25 Protein-Packed Bean Recipes That Will Have You Loving These Healthy and Affordable Legumes

July 3^rd is Eat Your Beans Day and while we love a whole day devoted to beans, no one has to tell us twice to eat them. Beans are delicious, healthy, and one of the most versatile foods around. Beans are also economical and a great value, especially if you buy dried beans, if you’re on a budget, beans are some of the most filling foods you can get for your money. There’s no doubt that beans are healthy. Beans are packed with protein which is essential to a meat-free diet. They are also convenient, easy to store, and easy to cook.

How many kinds of beans can you name? There are many types of beans, each with its own taste and texture — adzuki, black, black-eyed peas, cannellini, fava, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, pinto, and soy, to name just a few. Beans are highly versatile and can be in endless ways. For lots of recipes, see 7 Ways to Cook Beans to Make Them More Exciting, 10 Ways to Cook Beans with Global Flavor, and Think You Don’t Like Beans? These 25 Recipes Will Make You Love Them. Then get ready to “Eat Your Beans” with these 25 recipes that will make a bean fan out of you for sure.

1. Buffalo Tempeh Burger

You’ll never have anything like these Buffalo Tempeh Burgers. Meaty, savory, spicy, and sweet — yes, sweet — from Medjool dates, these burgers are covered with sauce and topped with onion rings or potato chips. These burgers will be your new best friend. They’re perfect for backyard barbecues, but you shouldn’t wait for a special occasion to dive right into this recipe.

2. Greek Taverna Baked Beans

These Greek Taverna Baked Beans aren’t your typical baked beans. This easy and protein-rich Greek casserole is made from fava beans with savory tomatoes, caramelized onions, and garlic. It’s a filling dish that’s great for a potluck or dinner throughout the week.

3. White Bean Meatballs

Who says meatballs have to be brown? These White Bean Meatballs are a perfect, protein-packed accompaniment for a bowl of zoodles or brown rice. They’re hefty in size, but light in texture and only require four ingredients. In just two easy steps, you can amp up the nutrition of your meal with these delicious meatballs!

4. Smashed White Bean Avocado and Basil Sandwich

Instead of your typical chickpea salad, white beans are the star of this Smashed White Bean Avocado and Basil Sandwich. They’re mashed together with creamy avocado, whole grain mustard, lemon, and fresh basil. Leaving the beans slightly chunky gives them the perfect contrasting texture to the creamy avocado and crisp, fresh lettuce. Mixed with all those fresh flavors and tangy mustard, this easy sandwich is the perfect lunchtime staple for anybody.

5. Chickpea Chorizo Tacos

Taco Tuesdays just got a whole lot yummier with these Chickpea Chorizo Tacos. This hot and spicy chickpea chorizo is like soyrizo, minus the soy! The chickpeas get their meaty “chorizo” flavor by crumbling them in a food processor with savory sun-dried tomato and being cooked in a skillet with a hot and spicy sauce. Load up your tacos with plenty of crisp lettuce, vegan sour cream, vegan cheese, and some guac to balance the heat.

6. Red Bean Patty Wraps With North African Chermoula Sauce

These savory Red Bean Patty Wraps With North African Chermoula Sauce combine the flavors of a traditional North African spice mixture with a gluten-free red bean patty. Herbs are the main ingredient of chermoula, a marinade used prominently in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria. Parsley, cilantro, oil, lemon juice, pickled lemon, and other seasonings bring a fresh flavor, making chermoula the perfect marinade for warmer weather.

7. Acaraje: Brazilian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters

Acarajé is a Brazilian street food inspired by African akaras. Popular in Salvador and Olinda, these Brazilian Black-Eyed Pea Fritters are airy and fluffy on the inside and a little crispy on the outside. It’s an absolute must that you eat these while they’re hot — that’s when they’re at their best.

8. Layered Fiesta Taco Bowl

Don’t just have a bowl for dinner, have a fiesta bowl, like this Layered Fiesta Taco Bowl. Smoky coconut bacon, warm black beans and corn, and lime-roasted bell peppers are all layered on top of each other in possibly the most epic Mexican-style veggie bowl ever. This dish is warm, zesty, citrusy, and above all, delicious! Top this baby with coconut sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro and you’ve really got yourself a fiesta.

9. Saffron Barley With Black-Eyed Peas

Hearty and lush, this Saffron Barley With Black-Eyed Peas dish is a great dinner option for when you want something filling and flavorful, but don’t want to spend all night cooking. In less than an hour, you can have this colorful and nutty entrée, flavored with delicate notes of saffron. Make sure to garnish with plenty of ground black pepper!

10. Spicy Bean Balls With Kale

These tiny Spicy Bean Balls With Kale are perfect when you crave something simple and savory, but energizing. Made with cannellini beans, these balls are filling, cheesy, soft in texture, and very delicious. These little treats also leave a lot of room for creativity since you can decorate them with a number of things from sweet paprika powder to sesame seeds. That makes them perfect for a party platter.

11. Spinach and Bean Chipotle Casserole

For a hearty meal that only takes a half hour to make, look no further than this Spinach and Bean Chipotle Casserole. It’s loaded with iron and protein and drenched in delicious tomato-y goodness. Serve this casserole with fresh coriander sprinkled on top and with some crusty bread to soak up all the tasty juices!

12. Easy Naan Pizza With Tandoori Chickpeas

Spice up pizza night with this Easy Naan Pizza With Tandoori Chickpeas. Naan is covered with a spicy, creamy, and flavorful green curry sauce and topped with roasted, tandoori-spiced chickpeas. Sliced red onions and cilantro bring crisp, fresh, tanginess to this spicy pizza. Pizza night will never be the same again!

13. Orange Bean and Beet Salad

We’ve bean thinking, and this salad is going to be a hard one to beet! Sorry, we couldn’t resist. And you won’t be able to resist this Orange Bean and Beet Salad. It’s an unusual combination of ingredients and flavors that work incredibly well together, making for a delicious, refreshing, and easy salad. Orange you glad we told you about it?

14. Colombian Black Bean Stew

Not only is this Colombian Black Bean Stew super easy to make and utterly delicious, but it’s also extremely healthy, full of plant-based protein and fiber. It’s proof that healthy plant-based food does not need to be complicated or expensive. It uses inexpensive foods like black beans, onion, and garlic to make a hearty meal, especially when served with a side of grains and topped with sliced avocado.

15. Akara: Nigerian Fried Bean Balls

Akara are deep-fried bean fritters, popular in West African countries and Brazil. Black-eyed peas are the most common choice of bean for this crispy snack, but other beans, each with their own flavor or texture, can be experimented with until you find your favorite. These Nigerian Fried Bean Balls can be enjoyed as a snack or appetizer with a side of savory sauce for dipping and they’re best served while still fresh and crispy.

16. Stewed Great Northern Beans With Harissa

If you haven’t tried cooking with harissa yet, these Stewed Great Northern Beans are a great place to start. Harissa boosts the flavors of these humble beans, adding warmth and a spicy and aromatic kick. Make a big batch, and if you have some pre-cooked rice (or quinoa) on hand, toss it with the beans (if you have any left over) for dinner or lunch another day.

17. Fava Bean Quinoa Salad

Fava beans are like little green goddesses of goodness. They may be most well-known for their mention in the movies, but you should really give them a try. This Fava Bean Quinoa Salad is beautiful and so satisfying. You could even have it with a glass of chianti.

18. Cuban Black Beans

These made-from-scratch Cuban-style Black Beans are spiced with garlic, onion, cumin and oregano. Totally traditional and totally fabulous! If you are short on time you could use canned black beans, but the flavor of home-cooked beans is so much more delicious and authentic. These beans can be served by themselves or with rice, fried plantains, and sliced avocado to create a full meal!

19. Easy Veggie and Cannellini Bean Soup

Are your weeknights busy? Fear not! This Easy Veggie and Cannellini Bean Soup is flavorful and filling enough to be a new staple meal. It’s filled with carrots, celery, zucchini, tomatoes and of course, cannellini beans. Serve it with a slice of toasted bread and experiment with different veggies every time you make it!

20. Superfood Butterbean Burgers

These Superfood Butterbean Burgers are exactly how they sound — full of superfoods and butterbeans! These dense, meaty burgers are packed with chia seeds, quinoa flakes, whole grains, and, of course, beans. Put them on buns (or not) and enjoy them with a side of salsa and sweet potato fries.

21. White Bean and Spinach Ragu

There’s nothing like tossing pasta in a thick, meaty sauce like this White Bean and Spinach Ragu. This ragu is a no-fuss, quick recipe, great for busy weeknights and weekend lunches. The addition of protein-packed white beans adds texture while leaving room for the tomato sauce to shine. As for the spinach, it adds color as well as a taste of green!

22. All-American Quinoa Chili Fries

Nothing hits the spot like a big ol’ plate of chili fries, especially ones you can really dig into cause they’re totally healthy! This is a hearty dish of All-American Quinoa Chili Fries piled high with all the toppings including black beans and kidney beans. Enjoy this comfort food favorite!

23. Edamame Potsticker

If you’re looking to explore the world of effortless potstickers, colorful foods, or simply want to wow your friends, try these Edamame Potstickers. These potstickers are filled with a creamy edamame filling flavored with scallions and miso, giving them a tangy, umami, springy flavor. The wrappers get their pretty pink color from defrosted dragonfruit, making them as good to look at as they are to eat.

24. Tandoori Masala Black Bean Cheeseburgers With Caramelized Onions and Chips

Talk about a cheeseburger deluxe! These Tandoori Masala Black Bean Cheeseburgers With Caramelized Onions and Chips is quite a mouthful and we’re not just talking about the name. The recipe combines the zesty spice of Indian masala with a classic black bean cheeseburger. Add some caramelized onions and freshly baked potato chips and you have an insanely delicious burger! Oh, and don’t forget to layer on the melty cheese!

25. Adzuki Fudge Brownies With Goji Berries

Don’t forget beans for dessert. You wouldn’t believe that these rich Adzuki Fudge Brownies With Goji Berries are both vegan and flourless. Fiber-rich adzuki beans and superfood goji berries come together with other nutritious ingredients such as oats and coconut oil for these delicious, guilt-free bites.

If you thought beans were boring or only good for baked beans, these 25 recipes will change your mind. Each one of these amazing recipes, featuring all types of beans, are healthy, delicious and exciting.

Lead image source: Red Bean Patty Wraps with North African Chermoula Sauce