Cheap And Easy Bean Recipes

Let’s get into some of our favorite cheap and easy bean recipes! We love beans over here at Budget Bytes because they’re inexpensive, shelf-stable, incredibly versatile, and full of fiber and other nutrients. They adapt well to different spices and flavors, creating the perfect foundation for lots of delicious bean recipes! Beans can also easily help bulk up a recipe while keeping the cost low. So whether you love black beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, kidney beans, or a combination of ALL the beans, we’ve rounded up several easy bean recipes we’re sure you’re going to love!

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All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville Test Kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

Black Bean Recipes

Sweet Potato Black Bean Skillet

Overhead view of sweet potatoes and black bean skillet with napkin and wooden spoon on the side.

This Sweet Potato Black Bean skillet is a fun, budget-friendly, and veggie packed meal with lots of flavor and is perfect for meal prep!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

4.52 from 27 votes

$7.44 recipe / $1.86 serving Get the Recipe

Sweet potatoes and black beans make the perfect pair in this quick, veggie-packed Sweet Potato and Black Bean Skillet. It’s hearty, flavorful, and great for meal prep. My whole family loves it!

Chicken Enchilada Soup

This super flavorful Chicken Enchilada Soup is made with tender chicken breast, lots of spices, and a tangy homemade enchilada sauce.

5 from 20 votes

$11.52 recipe / $1.92 serving Get the Recipe

All the bold, smoky flavor of enchiladas but with no rolling required! This one-pot Chicken Enchilada Soup is cozy, zippy, and practically made for piling on toppings.

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup

Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup Recipe

Overhead view of a bowl of butternut squash with black beans soup, topped with avocado.

This one-pot Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup is budget-friendly, super easy to make, and packed with tons of flavor! It’s absolutely perfect any day of the week.

4.63 from 16 votes

$8.59 recipe / $1.43 serving Get the Recipe

I call this my “clean out the crisper” soup, but somehow it always ends up tasting like I planned it. Throw whatever toppings you have on hand (avocado, chips, cheese, you name it), and dig into a bowl of this delicious Butternut Squash and Black Bean Soup.

Black Bean Quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!

4.73 from 290 votes

$6.73 recipe / $0.67 each Get the Recipe

Prepare to fall head over heels for these hearty and super delicious Black Bean Quesadillas! This is one of those vegetarian black bean recipes that meat-eaters will also love. Promise! ;)

Smoky Black Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup

This super fast and easy Black Bean Soup is rich, filling, flavorful, and waiting to be piled high with fun toppings! An easy vegan weeknight dinner.

4.95 from 36 votes

$5.26 recipe / $1.25 serving Get the Recipe

Who else loves soup season?! This quick and easy Smoky Black Bean Soup is made with canned black beans, veggies, spices, and tons of flavor!

Black Bean And Avocado Enchiladas

Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas

These hearty vegan Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas are stuffed with fresh ingredients and drenched in a homemade sauce for big flavor in every bite.

4.88 from 131 votes

$7.23 recipe / $1.45 serving Get the Recipe

If you’re looking for a super delicious black bean dinner recipe, look no further. Our popular Black Bean and Avocado Enchiladas are filled with a simple black bean and veggie mixture, then covered with a rich homemade enchilada sauce! Yum!!

Black Bean Burgers

Homemade Black Bean Burgers

Side view of a single black bean burger on a bun, fully dressed, sitting on newsprint

Black beans, cumin, sriracha, garlic, and fresh red onion make these homemade black bean burgers a flavorful and filling vegetarian meal.

4.76 from 66 votes

$3.74 recipe / $0.62 serving Get the Recipe

Ditch those expensive restaurant veggie burgers and make these Homemade Black Bean Burgers for dinner this week. Top with your favorite toppings and if you have leftovers, just freeze the rest for another day!

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar is a deliciously fresh bean salad with a colorful mix of beans and vegetables, plus a zesty lime dressing.

4.52 from 101 votes

$5.54 recipe / $0.55 serving Get the Recipe

Make room for this super fresh, colorful and delicious bean salad! Cowboy Caviar is a cross between a bean salad and salsa and it’s perfect served with chips, on top of salads, inside a burrito bowl, or as a simple side dish.

And if you love black beans, be sure to try out more of our favorite Black Bean Recipes!

Pinto Bean Recipes

Stovetop Baked Beans

Stovetop Baked Beans Recipe

overhead view of a serving of baked beans on a plate with a sandwich and corn on the cob.

These Stovetop Baked Beans are super-fast to whip up and taste great. They're made with pantry staples in just 20 minutes!

4.78 from 9 votes

$2.94 recipe / $0.49 serving Get the Recipe

These quick Stovetop Baked Beans come together in minutes and taste like they simmered all afternoon. 🤤

Cheesy Pinto Beans

Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple pantry staple ingredients, like canned beans.

4.90 from 86 votes

$2.92 recipe / $0.73 serving Get the Recipe

Though this may seem like a simple recipe, you’ll be surprised just how much flavor is packed into these Cheesy Pinto Beans! Serve with a bowl of rice and you instantly have an easy, satisfying meal.

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Overhead view of white chili chicken in a bowl, topped with shredded cheese and sliced jalapenos.

This creamy White Chicken Chili is easy and extra cozy for those cold fall and winter nights. The leftovers are great, too!

4.89 from 36 votes

$11.66 recipe / $1.46 serving Get the Recipe

Creamy White Chicken Chili is a thick and rich chicken and bean stew that’s made with tender chicken, beans, veggies, and a medley of southwest-inspired spices. Easy enough for any weeknight dinner meal.

Pinto Bean Soup

This easy Pinto Bean Soup is a simple and filling meal for when money is tight but you still want something flavorful and comforting.

4.50 from 6 votes

$3.51 recipe / $0.88 serving Get the Recipe

If you love easy, cozy, soup recipes then I know you’ll love this super simple Pinto Bean Soup. When I first tried it, I was literally blown away by how delicious it was and yet incredibly easy to make!

BBQ Bean Sliders

Side view of a BBQ Bean Slider on a plate with some sweet potato fries

These BBQ Bean Sliders topped with a homemade creamy coleslaw are a quick dinner fix when you're craving BBQ and don't have time for slow cooking meat!

4.86 from 35 votes

$5.85 recipe / $1.46 serving Get the Recipe

These BBQ Bean Sliders are great to cook when you are craving BBQ and you don’t have the time or money to slow cook an entire pork shoulder. Just add cooked beans and spices, your favorite BBQ sauce, and our homemade creamy coleslaw, and you’ve got a quick & easy BBQ bean sandwich!

Taco Soup

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

This easy Taco Soup recipe is a simple yet flavorful meal in a bowl featuring ground beef, beans, vegetables, and tons of tasty toppings!

4.95 from 17 votes

$11.43 recipe / $1.90 serving Get the Recipe

Let’s talk about this fun, hearty, and super flavorful, Taco Soup! It’s made with seasoned ground beef, lots of beans, veggies, and a generously spiced tomato broth. It’s the perfect way to get your taco fix in a big bowl of soup with ALL the toppings!

Cannellini Bean Recipes

Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet

Overhead view of chicken sausage and white beans on a serving dish with toasted bread on the side and a fork lifting some out.

This Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet is a quick & easy one-skillet meal that’s filling, budget-friendly and delicious!

4.71 from 34 votes

$8.69 recipe / $2.17 serving Get the Recipe

Smoky sausage, creamy white beans, and spinach all in one skillet? Weeknight dinner doesn’t get easier (or tastier) than this Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet.

Buffalo Beans and Greens

These Buffalo beans and greens pack in a whole lot of nutrition and flavor on a shoestring budget. I just can't get enough!

4.95 from 17 votes

$6.61 recipe / $1.65 serving Get the Recipe

Who knew kale and buffalo sauce would be such a power couple? This easy Buffalo Beans and Greens is the ultimate way to dress up a can of cannellini beans. Add a drizzle of blue cheese dressing and you’re set.

Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup

A bowl of Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup with two pieces of toasted bread and a black spoon in the middle.

This incredibly easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup takes only eight simple ingredients to deliver a bowl full of rich, bold flavor.

4.78 from 170 votes

$3.80 recipe / $0.95 serving Get the Recipe

This creamy and cozy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup comes together with just eight simple ingredients and it’s perfect with some homemade croutons on top or a piece of crusty bread for dipping!

Parmesan Beans

Parmesan and freshly cracked pepper give these canned cannelini beans new life! These Parmesan beans are an easy and delicious side dish.

5 from 17 votes

$2.97 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

These Parmesan Beans are easy, delicious, and you only need seven simple ingredients! It’s a simple side dish that only takes about twenty minutes to make!

Smoky White Bean Shakshuka

Eggs poached in a rich and smoky tomato sauce speckled with white beans, this Smoky White Bean Shakshuka is a filling and inexpensive breakfast or dinner! BudgetBytes.com

4.86 from 69 votes

$6.49 recipe / $1.62 serving Get the Recipe

This Smoky White Bean Shakshuka is the ultimate breakfast-for-dinner recipe! It’s made up of poached eggs, cannellini beans, fresh herbs, and feta simmered in a rich and flavorful tomato sauce.

Creamy White Bean And Spinach Quesadillas

Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas

Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, these insanely delicious Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas make an awesomely fast weeknight dinner.

4.93 from 113 votes

$3.99 recipe / $1.00 per quesadilla Get the Recipe

Switch up dinner tonight with these Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas! They’re crispy on the outside, rich in flavor and can be made in just 20 minutes.

White Beans With Mushrooms And Marinara

White Beans with Mushrooms and Marinara

White beans make a fiber-filled swap for gnocchi in this cheesy, indulgent skillet full of white beans, mushrooms, and marinara.

4.95 from 55 votes

$6.54 recipe / $1.64 serving Get the Recipe

White Beans with Mushrooms and Marinara is an easy one-skillet meal that uses a few simple pantry and produce ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes!

Kidney Bean Recipes

Louisiana Style Red Beans And Rice

Louisiana Style Red Beans and Rice with Sausage

Overhead view of Louisiana red beans and rice on a plate with a fork.

Classic Louisiana style red beans and rice are a naturally budget friendly meal that will give you leftovers for days! Freezer friendly!

4.53 from 157 votes

$9.87 recipe / $1.64 serving Get the Recipe

These Louisiana Style Red Beans and Rice are rich, flavorful, budget-friendly, has a TON of fiber and protein, and will have your house smelling amazing!

Classic Three Bean Salad

Overhead view of a bowl of three bean salad

Simple ingredients come together in this Classic Three Bean Salad to make a simple summer side dish, perfect for BBQs and potlucks!

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

4.77 from 17 votes

$3.84 recipe / $0.77 serving Get the Recipe

We’re saving you time and money with this simple Classic Three Bean Salad! It has minimal ingredients, a tangy-sweet dressing, and it’s the perfect side dish for get-togethers or busy weeknight meals.

Classic Homemade Chili

Homemade Chili Recipe

Overhead view of a bowl full of chili with toppings and a spoon in the center.

This is the BEST homemade chili recipe is the ultimate comfort food and is made with simple ingredients like ground beef, beans, and tomatoes.

4.80 from 210 votes

$9.28 recipe / $1.55 serving Get the Recipe

If there’s one bean recipe to keep in your back pocket, it’s definitely a good Classic Homemade Chili recipe! This chili recipe is a budget bytes reader-favorite and can be customized in a number of ways to make it your very own.

Puerto Rican Rice And Beans

Puerto Rican Style Red Beans and Rice

Overhead shot of a white bowl of red beans and rice.

Puerto Rican Rice and Beans is a dish with bold flavors, it's easy to prepare, and it's budget-friendly! Make it a meal with a side of ripe yellow plantain slices, or serve it as a sidekick to any protein.

4.77 from 17 votes

$8.89 recipe / $0.74 serving Get the Recipe

Puerto Rican Style Red Beans and Rice can be a meal on its own with a side of ripe yellow plantain slices or you can serve it as a sidekick to any protein.

Easy Minestrone Soup

Overhead view of a bowl of vegetarian minestrone with a spoon in the middle

This easy Minestrone Soup recipe is a hearty, budget-friendly meal full of vegetables and perfect for meal prep or weeknight dinners.

4.82 from 33 votes

$5.96 recipe / $0.99 serving Get the Recipe

This Easy Minestrone Soup is warm, comforting, budget-friendly and great for meal prep! Wanna add pasta…go for it! Or just keep it simple by adding some extra beans for an even more hearty flavor.

Easy Chili Recipes

Easy Potato Recipes

Easy Chickpea Recipes

Collage of vegetarian recipe images with title text in the center.

Easy Vegetarian Recipes

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JKL

09.12.23 10:18 am

The white bean quesadillas and the BBQ bean sliders are two big mainstays in my household–they’re both so quick and easy and GOOD and yield quite a few meals that we look forward to eating for days!

Andrea

09.09.23 7:33 am

Recipe round ups are so inspiring. I always discover new ones to try