20 Best Legume Recipes to Put on Repeat

From salads to meatballs and even brownies, these legume recipes prove just how amazing this superfood is!

The legume family includes beans, lentils, peanuts, and peas.

Today’s roundup features recipes that highlight the gloriousness of each of them.

And trust me, you’ll want to add these to your weekly meal rotation. 

An excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, legumes nourish the body with their daily nutritional requirements. 

They also help lower cholesterol levels and may even reduce the risk of certain cancers!

Plus, legumes are incredibly affordable, versatile, and most of all, delicious.

So what are you waiting for? Try some of these legume recipes and be happier than you’ve ever bean!

1. Lentil Meatballs

Lentil meatballs provide a delicious and nutritious alternative to traditional meat-based meatballs. 

Lentils, carrots, tomatoes, and oats aren’t a conventional combination, but they sure make a good team!

Together with herbs and spices, they create juicy meatballs so good, even carnivores will love them.

Serve these meatballs as a vegan appetizer or pair them with mashed potatoes for a hearty meal.

2. Mediterranean Bean Salad

This Mediterranean bean salad is bursting with all the colors of the rainbow! And it’s just as scrumptious as it is colorful.

It features chickpeas and cannellini beans, tossed with tomatoes, bell peppers, and olives, the works.

The garlic lemon vinaigrette gives a nice tang to each bite, while still letting the fresh ingredients shine through.

Make a huge batch for tonight and have leftovers for breakfast!

3. Mexican Black Beans

Mexican black beans offer great flavor, texture, and nutrition to any dish. 

Black beans are cooked in olive oil, onions, garlic, and seasonings, it’s a simple recipe that transforms beans in a can!

As simple as it is, this side dish makes a great accompaniment for tacos, burritos, nachos, and enchiladas. 

With its creaminess and subtle smokiness, it can light up any Mexican meal!

4. Easy Grillable Veggie Burgers

This veggie burger is an awesome alternative for those looking for some healthy comfort food. 

Black beans and brown rice form the base of the patty, providing essential nutrients and keeping it hearty. 

Then, BBQ sauce, walnuts, herbs, and spices are introduced to give it an outstanding flavor. 

Chopped onions add more flavor and a subtle crunch.

Every bite of this burger is tasty, juicy, and nutritious.

Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or just trying to switch things up, this recipe is a must-try.

5. Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos

Perfectly seasoned black beans + your favorite taco toppings in a crunchy taco shell = a terrific Taco Tuesday treat.

Cooked in cumin, smoked paprika, and more spices, the beans become savory and smoky enough that you won’t even miss the meat.

Plus, the whole dish takes no time to cook. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners!

6. Three Bean Salad

It’s a beautiful combination of cannellini, kidney, and garbanzo beans tossed in a sweet and sour vinaigrette.

This medley creates such an eye-catching color explosion, don’t you think? But that’s not all.

You also get to delight your tastebuds with the beans’ fantastic flavors and textures.

Together, the meaty cannellini, the nutty garbanzos, and the creamy kidney beans create a legendary legume treat! 

7. Cumin Spiced Lentils and Rice

Lentils and rice make a wonderful ideal pairing, and this recipe is proof.

The earthiness of the lentils is complemented by the nutty taste of rice, creating a balance of flavors. 

Cumin lends a spicy kick, while the lemon tahini dressing provides a punch of umami goodness. 

Despite its simplicity, the dish brings warmth, comfort, and deliciousness to any meal.

8. Ultra-Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Air fryer chickpeas are shockingly scrumptious and even more shockingly easy to make! 

All you need here is to toss chickpeas with seasonings, and then pop them in the air fryer.

After 15 minutes, you’ll have an addictive snack that’s as crispy and crunchy as can be.

Traditional recipes call for roasting the peas in the oven.

And while that yields impressive results, too, the air fryer method is much quicker.

Plus, there’s barely any effort involved in making it.

9. Smoky Beans and Greens Tacos with Aji Verde

Looking for a new twist on the classic taco? I can’t think of a better recipe to try than this.

These tacos are filled with black beans and kale seasoned with enchilada sauce and chipotle peppers. 

They have a wonderful mix of smoky and spicy, with a little bit of a kick.

Another component that makes these tacos extra is the aji verde sauce. 

In case you’re not familiar, it’s a Peruvian green sauce made with mayo, queso fresco, jalapenos, lime, and more.

The unique mix of ingredients gives the sauce bold flavors that enhance the black beans even more.

10. Best Lentil Soup 

Hearty and cozy, this lentil soup is perfect for a cold winter night.

The combination of lentils, carrots, and warm spices gives it a deep complexity that lingers in the mouth. 

This soup can nourish both body and soul with just a handful of healthy ingredients.

It’s a great way to add vitamins and minerals to your diet without sacrificing flavor.

11. Creamy Black Bean Curry

This black bean curry is so incredibly mouthwatering that you won’t believe it’s both dairy-free and vegan. 

Black beans are simmered in coconut milk with a flavorful blend of spices.

The aroma alone of this curry wafting through the air will make your mouth water.

With one spoonful, you’ll be instantly transported to India, adding some excitement to your usual dinner routine.

12. Vegetarian 15 Bean Soup

If you want to enjoy the best that legumes have to offer, you have to give this soup a try.

With 15 different kinds of legumes in the pot, this soup is sure to provide a playful mix of textures.

I mean, why settle for one when you can get 15 different legumes in one soup?

13. White Bean Dip 

Add this white bean dip to your party platter for a vegan-friendly appetizer!

This recipe blends cannellini beans with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs.

The result is an explosion of umami flavors you won’t find anywhere else.

Spread it on crackers or veggie sticks for an irresistible snack or starter.

14. Red Lentils – Instant Pot & Stovetop (Masoor Dal)

Red lentil curry, or masoor dal, is a vegetarian Indian dish your Western palate will surely love.

It’s prepared by cooking red lentils with tomatoes, ginger, and aromatic Indian spices.

The finished curry has a creamy, silky-smooth consistency. 

It has earthy and savory flavors boosted by the addition of garam masala and other spices. 

As this curry doesn’t contain any heavy cream or butter, it’s also very healthy.

It’s a perfect way to bring oomph to your midweek meals!

15. Vegan Lentil Loaf

This lentil loaf is a vegan take on a classic American dish. 

This meaty yet meatless treat is a blend of lentils, vegetables, breadcrumbs, and flax meal.

It’s flavored with tomato paste for a tangy kick and bbq sauce for a sweet and smoky flavor.

A variety of herbs and seasonings are also thrown in to add earthiness to the mixture.

Baked until golden brown, this lentil loaf gets nice and crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. 

It’s sure to be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike!

16. Hummus 

While you can always go get a jar of hummus at the grocery, it tastes phenomenally better when homemade.

You don’t even need to be a cooking expert to do so! 

With simple ingredients like chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice, you can whip up your very own hummus.

Enjoy homemade hummus as a dip, a topping, or even as a sandwich spread. 

Its versatility is all the more reason to make it at home.

17. 1-Ingredient Black Bean Tortillas

These black bean tortillas add a unique flavor and nutritional boost to your favorite Mexican meals.

They also couldn’t be easier to make.

To make the batter, you need black beans, salt, and water! 

Pan-fry the batter on both sides until they turn crisp, and there you have it.

With these black bean tortillas, you can have tacos, wraps, or fajitas.

You can also use them as dipping chips. The possibilities are endless! 

18. Nokdujeon (Mung Bean Pancakes)

Nokdujeon is a popular Korean dish commonly served during the holidays.

It’s not hard to see why, as it’s pretty delightful!

It’s a savory pancake that uses mung beans for its base.

It’s crunchy on the outside, yet soft on the inside with a mild, savory flavor. 

Nokdujeon can be served as an appetizer or eaten as a main course with assorted vegetables, side dishes, and kimchi. 

19. Hearty Lentil Stew

This lentil stew is an incredibly comforting and filling dish packed with nutrients. 

It’s loaded with hearty lentils and root vegetables, making it a great way to get your daily dose.

The stew is also infused with cumin and cinnamon for a hint of warmth. 

Lentil stew is already a complete meal, but you can serve it over basmati rice or quinoa to make it even heartier.

20. Black Bean Brownies 

If you told me months ago that you can use black beans to make brownies, I’d laugh for sure.

I was pretty shocked, but it turns out, using black beans (and oats) as a flour alternative works. 

These black bean brownies are surprisingly fudgy, and chocolatey, and taste like legit brownies.

I promise, there’s no weird bean taste or texture, at all!