What Are Beans and How Can I Use Them?

Beans is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store them, what to substitute, and 235 recipes to get you started.

What are beans?

Also check out our in depth articles on Dried Beans - A low-cost and healthy addition to your diet and Hill of Beans.

Beans are the seed or seeds of many plants both trailing vines and erect bushes, which are easily cultivated.

They belong to the group of foods called legumes which also include peas, lentils, and peanuts.

Next to cereals, it is the legume family which contributes most substantially toward feeding the people of the world.

Thanks to their high protein content, beans are an absolute necessity in countries where little meat is eaten.

Broad beans were one of the oldest cultivated plants. They have been found in Bronze Age deposits in Europe (about 3000 B.C.) and we know that they were grown by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

Beans played a prominent part in their rituals, as offerings of food for the dead and to the powers of the afterworld.

In China, as far back as the 1st century A.D., records show that many a merchant made a fortune on bean relishes.

The common field, garden, or kidney beans are native to the New World. Cultivated possibly by the Incas of Peru, they were used extensively by the Indians of both South and North America.

The North American Indians appreciated the fact that beans could be grown in poorer soil than corn, that they could be dried for easy storage, and that they contained a high-energy content most important in the cold winter.

When the meat supply dwindled, beans became an excellent source of protein. Knowledge of bean cultivation, learned from the Indians, was greatly appreciated by early settlers to North America.

Beans were grown as a commercial farm crop for the first time in 1836 in the eastern part of New York State. As a farm industry it was given great impetus when the government started to buy beans for the army during the Civil War.

Today the young pods (green or snap beans), the unripe seeds (shell beans), and the dried ripe seeds are all used for human consumption, while the whole plant is used for forage.

The garbanzo bean, or chick-pea, is a native of southern Europe, brought to the US by Spaniards. Lima beans came north to the US from Peru and Brazil.

The soy-bean is a most important legume in the Far East. It is the richest natural vegetable food known.

On this continent, where beans were already being grown before the first settlers arrived, they have wandered across the country with the settlers, and have long been featured in many well-known original dishes: Succotash, Boston Baked Beans, Southern Black Bean Soup, Western Chili, and Mexican Refried Beans.

Last but not least comes the magical bean. Folktales are full of magic beans; beans that spanked beans that laughed until their sides split, and love all the tales ever told about the magical beans.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find beans: Beans are usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Beans are a member of the Legumes and Legume Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

豆子

British (UK) term

Beans

en français

haricots

en español

frijoles

How much do beans weigh?

Related

Legumes and Legume Products

Recipes using beans

There are 235 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Green Beans with Walnuts & Tarragon

Lovely mingle of flavours. I toasted the walnets. Used dried tarragon but soaked in the oils w/orgainc cider vinegar in advance. Oh yeah and added 1 clove of finely minced garlic. A big hit with or without the garlic. High class side dish using the fresh beans from my local country road farmer.

Very Cheesy Casserole

Packed with healthy whole-grain and cheesy goodness. 3 cheeses, feta, cottage and parmesan cheese plus beans and brown rice. This hearty casserole is tastes great and is loaded with nutritious healthful ingredients.

Elevated Tuna-Pasta Salad

This can tuna pasta salad brings canned tuna to life with a burst of fresh and hearty flavors. The combination of green beans, tomatoes, olives, capers, and pasta creates a vibrant and satisfying dish. It's a delicious way to elevate canned tuna into a memorable meal.

Blueberry, Roasted Corn, Soy Bean & Arugula Salad

Fresh blueberries, roasted sweet corn, soy bean, red bell pepper and peppery arugula are tossed with a white wine vinegar-olive oil vinaigrette. It's a light and tasty summer salad that accompanies well with any barbecued dishes.

Memorial Day Hot Dogs

Classic grilled hot dogs served on buns with tangy sauerkraut and mustard. This simple Memorial Day favorite pairs perfectly with baked beans and potato chips.

Edamame & Roasted Bell Pepper Hummus

What a tasty hummus. If you have never tried to make a hummus with edamame, roasted bell peppers, and peanut butter, you should add this one to your to-try list. Carrot, celery, chips or crackers all go deliciously well with it.

Besttexas Chili

Slow cooker Texas-style chili with ground beef, kidney and pinto beans, plum tomatoes, and a touch of warming whole allspice. A 4-hour low-and-slow chili built from pantry staples.

Besttexas Chili

Slow cooker Texas-style chili with ground beef, kidney and pinto beans, plum tomatoes, and a touch of warming whole allspice. A 4-hour low-and-slow chili built from pantry staples.

Tuscany White Bean Soup

A thick and delicious soup that's made with great northern beans and a variety of spices.

Carol's Favorite Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian chili with mixed beans, crumbled tofu, tomatoes and a smoky cumin-cayenne spice base. Hearty meatless one-pot meal high in protein and fiber.

Spicy Tripe & Beans

Completely different recipe than Jamaican or Spanish ones. I used few known methods to make beans easier to digest. They all work very well not to make music.

Andy Beals' Chili

About half of the beans I used were chili beans. And I used a Guinness beer. I (roughly) seeded the jalapenos and this was surprisingly still spicy. A cheap cut of beef works quite well; the beef chunks get so tender and this is an overall delicious dish. I froze half of it.

California Beef & Bean Chili

Chunky California beef and bean chili made with cubed round steak, scratch-cooked beans and fresh-toasted cumin. Three peppers and a jalapeño build layered heat in this lean, hearty bowl.

Five Bean, Artichoke & Sundried Tomato Salad with Greens & Toasted Almonds

This filling yet delicious bean salad is very easy to make. Put the salad in the frige for a couple of hours or overnight, the flavor will be even better. Of course you can always have some right after you make it to satisfy your caving before it grows too big :)

Roasted Bell Pepper & Bean Dip

This simple and tasty dip, you can serve with pita chips or any kind of fresh vegies.

Quinoa Salad with Soy Bean, Roasted Pepper & Nuts

Toasting adds strong nutty flavor into quinoa, roasted walnuts add another layer of nutty flavor and texture. It is a very flavorful and light side dish that goes well with any main course.

Minted Edamame Roasted Tomato Canapes

Fresh soybeans (edamame) dip on crackers topped with a roasted cherry tomato. Perfect light tasting finger food when company is coming.

Soy Bean Salad with Brown Rice Noodles

A tasty yet light salad is made with brown rice noodles, soy beans, carrot, bell pepper, red onion, sea weed, and a sour-sweet dressing.

Chinese Quinoa & Edamame Salad

Soy sauce, sichuan hot chili oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar... These tangy Chinese seasonings make this quinoa and edamame salad taste absolutely flavorful, and it's a delicious salad that can be served as a side dish or a main dish; warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Quinoa, Edamame & Roasted Corn Salad with Apples & Maple Walnuts

This delicious and nutritious quinoa salad can be served as a side dish, or it can be a tasty yet wholesome meal all by itself.

Cannellini Bean Soup with Kale & Garlic-Olive Oil Crostini

Use seasonal kale to make this hearty and delicious soup. The garlic-olive oil crostini is a must to help soak every drop of yumminess.

Curry Potato, Edamame & Lentil Soup

Packed with great flavors and textures. This curry potato, edamame and lentil soup is delicious and full of goodness. Serve it with rice or bread to soak all the yumminess.

Mixed Green Salad with Apple & Smoked Cheddar

A plateful of refreshing salad that has mixed greens, apples, and smoked cheddar tossed with a red wine vinegar and olive oil vinaigrette.

Mediterranean Bean Soup

A clean tasting soup that is packed with protein rich beans.

Garden Zucchini Chili

Garden zucchini chili simmers cubed zucchini, bell pepper, and beans with garlic, cumin, and chili powder for a quick vegan chili. A summer-garden bean stew that's ready in 50 minutes.

Balsamic Green Beans & Pepper

BBQ time, we want some simple and tasty vegetables as a side dish, this green beans and pepper recipe is a perfect fit.

Orzo & Bell Pepper Salad with Edamame, Olives & Feta

Layers of textures and flavors in this salad. Crunchy and fresh bell peppers, sweet edamade, salty olives, feta and nutty pine nuts together make this salad amazingly tasty.

Chicken & Sausage Chili

Chicken and sausage chili loaded with smoked sausage, tender chicken and a trio of fresh chilies. Tangy tomatillos and a two-stage spice blend give this Dutch oven chili real depth. Top with sour cream and cheese.

Quinoa & Edamame Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato & Olives

You will love how tasty this salad is. You can serve it as a side dish, or just have it for a simply flavorful yet nutritious main course.

Boston Baked Beans in Bean Pot

Boston baked beans done the old-fashioned way: dried beans slow-baked for hours in a bean pot with salt pork, molasses and dry mustard, until thick, sticky and deeply sweet-savory. From scratch, no cans.

Nana's Beans

Old-fashioned pinto beans simmered low and slow with bacon drippings, a pinch of sugar, and salt until creamy and tender. Nana's humble, smoky pot of Southern beans, just like she made them.

Individual Chili Pots

Individual chili pots layer beef, beans, tomatoes and peppers simmered with garlic and oregano, stirred with rice and topped with melted cheese and sliced olives for a one-bowl weeknight dinner.

Beets & Greens Salad with Cannellini Beans

Beets always have fresh and good colour, this salad, there are beets, beans, all are fresh vegetables, easy to make, taste so good.

Gabrielle Carteris's Chicken Nest with Tomatoes Beans & R

Layered chicken nest platter with breaded chicken cutlets, sun-dried tomato rice, beans, and steamed asparagus, peppers, and snow peas over lettuce. A colorful all-in-one dinner.

Baked Bean Creole

Vegetarian Creole bean casserole loaded with bell pepper, celery, garlic, and tomatoes, topped with crispy breadcrumbs. Serve over rice with salsa for a hearty meatless meal.

Chalupas with Chipotle Chiles

A tender and succulent pork roast that will add a kick to your dinner! Leftovers taste great in sandwiches!

Old-Fashioned Pole Beans

Southern-style pole beans slow-simmered with a smoked ham hock until tender and deeply flavored. Just five ingredients and pure comfort.

Hearty Minestrone Soup

Hearty minestrone soup simmers Italian sausage with romano beans, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and small pasta shells in a chicken broth base. Loaded one-pot Italian dinner soup.

Hearty Minestrone Soup

Hearty minestrone soup simmers Italian sausage with romano beans, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and small pasta shells in a chicken broth base. Loaded one-pot Italian dinner soup.

Cajun Beans Over Cornbread

Spicy Cajun beans simmered with stewed tomatoes and hot sauce, spooned over split cornbread and topped with shredded cheddar. A hearty 20-minute meal from pantry staples.

Well-Fried Beans

Homemade refried beans mashed to a creamy, lard-kissed puree with queso fresco crumbles and crispy tortilla chips. A 35-minute Mexican side dish that puts the canned stuff to shame.

White Bean-and-Asparagus Salad

This is a vegetarian recipe, there are different kinds of vegetables, very healthy and tasty too.

Beef N' Bean Burritos

Beef and bean burrito casserole stacked in a slow cooker with flour tortillas, enchilada sauce, ground beef, refried beans and cheddar. Sliced into wedges and served with all the fixings.

Spring Lamb & Vegetable Soup

Spring lamb and vegetable soup with browned shoulder, romano beans, leeks, cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, and marjoram. Rustic, garden-fresh, and made for cool evenings.

Corn & Pork Kebabs with Rosemary Green Beans & Potatoes

Everyone loves so kebabs so try this new rendition that uses corn, potatoes and succulent pork tenderloin.

Pineapple Fried Rice

Thai pineapple fried rice with fresh pineapple, dried Chinese mushrooms, long beans, and eggs, served in a hollowed-out pineapple shell. A showstopping wok-fried rice dish.

Chicken Tostada Salad Ala Loren

Chicken tostada salad piles a quick saute of chicken, beans, peppers, and lime over crisp lettuce, finished with cheddar, olives, and crushed tortilla chips. A 30-minute weeknight Tex-Mex bowl.

Easy Quesadillas

Easy quesadillas layer refried beans, Mexican cheese blend, and taco sauce between flour tortillas, microwaved until melty. A 10-minute snack or appetizer for game day, kids, or late-night cravings.

Beefy Mexican Pizza

Beefy Mexican pizza stacks crisp baked tortillas with refried beans and seasoned ground beef, then tops it with pizza sauce, melty Mexican cheese, tomatoes and cilantro. A homemade copycat ready in 20 minutes.

Green Papaya Salad (Som Tam)

Som tam, the iconic Thai green papaya salad pounded in a mortar with chilies, garlic, lime, peanuts, and long beans. A bright, fiery, crunchy salad scooped up with cabbage leaves.

All 235 recipes