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

    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)

    Charlotte Gomez / BuzzFeed

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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.

    Rabbit and Wolves / Via rabbitandwolves.com

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

    Vegan Huggs / Via veganhuggs.com

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

    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.

    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.

    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!

    Yumsome / Via yumsome.com

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

    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!

    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.

    I Love Vegan / Via ilovevegan.com

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

    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!

    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.

    Vegan Huggs / Via veganhuggs.com

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

    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!

    Veggies Don't Bite / Via veggiesdontbite.com

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

    Rebel Recipes / Via rebelrecipes.com

    If you have white beans, you're already well on your way to this delicious-looking soup recipe.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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)

    Thyme and Joy / Via thymeandjoy.com

    This recipe can be used with dried beans or canned beans or made with an Instant Pot.

    Ela Vegan / Via elavegan.com

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

    Bites of Wellness / Via bitesofwellness.com

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

    The Simple Veganista / Via simple-veganista.com

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

    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!

    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.

    Bakerita / Via bakerita.com

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

    Cozy Peach Kitchen / Via cozypeachkitchen.com

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

    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!

    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.

    Contentedness Cooking / Via contentednesscooking.com

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

    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.

    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!

    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

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

    FAQs

    How do vegans make beans taste better? ›

    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.

    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.

    How to make canned beans nice? ›

    We recommend cooking your beans in chicken stock or broth if you have it for an extra boost of flavor. Chickpeas are more solid and can crisp up nicely when roasted in the oven. If you want them extra crispy result, be sure to dry them before tossing them in the oven.

    Are canned beans healthy? ›

    They are an excellent source of fiber, plant-based protein, and other essential nutrients, such as folate and potassium. Despite the potential for contamination, canned beans are generally safe to consume and prove to be a convenient and nutritious alternative to dried beans.

    How can I add flavor to beans without meat? ›

    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 makes beans not vegan? ›

    Yes, baked beans are vegan-friendly as, in their simplest form, they're white beans and a tomato sauce. Tinned supermarket versions often contain lots of sugar and preservatives, but these are also suitable for vegans. However, make sure you're not buying a tin with sausages in, as these, unsurprisingly, aren't vegan.

    Is it true that if you're vegan you can eat beans? ›

    On a vegan diet, you can eat foods made from plants, including: Fruits and vegetables. Legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils. Nuts and seeds.

    Do 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!

    How to jazz up canned beans? ›

    How To Make Doctored Up Baked Beans
    1. Preheat oven to 375F.
    2. Drain one-third to one-half of the juice from the baked bean cans. ...
    3. Season to taste with kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder.
    4. Bake for 45 minutes - 1 hour; the beans will be bubbly + caramelized on the top.
    Jun 6, 2022

    Why you should always rinse canned beans? ›

    According to The Bean Institute, you can reduce up to 41 percent of the sodium in canned beans by rinsing them. "It's fine to add the bean liquid to many recipes, but if you want to reduce the amount of sodium, it's best to drain and rinse canned beans," the website states.

    How to make can beans taste like homemade? ›

    A few ideas:
    1. Rinse the beans.
    2. Spice (cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder) and warm them up.
    3. Mix with other ingredients (add vegetables, cooked rice, pasta, or use them as a filling for wraps or tacos)
    4. Mix with your own sauce (onion+bell pepper+carrot+canned tomatoes)
    Aug 3, 2023

    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.

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

    In conclusion, beans are a versatile and incredibly nutritious food that can benefit both your body and mind. Regular consumption of beans has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, while also aiding in controlling blood sugar levels and promoting digestive health.

    What can I add to beans to make them taste better? ›

    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!

    What can I add to beans for taste? ›

    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 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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