What Are Navy beans and How Can I Use Them?

Navy beans is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store them, what to substitute, and 99 recipes to get you started.

What are navy beans?

Navy beans are the small, oval white beans behind a pot of Boston baked beans and most thick, creamy bean soups. They are sometimes sold as pea beans or haricot beans, and they earned the "navy" name by feeding the US Navy through the 1800s.

What sets them apart is size. They are the smallest of the common white beans, smaller even than cannellini. They cook down soft and buttery while still holding their shape in a long braise.

The flavor is mild and faintly sweet. That is why they soak up smoke and molasses so well without fighting back.

Cooking With Navy Beans

Dried navy beans want a soak and a slow simmer. Cover them with a few inches of water, soak overnight or do a quick boil-and-rest, then simmer gently for about 1 to 1½ hours until tender. See beans for the full method that applies across the board.

Their small size matters here. They break down faster than a kidney or pinto bean, so they thicken a soup naturally as some of them dissolve. That is the whole point in a pot of Amish Bean Soup or a hearty 5 Bean Soup, where you want body without flour.

Salt the cooking water once the beans have started to soften, not at the very start. Keep the simmer lazy. A hard boil splits the skins and turns the pot cloudy before the insides are done.

For Boston baked beans, the navy bean is the classic choice. A long, low oven bake with molasses and salt pork is what it was made for, as in Traditional Crockpot Boston Baked Beans or the old lunch-counter style of Horn & Hardart's Baked Beans.

Pairings and Common Mistakes

Navy beans love smoke and salt. Bacon, salt pork, ham hock, smoked paprika, molasses, brown mustard, and bay leaf all belong in the pot. A splash of cider vinegar at the end wakes the whole thing up.

They also play well outside the bean pot. Mashed with garlic and olive oil they make a quick white bean spread, and they fold into a French Cassoulet alongside sausage and duck.

The most common mistake is adding acid too early. Molasses, tomato, and vinegar all slow the beans from softening, so cook them until just tender first, then add those. Beans simmered in tomato from the start can stay chalky for hours.

The second mistake is a hard boil. Navy beans have thin skins, and a rolling boil shreds them. Keep it at a bare simmer with the lid cracked.

Swapping Navy Beans

Great Northern beans are the closest swap. They run a touch larger but share the same mild flavor and white color. They work one for one in soups and bakes. Cannellini and other white beans also stand in, though they read creamier; see white beans for how that group compares.

In a pinch, pinto beans cook to a similar softness and work in baked beans, though they tint the dish brown and taste earthier. For texture alone, cannellini or even chickpeas will carry a soup, but the sweet, mild navy character is lost.

Only have canned white beans? Drain and rinse them, then add them late, since they are already fully cooked.

Buying and Storing

Dried navy beans are sold by the bag in the dried-bean aisle. They are one of the cheapest beans you can buy. Look for smooth, unbroken beans with a bright, even ivory color. Pass on any that look dull or shriveled, since those are old and cook unevenly.

Store them in an airtight jar somewhere cool and dark. They keep their quality for a year or more and never truly spoil. Older beans take longer to soften and may never get fully tender, so buy from a shop with good turnover and use them within a year.

Canned navy beans are a fine shortcut for soups and quick sides. One 15-ounce (425 g) can drained is roughly 1½ cups, about what you get from ⅔ cup of dried beans once cooked. Rinse them to wash off the starchy liquid first.

Nutrition

Quick facts

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

In Chinese

菜豆

British (UK) term

Navy beans

en français

haricots marine

en español

frijoles blancos

How much do navy beans weigh?

Related

Legumes and Legume Products

Recipes using navy beans

There are 99 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Mini Roasted Leek, Onion & Navy Bean Galettes

These rustic pie like galettes were so delicious. Buttery crust and a delicious filling made with roasted leek and onion, and creamy navy beans. It didn't last long. Yum.

Martha's Pumpkin & White Bean Soup

Martha's pumpkin and white bean soup is a silky, vegan puree of navy beans and pumpkin, fragrant with leeks, garlic and sage. Creamy without a drop of dairy, finished with fresh sage and pumpkin seeds.

Arcadian Eight Bean Chili

Arcadian eight bean chili packs six bean varieties, ground beef, bacon, and dried poblanos into a smoky simmered crowd-feeder. Cinnamon and coriander give this chili an unexpected depth.

Sunday Italian Vegetable Soup

This hearty Italian vegetable soup delivers. It is chock full of vegetables, two kinds of beans, pasta, and tomatoes, everything needed for a relaxed Sunday meal.

Slow cooker Baked Beans

Bean lovers will love this delicious from-scratch Crockpot baked beans dish that features deep, rich flavors of coffee, molasses, and bacon. Instant Pot Baked beans instructions are also included.

Creamy White Chicken Chili

Give your chili a new look with this easy-to-follow recipe that will have you licking your fingers in the end.

Traditional Crockpot Boston Baked Beans

Take a trip to Boston with this savory dish that is best served with bread bowls or dinner rolls.

Beef Chili with Navy Beans

Beef chili with navy beans, one of our many easy chili recipes. Perfect for simmering on the stovetop or use your crock-pot for a slow-cooker chili recipe.

5 Bean Soup

5 bean soup simmers pinto, navy, red, great northern, and black-eyed peas with a smoky ham bone, tomatoes, and chili powder. Hearty, high-fiber, freezer-friendly bowl.

Whole Wheat Penne with Collard Greens, Beans, Tomato, & Garlic Chips

Whole Wheat Penne with Kale, Beans, Tomato, and Garlic Chips recipe

Sweet & Sour Bean Stew

One-pot bean stew with navy beans, basmati rice, butternut squash, and raisins in a sweet-and-sour broth. Vegetarian, hearty, and on the table in under an hour.

Red Bell Pepper Picante with Rice, Beans & Turkey

Stuffed red and yellow bell peppers filled with ground turkey, rice, navy beans, and a spiced picante tomato sauce. A low-fat dinner with real depth - Madeira deglazes the wok, fennel and rosemary do the heavy lifting.

Bean'N' Burger Pockets

Sloppy joe meets three-bean chili, stuffed into pita pockets with melted cheddar. Ground beef simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and brown sugar for a thick, scoopable filling.

Easy Ham, Bean & Tomato Soup

Easy ham, bean and tomato soup turns leftover holiday ham and a ham bone broth into a hearty navy bean soup with onions, celery, and tomato. A pantry-savvy meal.

Bean Cassoulet

Navy beans and lots of vegetables are simmered in juicy tomato sauce, then topped with bread crumbs and baked in the oven. A delicious vegetarian main dish.

White Beans, Hijiki, Rice, & Red Cabbage

White beans and hijiki seaweed tossed with rice and braised red cabbage in balsamic vinegar, finished with tamari for a hearty vegan bowl packed with plant protein.

Pasta E Fagioli (Macaroni & Beans)

Pasta e fagioli simmers tender navy beans, canned tomatoes, and macaroni in a basil-and-oregano broth, with onions sautéed in balsamic instead of oil. A naturally lean Italian peasant soup.

Home Baked Beans

Old-fashioned home baked beans with navy beans, salt pork, molasses, and dry mustard. Slow-baked for 6 hours in a bean pot for deep, smoky-sweet flavor.

Ham-Bean Scallop

Ham and bean scallop bakes creamy navy beans with diced ham and sharp cheddar under a buttery breadcrumb crust. A freezer-friendly casserole that makes four meals from one batch.

Spicy Spaghetti Salad

Spicy spaghetti salad tosses kamut pasta with navy beans, tomatoes with green chilies, bell pepper, scallions, cilantro, and cumin. A vegetarian, no-cook-after-boiling dinner.

Oven-Baked Beef & Beans

Oven-baked beef and navy beans braised low and slow with tomato sauce, chili powder, mustard, and bay leaves. A hearty from-scratch casserole that feeds a crowd.

Baked Pea Beans

Slow-baked navy beans layered with salt pork, smoked ham, onions, garlic, mustard, and a splash of rum. A rich, old-school baked bean recipe with Caribbean flair.

Spicy Chicken Chili

Slow cooker chicken chili with browned thighs, dried navy beans, crushed tomatoes, green chiles, and sharp cheddar. Set it in the morning, come home to a bowl of smoky, spicy comfort.

Super Baked Beans

Slow-baked navy beans in a tangy molasses, brown sugar, and bacon sauce with a surprise ingredient: lemon-lime soda. This from-scratch baked beans recipe simmers low and slow for fork-tender, smoky results every time.

White Bean & Lamb Soup

Hearty white bean and lamb shank soup simmered low and slow with sage, garlic, and a bright squeeze of lemon. Freezer-friendly and feeds a crowd.

Gourmet's Boston Baked Beans

Classic Boston baked beans with navy beans, salt pork, and molasses, slow-baked for six hours until thick and bronzed. The traditional New England Saturday-night supper.

Cassoulet

Enjoy this delicious yet filling stew in a cold winter day with some crusty bread. It makes you warm and satisfies your taste buds.

Sweet-And-Sour Baked Beans

Slow cooker baked beans from scratch with bacon, molasses, pineapple chunks, dill pickles, and green olives. A tangy, smoky, loaded side dish that simmers all day long.

Hearty Russian Beet Soup

Hearty Russian beet soup (borscht) loaded with beef, bacon, kielbasa, cabbage, potatoes, and navy beans in a sweet-sour broth. A slow-simmered weekend project topped with sour cream.

Hoosier Bean Soup

Hoosier bean soup with navy beans and ham hock, simmered low and slow after an overnight soak. A classic Midwestern ham and bean soup that's thick, smoky, and deeply satisfying.

Yankee Beans

New England baked beans made with navy beans, molasses, dry mustard, and tomato sauce. Pressure cooker speeds up the soak, then the slow cooker does the rest. No pork, all flavor.

Mom's Best Baked Beans (Vegan)

Vegan baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, brown sugar, warm spices, and tomato sauce. No meat, no dairy, just rich and smoky homemade beans baked low and slow until thick and saucy. A hearty plant-based side dish.

Another Bean Salad

Five-bean salad with green, navy, lima, garbanzo, and kidney beans tossed with bell pepper, celery, and onion in a sweet-tangy vinegar marinade. The make-ahead potluck classic, vegan friendly.

Bean Okra Tomato Soup

Bean, okra, and tomato soup simmered with a ham bone for deep smoky flavor. A Southern classic that turns leftover ham into a hearty, satisfying soup.

Easy Low-Fat Chili

If you're looking for a healthy alternative to chili, this simple and easy to understand recipe is for you!

Ham & Bean Soup with Vegetables

This hearty soup made with navy beans, cabbage and hot chili peppers is perfect for a rainy day.

Bean & Beef Soup

Bean and beef soup with navy beans, stewing beef, prunes, and root vegetables, scented with whole cloves. An old-world soup where dried fruit adds unexpected sweet depth to a long, hearty simmer.

Navy-Bean Red-Pepper & Green-Bean Salad

Navy bean red pepper and green bean salad tosses canned navy beans, blanched green beans, and matchstick red pepper in apple cider vinaigrette. A 10-minute summer side.

Navy Bean & Ham Soup

Old-school navy bean and ham soup simmered low and slow with carrots, celery, potato, and a splash of tomato juice. Stick-to-your-ribs comfort from one pot.

Pasta Bean Salad

Pasta bean salad with navy beans, snow peas, red pepper, toasted sesame oil, and tangy ume vinegar. A protein-packed Japanese-leaning lunch that holds up in the fridge.

Oven Baked Beans

Old-fashioned oven baked beans with navy beans, salt pork, molasses, and brown sugar. Slow-baked in a covered casserole for hours until thick, sticky, and deeply sweet-savory.

Favorite Navy Bean Soup

Navy bean soup with a meaty ham bone, slow-simmered with onion and celery into a hearty, smoky bowl. A gluten-free, high-fiber classic that turns leftover ham into a freezer-stocking meal.

White Bean Soup

Old-fashioned white bean soup with navy beans and ham hock simmered low and slow with celery, onion, garlic, and parsley. Thick, hearty, and filling.

Worth Waiting for Baked Beans

Old-fashioned baked beans made from dried navy beans, slow-baked 7 hours with bacon, molasses, dark rum, and a surprise hit of curry powder. From-scratch comfort that earns every minute.

Easy Cassoulet

Sausage and cubed ham baked with navy beans, white wine, garlic, and a dash of cloves. A shortcut French cassoulet with all the comfort and none of the fuss.

Borsch

A hearty, full-scale borsch loaded with beef, bacon, kielbasa, beets, cabbage, potatoes, and navy beans. This is the real deal: slow-simmered, sweet-sour balanced, and crowned with sour cream. Feeds 10.

Acetaria (Romulan Legume Salad)

Acetaria: hearty four-bean salad with knackwurst, scallions, and a sharp garlic-parsley vinaigrette. The Romulan-style legume side from Star Trek lore, served chilled.

Chicken & Sausage Cassoulet

Slow cooker cassoulet with frozen chicken drumsticks, smoked turkey sausage, navy beans, and vegetables in a tomato-herb broth. A rustic French-inspired stew with 10 minutes of prep.

Cyn's Navy Bean Soup

A slow cooker navy bean and barley soup with sage and a hint of liquid smoke. Creamy, smoky, and completely plant-based.

White Chili with Tempeh

Vegan white chili with cubed tempeh, sliced mushrooms, navy beans, and bell peppers in a ginger-cumin broth. Plant-powered, protein-packed, and ready in 45 minutes.

All 99 recipes