33 Easy Kidney Bean Recipes

Especially if you are living a busy life, it is very easy to slip into a routine of constantly rotating between the same meals and eventually feeling like you are only eating the same handful of meals on repeat.

There are no objective problems with this, but it is very likely that it will start to bore you and start to make eating feel like a chore.

This is why people will eventually start to look for other recipes to add to their repertoire.

One mistake people commonly make when trying to add new recipes to their repertoire is trying to make something completely foreign to them and having to buy a whole new set of ingredients which can be incredibly expensive.

While this may work for some people, and it is a great way to get excited about the food which you are eating, it can also be incredibly wasteful if you do not end up liking what you have made, or if you will not make it again, and now you have excess ingredients which you have no idea what to make with.

This is why we would recommend looking for new recipes which will use ingredients that are either; cheap, or use ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen.

This will mean that there are fewer consequences if you do not like what you end up cooking, and you will also get accustomed to eating on a budget which is a very healthy way to live.

One food item that a lot of people tend to have in already, and if they do not, they can get it for cheap, are kidney beans.

These super nutritious beans are sold almost everywhere, and they are nearly always one of the most affordable foods available.

Kidney beans are great because of how versatile they are.

You can have kidney beans be the focal point of what you are cooking, or they could be thrown into another recipe to bulk it up and make it more nutritious.

Either way kidney beans are a very useful food to have in.

However, there is the unfortunate problem that many people only know a couple recipes which use kidney beans and this will be how they are always used.

We are here to remedy this to show just how versatile these beans are and just how useful they can be.

This list has gathered 33 completely unique recipes which all use kidney beans.

If you have kidney beans you want to get through, or want to find a new recipe which uses them, keep reading!

1.Chili

Perhaps the most classic way to use kidney beans, there are plenty of ways to customize this filling recipe to use up any ingredients which you want to use up.

If you want a warm comforting meal, this is a great go to which is great for batch cooking.

2.Jamaican Rice And Peas

This combination of coconut rice and peas is a great side dish and is super fillings as well, it is not too difficult to make and the flavor from the coconut milk is delicious.

3.Afghan Kidney Bean Curry (Lubya)

This traditional Afghan recipe is super filling and if you like curry, and you have never tried making this dish, you are sorely missing out!

4.Sloppy Joes

This classic American dish is super easy to make and will not require many ingredients either, these do not necessarily require kidney beans, but this is a great way to bulk them up!

5.Pasta e Fagioli

This is a traditional Italian soup which is a super filling combination of pasta and beans, it is super comforting when made correctly, and can last for a long time if you portion it correctly.

6.Cajun Red Beans And Rice

This classic combination of beans and rice can actually substitute red beans for the pretty similar kidney beans, and you can add any meat to this to add extra great flavor to make this dish suit your tastes. When serving up your favorite Cajun side dishes, it’s a versatile choice that complements a variety of flavors and ingredients.

7.Kidney Bean Salad

If you want to make a great side salad for an event which is more filling than the standard affair, this is a great choice and is also a good way to add protein to salad without adding meat.

8.Refried Kidney Beans

While refried beans are usually made with black beans, it is fully possible to do so with kidney beans and this recipe will teach you how to do so with simple instructions.

9.One Pot Kidney Beans

This is one of the most simple ways to cook kidney beans, and it captures some great Mediterranean flavors all cooked together in just one pot. If you want a quick easy dinner, this is a great choice!

10.Chipotle Chicken Chili

Putting kidney beans in this chili is a great way to add more protein to this curry as well as make it more filling.

The kidney beans absorb the flavorful sauce of this curry perfectly!

11.Kidney Bean Vegetable Soup

This vegetable soup is a great way to start eating more vegetables and still get filled up and find it delicious.

This recipe is a great way to use up any extra vegetables you might have lying about.

12.Summer Kidney Bean Salad

This is a refreshing salad perfect for any summer events, and it is filling and full of protein because of the inclusion of the kidney beans.

13.Ultimate Scrambled Eggs

If you are tired of standard scrambled eggs, this is a great way to upgrade them and make them even more nutritious with the inclusion of the kidney beans.

14.Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a great simple soup with classic Mexican flavors and is a great way to use up any leftovers and is made extra delicious with the inclusion of kidney beans.

15.Easy Red Kidney Bean And Pasta Salad

This combination of beans and pasta makes a great refreshing and filling salad which is great for making for groups and also travels great for picnics.

16.Vegetarian Chili Mac And Cheese

Vegetarian mac and cheese is a great crowd pleasing dish and the beans make it even more nutritious and filling with the extra protein content.

17.Taco Soup

If you have never made taco soup, this easy recipe is a great way to eat more kidney beans, and it is full of flavor too!

18.Vegan Jambalaya

If you have never made jambalaya, this is a great place to start, and it is full of flavor! If you want to expand your meal repertoire this is a great recipe to add!

19.Bean Stew

If you love making stews but want to try a new one this is a great recipe to try!

20.Minestrone Soup

This minestrone recipe is simple and a great way to use up kidney beans.

21.Roasted Pepper And Red Bean Hummus

Using beans to make hummus is a classic way to get protein in your diet.

22.Coconut Kidney Bean Curry

This curry is full of flavor and super nutritious.

23.Three Bean Salad

This is an easy recipe to make this classic salad (see also ‘The Best Salad Recipes For Fall‘)!

24.Kidney Bean Coconut Curry

An alternate recipe to make this classic kidney bean and coconut curry!

25.Spaghetti With Kidney Bean Meatballs

These meatballs are even more nutritious and a great way to get kids eating kidney beans!

26.Caribbean Bean And Collard Green Soup

This soup is easy to make and super healthy!

27.Kidney Bean Brownies

This should not work, but these brownies are delicious!

28.Baked Beans

Making homemade baked beans is definitely worth the effort.

29.Two Bean Veggie Pizza

Beans on pizza works way better than you assume it would.

30.Cowboy Beans

This classic bean recipe is popular for a reason!

31.Red Kidney Bean Dip

This bean dip is full of flavor and super simple to make yourself!

32.Red Bean And Roasted Pepper Hummus

This is an alternate recipe for this delicious pepper hummus using different ingredients for a different flavor!

33.Three Bean Tacos

These tacos are full of flavor and a great way to get more protein!

Takeaway

Hopefully this list has put into perspective just how useful and versatile kidney beans can be!

Try making a few of these recipes to help spice up the meals you are eating every day!

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Make A Can Of Kidney Beans Taste Better?

While this list has shown different recipes you can include your kidney beans in to get a good amount of use out of them, if you like kidney beans by themselves as a side, but want a way to make them more interesting or flavorful, here are some simple ways to do so!

One of the best ways to add some flavor to your beans is to either season them, or cook them in an oil or fat with some flavor, this could be something as simple as sesame, olive, or vegetable oil, or a fat like butter or bacon.

One of the quicker ways to add flavor to anything, kidney beans included is by adding seasoning, of course you can choose any based off of your tastes but some of the best for kidney beans are garlic, onion, and chili powder, thyme, oregano, rosemary, and paprika, or something with a little more impact like red pepper or chili flakes.

Nutritional Information Of Kidney Beans?

Like many other beans, kidney beans are useful for their dual classification as both a vegetable and a protein meaning they are very good at helping you have a balanced diet.

Studies have shown that even having just half a cup of beans in your daily diet will improve your overall diet.

They include fiber, protein, iron, folate, as well as many essential minerals to help your health. Kidney beans are also great for helping control blood sugar as well as improving heart health.

Kidney beans are very healthy and make a great part of a balanced diet, but like every food, make sure to not eat them in excess.

Differences Between Different Types Of Beans?

Most beans have similar nutritional information but will vary slightly on different factors, but they are all good sources of protein and count as a vegetable too.

The main difference between kidney beans and other beans is their size being one of the largest beans, as well as their flavor.

Most beans have relatively plain flavor and will absorb the flavor of what they are cooked in, but some beans will have more flavor naturally, and some beans will be better at absorbing flavor than others.

Try tasting and trying different types of beans since they can all be used in quite similar ways, but they will have subtle differences so work out which are your favorite!

Can You Eat Kidney Beans Every Day?

Eating beans daily will not actually cause any problems, and has been shown to improve overall health so if you are eating beans daily you should not worry.

You should worry if you are not controlling your portions as eating excessive amount of kidney beans in one sitting (like with any other food) will cause issues.

For example, some people have shown to react to beans with gastrointestinal distress.

Also, if you are eating fresh kidney beans instead of canned, these could contain the toxin phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and if you are not cooking at a high temperature this could not be cooked out so make sure to watch out for this.

Kidney beans have also shown to cause gas problems for some people so if you want to lower these effects try using the hot soak method.

Can You Grow Kidney Beans?

It is actually possible to grow your own kidney beans and this can be done in your garden, if you live in a more unique climate it is worth checking the conditions to see if this plant will be able to survive.

Kidney beans are very cheap, so this is not one of the more economical plants to grow yourself, but homegrown beans can taste great and should be worth the effort!

The best time to plant kidney beans is at the start of spring, and they are either grown on a bush or on a pole.

You will want to plant them in a sunny spot in your garden in soil at a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.

Choose if you want it to use a planter or grow in the ground, for these you can use a trellis or pole depending on how you want them to grow.

They should germinate at around 10 to 14 days, and you should water them when the soil is appearing dry.

You will need to make sure to keep an eye out for weeds and pests as well.

Do Canned Kidney Beans Go Bad?

If you store canned kidney beans properly, they should not start to go bad for at least 3 to 5 years, and even after this point they will still be useable just will not be at their best quality.

Once they are opened follow the storage instructions on the packaging but if they have quite a vintage on them, it would be best to eat them as soon after opening as possible.