Best 35 Healthy Vegetarian Bean Recipes (#1 is my fave)

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If beans are a vegetarian’s best friend, then vegetarian bean recipes are too. Beans are an excellent source of protein and fibre, while also being low in fat, salt and sugar.

Black beans, white beans, navy beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans…the varieties are endless and they are all amazing!

I cannot stress enough how awesome beans are.

Most importantly for vegetarians, they are high in protein. One cup of cooked black beans contains 14g of protein! While most beans alone do not contain all 9 essential amino acids (apart from soy beans!), all you have to do is combine them with rice, nuts, seeds or dairy, to get a complete protein.

They are also high in fibre which helps to regulate your appetite and digestion. Eating a high fibre diet has also been linked to lowering the risk of diabetes, as fibre can help lower blood glucose.

What’s more, beans contain plenty of folate and antioxidants and have been linked to heart health and a reduced risk of developing cancer.

How to eat beans!

It is easy to make a healthy meal out of beans. The simplest place to start is preparing beans in a tomato sauce with vegetables of your choice, maybe red bell pepper and sweet potatoes, maybe broccoli and red onion. Serve with brown rice for a healthy dinner!

There are many different types of beans, so you can always mix it up. You can also use beans to make bean burgers, dips, mix them into a salad or add them to a soup.

Wait…are chickpeas beans?

Before we get started, I just want to clarify that chickpeas are in fact beans! Some English dialects call them garbanzo beans, and they’re right – chickpeas are all part of the bean family.

They are differently shaped to a lot of other beans, but, just like black eyed peas are beans, so are chickpeas. So get excited for homemade hummus!

What’s on the menu for vegetarian bean recipes?

Check out this list of bean recipes and see what takes your fancy!

Vegetarian bean recipes For lunch

Bonus: substantial, full of antioxidants

Smooth and hearty meets sweet and crunchy, this sweet potato, beetroot and chickpea salad has got it going on!

Bonus: perfect packed lunch, filling

Sweet Potato Burritos – bursting with Mexican flair and tantalising flavours, this authentic recipe is easy to make for one or the whole big family!

Bonus: flavorful, gluten-free

Huevos rancheros are a quick and easy traditional mexican breakfast that make a great healthy option for vegetarians.

Bonus: great packed lunch, easy to prep

Upgrade your vegetarian sandwich offerings with this chickpea salad sandwich! It’s simple and speedy with 20g of protein!

Bonus: gluten-free, simple

Looking for new lunch ideas? Try our Venezuelan-inspired vegetarian arepas – cornmeal flatbreads with beans & feta!

Bonus: tasty, unusual flavors

Looking for new oven ideas? Try this delicious roasted fennel and carrots with chickpeas! 22g protein per serving!

Bonus: healthy, adaptable

These healthy refried beans are our take on the traditional Mexican dish, with a health-conscious twist!

Bonus: filling, high fibre

Running out of quick lunch ideas? This garbanzo beans and spinach salad is high in protein and fibre and ready in 7 minutes!

Bonus: vegan, speedy

This easy green bean salad is ready in a staggering three minutes. Not many lunches can beat that! Also works as an easy side dish.

Bonus: colourful, tasty

Looking for a light but filling soup to warm your belly this winter? Try our beetroot soup, topped with crunchy chickpeas!

Bonus: easy, hearty

This simple chickpea salad is the first step to eating better by building powerful eating habits with simple yet delicious main ingredients!

Bonus: high protein, quick

This quick take on the falafel salad is packed with protein – and adds even more with our peanut sauce! It’s quick, it’s easy and completely animal-friendly!

Vegetarian beans for dinner

Bonus: warming, vegan

A great example of amazing vegan comfort food for those chilly days! This chili sin carne is warming and full of flavor.

A tasty vegan eggplant and tomato pasta with navy beans and kale. Super healthy and super tasty!

Bonus: high fibre, high protein

After a high protein, high fibre, low calorie vegetarian dinner? Our Mexican bean stew is just the ticket! Try it now!

Bonus: simple, comforting

This time-saving traybake with sweet potato, broccoli, and quinoa is big on superfood nutrition and even bigger on taste.

Bonus: creamy, light

A vegan version of the classic tikka masala. Low fat coconut milk keeps the fat levels low. Full of healthy veg and fragrant flavours, this is sure to win your heart! Serve with basmati rice.

Bonus: flavorful, high iron

Vegan Chickpea Curry. Our awesome vegan take on the insanely popular dish. Ridiculously tasty and nutritious – just look at all that protein, fibre and iron.

Bonus: dump and bake, simple ingredients

A dump and bake dish that will please everyone, this bean and pasta vegetarian casserole makes a perfect healthy dinner.

Bonus: bbq fave, comfort food

A black bean burger recipe that doesn’t fall apart, tastes awesome and can even be made vegan! What could be more BBQ perfect?

Dips and side dishes

Bonus: awesome hybrid, healthy fats

Love guac? Love hummus? You’re about to meet your new favourite food – try our avocado hummus today! You won’t look back!

Bonus: portable, high protein

Try this oriental-inspired smashed cucumber and edamame recipe, a quick high-protein snack to have at home or on the go!

Bonus: vegan, speedy

A tangy high protein white bean dip that’s ideal for munching at home or taking to parties. Your body will thank you for this nutritious beast!

Bonus: garlicky, ready in 5

How To Make Homemade Hummus. A ridiculously easy three minute take on the classic dish. Perfect as a dip or healthy snack to keep you feeling full between meals.

Bonus: high protein, party perfect

A revolutionary high protein black bean lime dip. Perfect for parties, snacking, dipping or post-workout. Simple and with crowd-pleasing results every time.

⚡️ Unlock 10 more high protein recipes for sporty people 💪🏽

Want to eat beans to bulk on protein? Try some of these extra high protein recipes now! Some are high protein versions of recipes you’ve already seen, some are brand new and exclusive!

Vegetarian bean recipes FAQs

Got more questions about beans? Maybe you’re wondering how to store and prepare them, or what to season them with? I’ve got all bases covered here.

How do you make beans taste good without meat?

Meat doesn’t make beans taste good, seasoning does! Try eating beans in a flavorful soup, a tomatoey stew or in a delicious garlicky dip. As with any food, the flavor is all in the seasoning, so be generous with those spices!

How should I store beans?

It is very important to refrigerate beans properly. If you leave leftover beans out at room temperature overnight they can grow some unpleasant bacteria. The risk isn’t super high, but better safe than sorry – so keep those beans in the fridge!

How do I prepare beans?

You can buy a can of beans or you can buy dry beans and cook them. If you buy dry beans, it is important to soak them overnight first, which removes toxins. Then cook them in a pressure cooker, maybe with a bay leaf and some salt. Once they are cooked, you can use them over the next few days and store them in airtight containers.

How can vegetarians eat beans?

In stews, in “burgers”, in soups, in curries, in salads! It depends on personal preferences, but a homemade vegetarian bean recipe can take so many different forms.

Fundamentally, beans are there to provide protein, so are usually a fairly large part of a meal, like a replacement for meat.

What to add to beans to add flavour?

Olive oil, garlic and onions are a good place to start. If you are cooking beans from scratch, fry these up first in the bottom of the pressure cooker or slow cooker, add beans, water, salt and a few bay leaves. You will have super flavorful beans shortly!

What can be made from beans?

So many things! You can make soups, stews, curries, salads, burgers, dips and more!

We hope you enjoyed checking out these vegetarian bean recipes. Let us know which easy recipe you enjoyed most in the comments below.