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A collection of Sweet Potato Soul’s best recipes with beans. With everything from dips and soups to main dishes and burgers, there’s something for everyone on this list of vegan bean-based meals!
This post was originally published on June 10, 2021. It was updated with new recipes on October 25, 2024.
Have a lot of beans on your hands but no idea of what to do with them? I have you covered. Just call me your fairy bean godmother! Over my decade-plus of blogging, I have published over 42 easy bean recipes, ranging from curries and salads to soul food and enchiladas. You could say that I love making meals with beans, so you’ve come to the right spot!
You may hear “bean recipes” or “bean dishes” and think of boring, bland, and lifeless meals. My goal while creating every one of these vegan and vegetarian bean recipes was to create flavorful, delicious, and craveworthy meals that would make you crazy about legumes. So, let’s get started and dive into this list of the 42 best vegan bean recipes!
Table of contents
Cooking with Beans Q&A
Why eat beans?
Because they are delicious and good for you! Seriously — beans are a great source of many nutrients, including micronutrients and phytonutrients (source), fiber, and plant protein, making them a healthy part of any diet, especially a plant-based one.
Beans add texture, heartiness, color, and flavor to dishes. They are easy to cook with, affordable, and available in most grocery stores. Beans keep well for long periods, making them a pantry staple for easy last-minute meals.
How do I make beans taste good?
All beans taste different, but overall, they have a delicious, mildly nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. Because of their mild flavor, beans work well in various recipes, as you’ll see below. But before we get to those recipes, keep these tips in mind for when you’re making beans without a recipe:
- Cook dried beans with aromatics like onions, garlic, leeks, or shallots.
- Salt your beans to taste, even after you’ve made a recipe. Salt enhances and accentuates the flavors of many recipes using beans, bringing them to life.
- Add a squeeze of citrus or vinegar, such as citrus juice or vinegar, to balance the flavors in cooked beans, bean stews, and curries.
- Season them with your favorite seasoning. From teriyaki sauce to jerk spice, beans party well with everyone.
- Make sure your beans are well-cooked before eating. They should be fork-tender and creamy through the center.
- Add a piece of seaweed, such as kombu (Amazon, iHerb, Vitacost), to your beans as they cook to reduce gassiness.
- Soak and rinse. Soaking beans will help them cook evenly, and it will also eliminate some of the gas producing compounds. Rinse them after soaking; don’t cook them in their soaking liquid. Try soaking them with a teaspoon of baking soda if beans tend to make you gassy.
- Cooking your beans in an acidic base like tomato sauce will slow the cooking time, so plan to add acids after cooking the beans unless a recipe states otherwise.
How to cook dried beans in the Instant Pot?
I love cooking with dried beans because they are ultra-affordable and so easy to make. For the best deal, stock up on dried beans when they are on sale, or buy them in bulk. When stored in an airtight container in a cool and dark location, they keep for 2 to 3 years!
Though you can cook the dried beans on the stovetop using the traditional soak and simmer method, I prefer the ease and speed of making them in the Instant Pot (Amazon)! Here’s how to do it:
- Soak 1 pound of beans in cool water for 8 hours or overnight.*
- Drain the beans and rinse them. Add them to the Instant Pot with 3 1/2 cups of fresh water (or broth) and stir a few times.
- Lock on the Instant Pot lid. Pressure cook on high for the directed amount of time (see the table below).
- Naturally-release the pressure (this can take up to 20 minutes).
- Remove the Instant Pot lid. Season to taste and serve the beans in any of the delicious vegan bean dishes below!
Common Dried Bean Pressure Cooking Times
Cook times after Soaked Overnight*
Type of Dried Bean | Pressure Cooking Time |
Navy Beans | 10 min |
Black Beans | 12 min |
Cannellini Beans or Kidney Beans | 15 min |
Pinto Beans | 15 min |
Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas) | 16-18 min |
Corona Beans | 25 min |
* If you do not have time to soak overnight, you can make the beans without soaking them first. Just add 20-25 minutes of pressure cooking time. The cook times above produce beans that are well cooked, but still hold their shape.
Optional: Season the Beans. If desired, you can sauté onions and garlic before adding the beans and water or broth. Swap flavored vegetable bouillon and water for more layers of flavor, or stir in a teaspoon of dried herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, Italian seasoning, or oregano.
Bean Dips and Snacks
Brilliant Beet Black Bean Dip
Delight even beet haters with this Beet Black Bean Dip! It’s creamy, savory, spicy, and so full of flavor. Serve it with veggies and pita chips.
The Best Sweet Potato Hummus
What is better than traditional hummus? Sweet potato hummus, of course! Made with roasted sweet potato, chickpeas, miso, garlic, tahini, and spices, this dip is one-of-a-kind and delicious!
Corn + Peach Crostini with White Bean Basil Puree
Celebrate the flavors of summer with this crostini recipe! Top toasted bread with herbed white bean puree and sprinkle it with fresh corn and peach salad for a refreshing and satisfying snack or appetizer.
Bean Salads
Marinated White Bean Salad
Tossed with a zesty balsamic and maple dressing and fresh chopped red onion, juicy tomatoes, and fresh herbs, this bean salad is refreshing and filling but light.
Chickpea Tuna Salad
This vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad recipe is loaded with zesty, creamy flavors and made entirely from plant-based ingredients. It is the perfect summertime dish as a sandwich, served with crackers, or added to salads and bowls!
Amazing Edamame Salad
Edamame Salad is flavorful, nutritious, and easy to make, featuring a bold, naturally sweet garlic-ginger almond dressing, shredded carrots, and crunchy cabbage. Enjoy large bowls as a satisfying and nutritious main dish, or serve it as a side salad with your favorite meals!
Black Eyed Pea Salad
Also known as “Texas caviar,” this black eyed pea salad is full of flavor and texture, easy to make, and perfect for meal prep. Enjoy it as a side dish or main; it’s also great at potlucks and cookouts!
Vegan Caesar Salad
This creamy Vegan Caesar Salad is a tasty way to get your greens with a homemade plant-based dressing. Topped with crispy chickpeas, this salad makes a picturesque main entree or side dish!
Mango Avocado Salad
Add vibrant colors, delicious flavors, and loads of nutrition to any meal with this Mango Avocado Salad! It features homemade mango guacamole, fresh veggies, and black beans for a vegetarian bean dish everyone will love!
Roasted Beet & Potato Salad
Featuring roasted beets, Yukon gold potatoes, pumpkin seeds, white beans, and homemade lemon vinaigrette, this vegan bean salad recipe is one of my favorite ways to get my daily vegetable servings!
Vegan Nicoise Salad
Enjoy this vibrant, hearty Vegan Nicoise Salad inspired by the classic French dish. Loaded with flavorful plant-based ingredients and a homemade tangy dressing, it makes the perfect main dish for lunch or dinner or a colorful side dish.
Bean Soups, Chili, Curries, and Stews
Sweet Potato Bisque with Crispy White Beans
This Sweet Potato Bisque is creamy, satisfying, rich, and 100% vegan! It’s made with pureed sweet potatoes and beans instead of heavy cream, but it tastes like traditional. It’s one of my best bean recipes for dinner.
Instant Pot Black Bean Soup
This Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is a hearty, flavorful dish packed with protein and veggies. It is perfect for busy weeknights, it’s easy to prepare and full of smoky, spicy goodness.
Hearty Tofu Chili
Brimming with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices, this is one of my most popular bean recipes. Vegan and meat-eaters alike love it for its hearty and satisfying texture and loads of plant protein.
Instant Pot White Beans with Lemon and Rosemary
These creamy, rich Instant Pot White Beans with rosemary and lemon make the perfect nutritious, flavor-packed side dish or main course. They are quick and easy to prepare, whether you need a cozy weeknight dinner or a hearty addition to a dinner party spread!
Bean Bowls
Vegan Burrito Bowl
Made with my popular walnut taco meat, these Vegan Burrito Bowls are better than Chipotle’s! They’re a great meal prep dinner for busy weeks. The whole family will go wild about them.
Winter Burrito Bowl
Nourish your body and delight your taste buds with this Winter Burrito Bowl! With fresh kale, black beans, carrots, jalapeños, and avocado cream, it’s easy to make and nutritious meal.
International Bean Recipes
Sweet Potato Falafel Sandwich
If you like falafel, you’ll love this Sweet Potato Falafel sandwich! Crispy, savory, and naturally sweet, these baked falafel are naturally vegan and a great way to enjoy chickpeas.
Chickpea & Butternut Squash Tagine
This Moroccan-inspired chickpea & butternut squash tagine is everything we love about vegetarian recipes with beans. It’s delicious, easy to make, nutritious, and comforting, perfect for chilly winter days!
Green Chili “Chicken” Enchiladas
Love enchiladas? Just because you eat plant-based doesn’t mean you must miss out on your favorite dish! Green Chili “Chicken” Enchiladas are filled with beans, vegan cheese, and plant-based chicken before being drenched with green chili sauce, making the ultimate comfort food!
Teriyaki Chickpeas
Teriyaki gets a healthy upgrade in this Teriyaki Chickpeas recipe. Sweetened with dates and seasoned with garlic and ginger, teriyaki sauce is rich, saucy, and processed sugar-free! Swap in edamame, tofu, or jackfruit if desired.
Nut-Free West African Peanut Stew
Warm up with a bowl of this Nut-Free West African “Peanut” Stew. Made with sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, this West African Peanut Stew is healthy, easy to make, comforting, and downright DELICIOUS!
Soul Food Recipes Made with Beans
Vegan Red Beans and Rice
This New Orleans-style Vegan Red Beans and Rice is the ultimate comfort food! Loaded with Cajun flavors and hearty ingredients, this flavor-packed meatless dish is a filling, nutritious, and delicious meal.
Vegan Hoppin’ John
A traditional take on the rice and beans dish, Vegan Hoppin’ John is made with spices and seasonings to replace the bacon, making this Southern comfort food dish plant-based!
Vegan Black Eyed Peas
This Vegan Eyed Peas is made without sausage and bacon but is as flavorful, zesty, and comforting as the original version. Make it on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot for ultimate convenience.
Bean Burgers, Pizza, & Other Main Dishes
Spicy Black Bean Burger with Tajín
Tajín isn’t just for your favorite fruit! It adds layers of zest and spice to these plant-based Black Bean Burgers. Seasoned with onions, pepper, pumpkin seeds, Tajín, and more, these bean burgers celebrate flavor!
World’s Best Veggie Burger | Black Bean Beet Burgers
Swap these Black Bean Beet Burgers for a meatless meal the whole family will love! Made with carrots, rice, walnuts, and smoked paprika, these burgers are as good for you as they are tasty.
Black Bean Hemp Burgers
Colorful, hearty, and made with superfoods, these Black Bean Hemp Burgers are a nutritious way to enjoy your favorite foods. Top them with avocado or guacamole and veggies and serve with air fryer sweet potato wedges for a complete meal.
Vegan Sausages
Enjoy savory, homemade vegan sausages made with beans and flavorful spices. A satisfying and versatile plant-based option, perfect for swapping for meat sausages in any recipe!
Easy Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Thai-seasoned chickpeas are tucked in tender sweet potatoes for an aromatic and wholesome meal, great for meal prep! Top the Chickpea-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with fried shallots for a crunchy, flavorful finish.
Vegan Black Bean Crust Pizza
Naturally gluten-free and vegan, this Black Bean Crust Pizza bursts with savory flavor, texture, and healthy goodness. Add my suggested toppings or experiment with your favorites!
Sweet Potato Burgers with Green Tahini
These Sweet Potato Burgers have me smitten! They’re made with two of my favorite things — chickpeas and sweet potatoes — and are flavored with almonds, spices, and cilantro. Simple perfection!
Breakfast Bean Recipes
Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
Make breakfast memorable with this easy one-skillet Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash, ready in under 30 minutes! It is as picturesque as it is delicious, made with crispy sweet potatoes, sautéed veggies, black beans, and creamy avocado.
Vegan Bean Desserts
I hope you enjoyed this list of my best vegan bean recipes and found inspiration for your next delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Please comment below with your favorite pick and save this post for later on Pinterest!