30 Favorite Healthy Bean Recipes

Beans and legumes are such an easy way to serve up affordable plant-based protein. And they are ingredients we can keep in the pantry and quickly turn into yummy kid-friendly meals. These easy and healthy bean recipes rely on canned beans, dried beans, and legumes and are both nutritious and yummy. I love using beans and legumes as affordable meat alternatives to ensure that we’re all meeting our protein needs, feeling satisfied at meals (fiber helps with that!), and keeping our food budget in check. I’ve included my favorite recipes for black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, lentils, and split peas to make sure you have lots of options to use what you have on hand. You may also like Iron-Rich Recipes for Kids, vegetarian protein, high fiber foods, and Shortcut Toddler Meals.

Recipes for Black Beans

Black beans are my go-to beans for Mexican-inspired meals (in part because my oldest kiddo LOVES them for some reason!) and more, and I always have them on hand in my pantry. Stock up the next time you have a chance to make these healthy bean recipes, and try one of these easy recipes for your toddler—or the whole family. Sign up for our email updates to get tips and ideas sent to your inbox. TIP: Cooked black beans can be frozen for future use if needed. I like to freeze any extras in meal-size portions if possible.

Easy Pinto Bean Recipes

Pinto beans are versatile and mild and are easy to make into healthy bean recipes including chili, quesadillas, rice and beans, and more. TIP: Place canned beans into a colander and rinse well with water to avoid any excess salt (and the sort of weird liquid from the can).

Garbanzo Bean Recipes

Garbanzo beans, or chickpeas, are a mild bean that can be used in hummus (and I have a few options below to try!) and other healthy bean recipes including grain bowls and salads. Here are my favorite chickpea recipes. TIP: You can lightly smash whole chickpeas for babies and one year olds to ensure they’re safe to eat.

Recipes with White Beans and Red Beans

White beans are soft and mild and are easy to blend into soups and dips to add vegetarian protein. They’re also really great to add to salads! Red beans, I admit, are ones I use less often, but they are super tender on the inside, making them a great choice for kids. TIP: You may want to mash the beans slightly if they are very large.

Recipes for Lentils and Split Peas

Lentils and split peas are legumes with high iron and protein, and they’re an easy shelf-stable protein source to keep in the pantry. Here are my favorite healthy bean recipes to make with them. TIP: Red lentils cook a lot faster than brown or green ones, so be sure to get the right kind for your planned recipe if possible.

Best Tips for Cooking with Beans and Legumes

When cooking dried beans from scratch, make sure they have plenty of water in the pot. The beans will absorb a lot of water; not having enough water will result in beans that aren’t uniformly cooked. Be sure to season beans in these healthy bean recipes that you cook from dry to ensure they have flavor. With any canned beans, pour them into a colander from the can and rinse them with water to remove any excess salt and the liquid they were in. This helps them to taste fresher. Mash beans slightly in dishes like tacos or burritos to make them a little less likely to fall out when the kids try to eat them. Store any leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.

I’d love to hear your favorite bean recipes, so please comment below to share!