Do you have a can of beans in the pantry and don’t know what to make? Well, this post is for you. I have compiled a list of my recipes for how to make beans from a can.
I’ll be the first to admit—there’s something deeply comforting about a pot of slow-simmered beans. But let’s be real, sometimes life doesn’t give you the luxury of an all-day cooking session. That’s where canned beans come in. They’re affordable and convenient, and with just a little love, they can taste just as good as the ones that have been bubbling away on the stove for hours.
Growing up in my Italian-American family, dried beans were the gold standard. My mom would soak them overnight, and let them cook low and slow, and by dinner, they’d be perfectly tender, ready to be spooned over crusty bread or mixed into a hearty dish. But once I started cooking for myself, I realized that, while dried beans are great, there’s no shame in grabbing a can off the shelf. The trick is knowing how to make them taste incredible—because straight from the can? Let’s just say they need a little help.
Pick one or two, or cook them all, and invent the version of these simple, how to make beans from a can, recipes that work best for you.
Recipe Ideas For How To Make Beans From A Can
Now let us get starting with this wonderful collection of recipe ideas for how to make beans from a can.
Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans
Salsa Chicken Recipe with Pinto Beans. Boneless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces and sautéed with pinto beans and salsa.
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Pasta with Escarole and Beans
Pasta with Escarole and Beans Recipe. Escarole sautéed in garlic and oil and combined with cannellini beans, pasta, and grated cheese.
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Chicken with Cannellini Beans and Tomatoes
Chicken with Cannellini Beans and Tomatoes. Boneless chicken breasts cut into pieces and sautéed with oil, diced tomatoes, cannellini beans and garlic.
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Pork with Beans and Tomatoes
Pork with Beans and Tomatoes. Boneless pork chops cut into bite sized pieces and sautéed with garlic, beans, and tomatoes.
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Asparagus with Tomatoes and Beans
Asparagus with Tomatoes and Beans. Chopped asparagus sauteed with garlic, onions, fresh tomatoes, and cannellini beans.
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Chicken Breast Black Beans Recipe with Zucchini
Chicken Breast Black Beans Recipe. Chicken bites sauteed with zucchini and cooked down with black beans and salsa.
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Swiss Chard with Beans and Tomatoes
Swiss Chard with Beans and Tomatoes. Swiss chard sautéed in extra virgin olive oil with garlic, beans, tomatoes and served over whole wheat pasta.
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Chicken Chili Stew
Chicken Chili Stew. Chicken bites sautéed with garlic, onions, cannellini beans, carrots, and diced tomatoes and flavored with chili seasoning.
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Chicken with Mushrooms and Beans
Chicken with Mushrooms and Beans. Boneless chicken bites sauteed with garlic, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and cannellini beans and served over sorghum.
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Three Bean Salad
Three Bean Salad. Green beans, yellow beans, and kidney beans combined with sweet peppers and Italian dressing. Served cold as a salad topping or for appetizer. A simple and healthy vegetarian recipe.
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Chicken with Green Beans
Chicken with Green Beans and Cannellini Beans. Chicken bites sautéed with green beans, garlic, tomatoes, and cannellini beans.
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At the end of the day, making beans from a can is all about technique. It’s a simple skill that can take your meals from bland to something you actually crave. Whether you sauté them with garlic and olive oil, toss them into a soup, or mash them up into a creamy spread, there’s always a way to transform that humble can into something special.
So the next time you’re staring at a can of beans in your pantry, don’t think of it as just a shortcut—think of it as a blank canvas. A little seasoning, a little heat, and a little creativity, and you’ve got yourself a dish that tastes like it took all day. But lucky for you, it didn’t.
