Bean and Lentil Recipes - From Soups to Dessert (2024)

Bean and lentil recipes can be a frugal and nourishing addition to just about any menu – but – believe it or not – I've only cooked about a handful of different bean recipes. My mom rarely used them, so I never picked up the habit.

My friend, Pat, from Heal Thyself, suggests a cup of beans or lentils per day for folate and molybdenum.

The Dr. Oz Show says, “Beans are high in antioxidants, fiber, protein, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc. Eating beans regularly may decrease the risk of diabetes, heart disease, colorectal cancer, and helps with weight management.”

New year = time to introduce new habits, so I turned to my blogging friends for more ideas and inspiration in the kitchen. They pitched in and provided me with this list of beautiful and interesting bean recipes, from snacks and appetizers to entrees and side dishes to dessert.

I had no idea beans could be so versatile. I hope you'll join me in trying something new. Huge thanks to all my blogging friends who contributed recipes and photos for the photo collages.

See “What are shell beans? (Growing Tips, Usage, Storage)” for information on growing your own beans.

Snacks, Dips and Appetizers with Beans

• Hummus Style Dip GAPS Friendly from GAPS Diet Journey
• Black Bean and Corn Salsa from Real 2 Live
• Fast and Yummy Bean Dip from Whole New Mom
• Slow Cooker Vegetarian Mexican Bean Dip (Gluten-free, Vegan) from the Urban Eco-life
• Pizza Dip (Pizza Hummus) – dairy and sesame free from Whole New Mom
• Zesty Chipotle Black Bean Cakes from Homegrown & Healthy

Bean Chilis, Soups and Stews

• 6-Ingredient White Chicken Chili from Attainable Sustainable
• 15 Must Try Chili Recipes from Untrained Housewife
• Black Bean, Corn, & Tomatillo Soup from Honey, Ghee and Me
• Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup from the Homesteading Hippy
• Easy Black Bean Soup (GF) from Eat, Play, Love…More
• Bean Soup from Untrained Housewife
• Curry Lentil Soup {Crock-Pot Friendly} from Real Food Outlaws
• Curried Bean Stew from Untrained Housewife
• Fall Stew: Garbanzos, Pumpkin, and Spanish Chorizo Sausage from My Humble Kitchen
• Hearty Lentil Soup from The Organic Kitchen
• Lentil Soup with Rice, Fall Vegetables, and Guanciale from My Humble Kitchen
• Lentil and Sausage Soup from Untrained Housewife
• Pumpkin Chili with Navy Beans from An Organic Wife
• Restaurant-style Brown Lentil Soup Recipe from Homegrown & Healthy
• Sprouted Lentil and Coconut Curry from Eat, Play, Love…More
• Super Easy Lentil Chili from Nourishing Minimalism
• Lentil Soup With Lemon Yogurt Cream from So Let's Hang Out
• Creamy White Bean Soup with Dill and Parmesan from Fresh Bites Daily
• Kale, Lentil, and Butternut Squash Soup from A Harmony Healing
• Sausage & White Bean Soup with Kale from Divine Health from the Inside Out
• Tomato, Chard & Butter Bean Stew from So Let's Hang Out
• White Bean Barley Soup from Fresh Bites Daily

Savory Bean and Lentil Recipes Entrees and Side Dishes

• Arroz Con Acelgas – Spanish Rice with Swiss Chard from My Humble Kitchen
• Homemade Baked Beans from Common Sense Home
• Black Bean Burger with Chipotle Mayo Sauce from Homegrown & Healthy
• Black Beans, Cuban-Inspired from Fresh Bites Daily
• Cheesey-Mexi Lentil Macaroni (a recipe from the pantry) from Don't Waste the Crumbs
• Chopped Salad with Lentils and Honey Champagne Vinaigrette from The Organic Kitchen
• Creamy Crock-Pot Navy Beans from GAPS Diet Journey
• Crockpot Refried Beans from An Organic Wife
• Crockpot Pinto Beans from We Got Real
• [Gluten free] Green Enchiladas from Homegrown & Healthy
• Homemade Refried Beans to Rival Rosarita from Attainable Sustainable
• Indian Red Lentils from Whole New Mom
• Lemon Dhal and Spiced Rice from Pickle Me Too
• Mexican Chicken and Rice with Beans from Modern Alternative Mama
• New Orleans Style Beans and Rice from The Homesteading Hippy
• Reader Requested Recipes Using Beans, Quinoa, Chocolate and Mint – Quinoa and Black Bean Salad; White Bean and Kale Salad; Baked Beans with Mint, Pepper, and Tomatoes; Quinoa and Bean Burritos with Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw from Hybrid Rasta Mama
• Roasted Sweet Potato and Corn Salad with Pinto Beans from Happy Healthnut
• Super Simple Red Lentil Dahl from Honey, Ghee and Me
• Sloppy Joes (using only 1 lb of ground beef for all 6 of us!) from Real Food Eater
• Slow Cooker Refried Beans from Nourishing Joy
• Sprouted Lentil Salad (and how to sprout lentils) from Real Food Eater
• Sweet Potato, Quinoa & Black Bean Casserole from Homegrown & Healthy
• 25 Ways to Use Lentils for a Fast, Frugal, and Fabulous Meal from Nourishing Joy

Bean Desserts

• Bean Fudge Gone Wild – 4 Delicious and Healthy Fudge Recipes from Hybrid Rasta Mama
• Black Bean Brownies from an Organic Wife
• Flourless Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie (DF + GF option) from Raising Vintage Kids in a Modern World
• Grain Free Chocolate Muffins made with bean flour from Modern Alternative Mama
• Grain Free Brownies from Natural Fertility and Wellness
• Red Velvet Lentil Cupcakes with Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting from Nourishing Joy
• Soft Vanilla Almond Flour Cookies – GAPS Legal Sugar Cookies from GAPS Diet Journey
• Silky Smooth Bean Fudge from Whole New Mom
• Strawberry White Bean Ice Cream from GAPS Diet Journey

Tips for Cooking Beans

• How to Sprout Lentils from Nourishing Minimalism
• Cooking with Lentils from Untrained Housewife
• How to De-gas Beans from Whole New Mom

I hope you find this post useful and worth Pinning or book marking.

You may also enjoy:

• Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce – Great for Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
• Ground Beef and Wild Rice Casserole
• Quesadillas – Savory or Sweet, Plus a Homemade Tortilla Recipe

Originally posted in 2014, updated in 2017.