Save time in the kitchen by making quick dinners using canned beans. They cost pennies and add a great source of protein to any dinner.
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When it comes to making dinner, canned beans can be your best friend. Simply the can, drain and rinse, and you have a super frugal and easy base for dinner. Beans are also neutral in flavor, so they can take on whatever flavor you like.
What if I only have dried beans?
Cooking dried beans is so easy, but it does take time. Once you make a batch of dried beans, though, they freeze really well so you can portion into 2 cup portions and freezer for quick dinners.
My favorite way to cook dried beans is in the crock pot. This method takes 8 hours and is completely hands off. You don’t even have to pre-soak the beans. Check out my post on how to cook dried black beans. This method works for all other kinds of beans, too.
What about the canned bean liquid?
Aquafaba is the liquid that we drain off of canned beans and it is liquid gold. My friend Meggan, from Cooking on Caffeine, is a magician with using aquafaba to make buttercream icing, meringues, even macaron cookies! She has a whole post dedicated to the wonders of aquafaba here.
More Pantry Posts
- How to Stock Your Pantry on a Budget
- Easy Pantry Organization Tips
- Free Pantry and Freezer Inventory Printables
Dinner Recipes Using Canned Beans
Get a little help from the pantry by using canned beans as the base of your dinner. Not only are canned beans nutritious, they are quick and easy to use AND they are incredibly inexpensive. Yes, you can soak and cook dried beans for even more savings, but canned beans are the best when it comes to quick dinners.
Cauliflower Chickpea Curry
Gluten-free and dairy-free, this easy Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry comes together with budget-friendly pantry ingredients in less than 30 minutes. Whether you’re vegetarian or looking for frugal meal, the warm spices and coconut milk make for a delicious curry you can serve over rice, quinoa or with naan.
Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Sweet potatoes and black beans add an interesting twist to smoky chili. This tasty dish can be done in 30 minutes!
Black Bean Sweet Potato Protein Bowl
This protein bowl gets a shortcut by using canned black beans. Prep the rest of your ingredients while the sweet potatoes are roasting and you've got a hearty meal in no time.
Easy Vegan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potatoes are topped with corn, black beans and avocado for a complete vegan meal.
Greek Chili
Chili gets an upgrade with Greek spices and tzatziki sauce. Use white beans or chickpeas (garbanzo beans), whatever you have on hand.
Vegan Pinwheels
Smashed canned beans make the perfect hummus spread for these pinwheels. Fill them with whatever toppings you desire.
Slow Cooker Irish Chili
This Irish Chili has Guinness beer along with tons of smoky spices for a full-flavor chili. Bonus: it cooks in the slow cooker for hand's off cooking and freezes beautifully for a fantastic freezer meal.
Chickpea And Spinach Vegan Burger
This vegan burger uses canned chickpeas and spinach in place of beef for a deliciously satisfying burger that won't weigh you down.
Sweet Potato Chickpea Coconut Curry
This curry recipe is a pantry gold-mine with canned chickpeas and coconut milk. Use frozen peas for the ultimate frugal meals that tastes like a thousand bucks!
Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Quesadillas
Fill your quesadillas with hummus for a delicious, vegan (budget-friendly) twist.
Silly Chili Macaroni
The ultimate frugal meal, this recipe uses canned chili, canned beans and dried macaroni to make a complete meal noodle casserole. Your wallet will thank you!
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Chili
Hot sauce and ranch dressing are the secret ingredients in this Buffalo Chicken chili. Canned white beans stretch the recipe without stretching your budget.
Black Bean & Zucchini Vegan Enchiladas
Canned black beans help this meal come together super quickly. Feel free to top with real cheese if you aren't vegan.
Southwest Chili with Black Beans and Corn
Chili gets a southwestern spin with corn, black beans and red peppers.
Chickpea Fajitas
Roast up canned chickpeas for a crunchy, nutty treat that makes a delicious fajita filling.
Ham and Bean Soup
Ham and Bean Soup is the perfect way to use up leftover ham. Chop up the ham and mix with canned white beans for a delicious, frugal meal.
Black Bean and Green Chile Tamales
Fill your homemade tamales with canned black beans and green chiles for a frugal dinner with massively delicious flavor.
The Best White Bean Soup
Use any white bean, like cannellini or navy beans, in this creamy, satisfying soup that happens to be vegan.
Instant Pot Kung Pao Chickpeas with Rice
These chickpeas are kicking with spicy Kung Pao flavor. Better yet, they cook so quickly in the Instant Pot!
Vegetarian Enchiladas with Roasted Cauliflower
Feel free to use any variety of canned beans in these vegetarian enchiladas with roasted cauliflower.
Instant Pot Pork Loin Cowboy Foil Packets
Foil packets are a great way to cook meat and potatoes quickly, and this is enhanced with corn and kidney beans.
Easy Vegetarian Nachos Recipe For The Slow Cooker
Canned beans make the perfect refried beans to top nachos. Use pinto or black beans and season with cumin for a smoky flavor.
Sweet Potato Chicken Stew with Black Beans
Beef up the protein in this hearty stew by adding canned black beans.
Chili con Carne
"Chili con Carne" means chili with beef, but bulk up the recipe by adding canned kidney beans and canned corn.
Smoked Sausage and Vegetable Soup
Feel free to use white beans or chickpeas along with diced veggies and smoked sausage in this yummy, frugal soup.
Instant Pot Moroccan Chickpea Stew
This delicious stew is ready in minutes in the Instant Pot by using canned chickpeas. Stir in fresh spinach at the end for a bright finish.
Kidney Bean Curry
Kidney beans aren't just for chili. Use them in this smoky, vegetarian curry.
Easy Instant Pot Cassoulet
French food is made easy by cooking in the Instant Pot. Open a can of white beans to make this dish even easier.
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
This Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili is as easy as opening cans of black beans, pinto beans, diced tomatoes and corn for a super simple, affordable dinner.
Easy Chana Masala
Canned beans and canned tomatoes make this Chana Masala incredibly easy, delicious and affordable.
Easy Bean Soup
This easy Bean Soup is loaded with warming spices, black-eyed beans and sweet corn for a comforting meal that your whole family will love. Best of all, it’s super easy to make from just pantry staples.