Cheap And Easy Bean Recipes

by Marsha - Budget Bytes
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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!

Collage of six easy bean recipes with title text in the center.

Black Bean Recipes

Black Bean Quesadillas

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

A stack of black bean quesadillas on a serving tray
These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
4.90 from 230 votes
$6.61 recipe / $0.66 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

30-Minute Smoky Black Bean Soup

Two bowls of Smoky Black Bean Soup with various toppings, next to a bowl of sliced green onion and a crumbled corn muffin.
This super fast and easy Smoky Black Bean Soup is rich, filling, flavorful, and waiting to be piled high with fun toppings! An easy vegan weeknight dinner.
4.94 from 32 votes
$4.24 recipe / $1.06 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. BudgetBytes.com
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. 
4.91 from 121 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.
4.82 from 49 votes
$2.57 recipe / $0.43 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

Close up overhead view of cowboy caviar in a bowl with chips on the side.
Cowboy Caviar is a deliciously fresh bean salad with a colorful mix of beans and vegetables, plus a zesty lime dressing.
4.88 from 55 votes
$5.30 recipe / $0.53 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

Cheesy Pinto Beans

Cheesy Pinto Beans

Overhead view of a bowl of cheesy pinto beans over rice.
Cheesy Pinto Beans are a quick and satisfying meal made with simple pantry staple ingredients, like canned beans.
4.90 from 65 votes
$2.96 recipe / $0.74 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

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Overhead view of a bowl of creamy white chicken chili with toppings and a spoon.
This creamy White Chicken Chili is easy and extra cozy for those cold fall and winter nights. The leftovers are great, too!
4.94 from 31 votes
$12.81 recipe / $1.60 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

Pinto Bean Soup

Close up overhead view of three bowls of 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.
4.41 from 5 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

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!
4.85 from 32 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

One bowl of taco soup with toppings.
This easy Taco Soup recipe is a simple yet flavorful meal in a bowl featuring ground beef, beans, vegetables, and tons of tasty toppings!
4.88 from 8 votes
$11.84 recipe / $1.97 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

Easy Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup

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.
4.76 from 153 votes
$2.49 recipe / $0.62 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 Beans

Close up side view of a wooden spoon stirring 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 9 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

Smoky White Bean Shakshuka

Smoky White Bean Shakshuka makes the BEST breakfast for dinner! BudgetBytes.com
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 68 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

Close up of a plate full of creamy white bean and spinach quesadillas with a dish of red salsa
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 97 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

Close up view of a spoon scooping some white beans with mushrooms and marinara, garlic bread on the side.
White beans make a fiber-filled swap for gnocchi in this cheesy, indulgent skillet full of white beans, mushrooms, and marinara.
4.97 from 52 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

A bowl full of red beans and rice with sausage, a spoon in the center of the bowl
Classic Louisiana style red beans and rice are a naturally budget friendly meal that will give you leftovers for days! Freezer friendly!
4.49 from 137 votes
$9.75 recipe / $1.63 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

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!
4.70 from 13 votes
$2.79 recipe / $0.56 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.
4.90 from 155 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.
4.75 from 16 votes
$8.24 recipe / $0.69 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

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.
4.86 from 28 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.

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  1. 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!