canned black 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.

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Should you always rinse canned beans? ›

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Should you use the liquid in a can of beans? ›

For soups, stews and anything else liquidy, feel free to use the whole can — just keep in mind that you'll be adding more liquid than if the recipe calls for drained and rinsed beans.

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How do you make beans taste like canned beans? ›

If you really want to taste like canned, add a lot more salt than you think you need. Also calcium chloride in many canned beans.

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Should you cook canned beans? ›

Canned beans are already cooked. They cost a little more than dried beans, but are still a great buy because they are fast and convenient. Just remember to rinse them first to wash away some of the sodium (salt) or buy canned beans with no added salt.