25 Best Recipes with Dried Beans

Looking to cut costs in the kitchen? Make one of these recipes with dried beans.

Not only are dried beans wallet-friendly, but they’re packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.

Cheap, healthy, and tasty? I’m in!

I’ve included some tasty staples like beans and rice, but hopefully, you’ll discover a few new ways to use dried beans.

Whether you want to whip up a batch of black bean tacos, Instant Pot chili, or vegan patties, you’ll discover different ways to use legumes.

Those are just a few mentions on this list of recipes with dried beans. Keep reading to discover more!

1. Puerto Rican Rice and Beans

Are you looking for a flavorful meal to light up your dinner table? Try making authentic rice and beans.

This simple dish goes easy on the budget, with a hearty payoff in the flavor department.

Each bite nourishes you with soothing textures and bright, zingy flavors, thanks to the sofrito sauce. 

2. Red Kidney Bean Curry (Rajma Masala)

I can’t think of a tastier way to eat kidney beans. 

This stew has so much flavor infused into each spoonful. You create this magical dish with ginger, garlic, and cardamom, just to name a few spices.

While this recipe goes heavy on the seasoning, the rest of the ingredients are super simple and can likely be found in your pantry.

3. Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

Using an Instant Pot makes rehydrating beans a breeze. You don’t have to soak or drain the beans prior, which saves you a lot of time in the kitchen.

In this recipe, you cook the beans in seasoning and veggie broth, then add vegan sausage at the end.

It creates a wonderfully hearty meal that’s also plant-based!

4. Beans and Greens with Lemon and Feta

This recipe shows you how to create perfectly-cooked beans with carrots, swiss chard, lemon, and feta.

If you’re a fan of plant-based Mediterranean fare, you’ll fall in love with this aromatic stew. It’s extra nourishing on a cold winter night. 

5. Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos

Dried beans aren’t just for stews and soups, you can also use them to make delicious tacos! 

This easy breezy recipe comes together in just a few steps. After rehydrating the legumes, simmer them with peppers, spices, and lime juice. 

Spoon the mixture on a warm corn tortilla, then top with avocado, cilantro, sour cream, and queso fresco. How delicious does that sound? 

6. Instant Pot Chili

Wanna cozy up to a bowl of pure comfort food this fall? You can’t beat this Instant Pot chili.

You make it using a base of dried beans and ground beef, which add extra heartiness to the bowl.

Onions, tomatoes, peppers, and a handful of spices help to season this recipe, creating a hint of fire in each mouthful.

7. Cuban Black Bean Soup

This hearty soup is healthy, flavorful, and insanely easy to whip up.

You can have it ready in just over an hour, but the Instant Pot does most of the work.

It’s cheap, vegan, and will have your mouth watering after each bite. You can also easily meal-prep a big batch of this soup for easy dinners throughout the week.

8. Traditional Cassoulet

Cassoulet is a French bean stew packed with meaty ingredients like pork, sausage, and duck confit. It’s a quintessential winter dish that’s fit for a king (as long as that king isn’t vegan).

Prepare yourself because this stick-to-your-bones recipe takes 2 days to make, but the results are so worth it. 

Spend a snowed-in weekend making this delicious stew, then bask in the warm, uber-rich flavors on Sunday night. 

9. Greek Baked Beans (Gigantes Plaki)

Gigantes plaki is a Greek comfort food that’s deliciously fragrant and packed with plant-based ingredients.

It can be hard to find vegan Greek food that doesn’t contain lamb, feta, or fish, but this recipe makes it happen.

Butter beans are the star of the show, with supporting ingredients like chopped tomatoes, red onion, garlic, and spices. 

Prepare to be swept away by deep savory flavors and hearty textures. 

10. Black Eyed Peas 

Craving a little taste of down south? Check out this recipe for delicious black-eyed peas.

These beans may look odd, but they carry the same flavor and texture as other legumes. 

Combined with smoky bacon, chunks of ham, and savory chicken broth, this stew will satisfy any appetite craving. 

11. Cowboy Chili With Kidney Beans

Cowboy chili is a secretly healthy dish brimming with comforting, familiar flavors. 

Picky eaters will love the cheese and ground beef.

The health-conscious will appreciate the beans and veggies. It’s a win-win for both parties!

12. Spicy Harissa Bean Soup

Looking to clean out the pantry? This recipe provides a tasty way to use up all those random jars of dried beans.

Smoky, flavorful, and rich, this spicy harissa bean soup is a great way to thaw out during a blizzard. 

13. Kidney Bean Stew (Fasolia)

Fasolia is a Lebanese bean stew with a thick tomato base and aromatic spices to tantalize your taste buds.

It’s healthy and full of plant-based protein so that you can stay fuller longer. No afternoon energy crashes here!

14. Vegan Black Beans

This recipe shows you how to create the best vegan black beans with an unreal flavor.

You can use these beans in burritos, salads, or rice bowls. Make a big batch on a Sunday and use them all week long.

This recipe relies heavily on pantry staples, many of which you probably have stocked away right now.

Why not make this nourishing staple tonight? 

15. Navy Bean Ham Bone Soup

Make a delicious soup that would make grandma proud.

Navy bean ham soup is an oldie but a goodie, and the flavor tastes like liquid comfort. 

Have a picked-apart ham from Easter dinner? You can put your leftovers to great use by making this heavenly soup.

16. Refried Kidney Beans

There’s no soaking required to make these creamy refried kidney beans.

Simply cook the legumes with chopped onion, oil, and a handful of spices, then mash using an immersion blender.

The texture is amazing, with a velvety, creamy richness that melts in your mouth.

This recipe is begging you to dunk a tortilla chip inside. 

17. Pink Beans

You might be wondering, what on earth are pink beans? 

Pink beans look and taste like pinto beans.

You can find this unique legume throughout the Southwest since the smoky, rich flavor works well with spices.

And they play especially well in salt pork recipes like this.

Add fresh thyme with some killer seasoning like chili powder, dry mustard, and pepper, and you’re in business.

18. Hake with Kidney Bean Sauté

Take your weeknight dinner to the next level with this recipe for hake with kidney beans.

You can make this hearty meal using just one pan, so you don’t have to spend a long time doing dishes afterward.

This tasty recipe combines healthy Omega 3’s with loads of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. 

19. Ham and Bean Soup

You can’t go wrong with ham and bean soup. It’s one of the most satisfying recipes out there!

If you’re vegan, keep scrolling because this recipe uses a ham bone, chunks of ham, and a healthy amount of bacon.

The carrots, thyme, and navy beans offer a nice lightness to combat all the meaty ingredients, culminating in one delectable bite.

20. White Bean Soup

No hungry belly is a match for this soup. It’s one of those white bean recipes you’ll crave again and again.

Sometimes soups can be a little disappointing when it comes to feeling full after, but not this one.

21. Baked Beans with Bacon

Low and slow is the key to making these Southern-style baked beans. 

After combining all the ingredients in a pot, let the flavor mingle together for an hour on low heat.

It’s enough time to create this thick syrupy sauce that perfectly combines sweet and salty flavors.

The smokiness of the bacon really takes this dish to a whole new level.

Serve these beans along your favorite barbeque, or drizzle some on top of bacon and eggs.

No matter the method, you can’t go wrong with these Southern-style beans. 

22. Cannellini Beans with Garlic and Spinach

This recipe shows you an easy and nutritious way to use up that old jar of dried cannellini beans. 

You combine the legumes with a whole head of garlic, so you know this recipe isn’t lacking in flavor.

Along with the fresh sage, rosemary, and lemon, your tastebuds will sing the praises of cannellini beans for an eternity.  

23. Authentic Traditional Mexican Beans (Frijoles Autenticos Mexicanos)

Bring an authentic taste of Mexican cuisine to your home, no passport necessary!

Earthy, bright, and fresh all at once, this recipe will make a great addition to Taco Tuesday.

The secret ingredient behind this recipe is epazote, a Latin herb found at most Mexican grocery stores.

It imparts a lemony, acidic flavor to this recipe, so you won’t want to skip it. 

24. Kidney Bean Patties

These kidney bean patties are so versatile that your head will be spinning with all the possibilities.

Sandwich one between two buns to create a delicious vegan burger, or serve them solo as a filling snack.

25. Instant Pot Pinto Bean Stew

This is one of those recipes that require minimal prep work, so you can spend more time relaxing and less time making dinner.

The Instant Pot does most of the work.

After a half hour of cooking, you have this perfectly-seasoned stew ready for a weeknight dinner.