13 Bean Recipes For Dinner That Are Cheap, Nutritious, & Delicious

Stuffed peppers are such a flavorful dish that even if you’re a meat-eater, you’ll never miss it in this recipe from All The Healthy Things. Don’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list — most of them are just seasonings you most likely have in your pantry already. These only take about 15 minutes of prep, then just pop them in the oven and go help with homework or baths ‘til they’re done.

Burrito bowls are easy, and they never disappoint. Princess Pinky Girls’ recipe clearly includes chicken, but honestly, if you sub in some really tasty refried beans or something, you won’t even miss it. We are big on burrito bowls in my house because they’re also great work lunches to prep ahead of time.

Chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, are the filling base to this super flavorful Italian chickpea salad from Foodie Crush. With all the additions — red onion, bell pepper, garlic, pepperoncini, and more — this is a delicious dense bean salad that’ll just get better as the flavors meld together in the fridge all week long.

If you’re trying to up your fiber intake, Damn Delicious’ spinach and white bean soup is the recipe for you. This delicious dish is ready in 30 minutes and would be so, so good with some Parmesan grated on top and a side of crusty bread.

Chili is a major crowdpleaser, and it’s a cheap way to make a lot of food at once, especially if you’re subbing in beans for beef. All The Healthy Things’ recipe includes meat, but you can just leave it out. That said, don’t skip the little dash of cocoa powder — it’s a game-changer.

Being able to make some simple but delicious bean sides yourself is a great way to save money, and fortunately, Simply LaKita’s Southern baked beans fit the bill. It takes about an hour, but you’ll have a big batch to pair with other proteins throughout the week.

I’m not sure falafel can be improved upon, but it’s fun to find out. What Jew Wanna Eat’s black bean falafel can be ready in about 20 minutes and doesn’t require many ingredients to pull off. Topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, and tzatziki, this is an easy and filling meal you’ll return to again and again.

If you’re having a bummer of a week, a cheesy, saucy enchilada night is guaranteed to make you feel at least 1% better. This version from Averie Cooks is a fantastic way to get more veggies into you and your kids, because the sweet potatoes and corn inside will indeed be coated in cheesy deliciousness.

Need a light, yummy salad to eat with chips for lunch? Or something easy to throw into burrito bowls or wraps? All The Healthy Things’ black bean and corn salad is easy to customize with your favorite veggies and herbs, and you can eat it in so many ways.

Filling, cheap taco ideas, you say? Damn Delicious has you covered with these black bean and quinoa tacos. They’re simple, satisfying, and inexpensive — the kind of recipe I could see going platinum in my house, personally.

Averie Cooks’ Mediterranean white bean salad looks exactly like what I mean when I say I want a little snack, but can’t find anything I actually want in the fridge (it’s because I’m looking for a restaurant-quality appetizer at all times). This recipe is a bit more involved, but the marinated white beans, crispy asparagus, and shallots served over whipped ricotta sound good enough to be worth the trouble.

Foodie Crush’s cannellini beans are another flavorful side you can pair with salads, proteins, or put on toast if you’re into that sort of thing. Or if you’re a fan of brothy beans, you can just grab the pot and a big spoon and dive in.

Princess Pinky Girl is the best at quick, easy recipes that are a breeze to make and super satisfying to eat. This cowboy casserole is also a one-pan meal (love) — it’s sort of like a chili base topped with cornbread. While her recipe calls for ground beef, you could easily just sub in extra beans and veggies.