I love a good bean salad. They’re quick, healthy, and so versatile! Today, I’m sharing three fantastic bean salad recipes that are perfect for easy lunches, light dinners, or bringing to a gathering. These recipes use simple ingredients and come together fast, so you can enjoy delicious, fresh food without a lot of fuss.
Whether you prefer a zesty Mediterranean style or something with rich sun-dried tomato notes, I’ve got you covered. Each recipe is designed to be straightforward, giving you maximum flavor with minimal effort. Let’s make some amazing bean salads together!
Jump to Recipe:
- 1. Easy Marinated Sun Dried Tomato Bean Salad
- 2. Easy Mediterranean Bean Salad Recipe For Healthy Meals
Easy Marinated Sun Dried Tomato Bean Salad
This bean salad brings together the rich taste of sun-dried tomatoes with hearty beans. It’s a simple, refreshing dish perfect for any meal.
You’ll love how quickly this comes together, offering big flavors that get even better with a little time in the fridge.
Key Ingredients & Tips for your Sun Dried Tomato Bean Salad
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Use oil-packed ones for extra flavor in the dressing. The oil adds a lovely depth.
- Bean Variety: Feel free to mix different kinds of beans like cannellini and chickpeas for varied texture and nutrition.
- Marinating Time: Letting it sit for at least an hour makes the flavors blend better and become more pronounced.
What You Need for this Easy Salad
- 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), chopped
- 1/4 red onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
⏱️ Time: 15 mins prep + 30 mins marinate🍽️ Yields: 4 servings
How to Make It
Step 1: Combine Salad Basics
First, drain and rinse your cannellini beans really well. Then, chop your sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, and fresh parsley into small pieces. Put all these ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix it until it’s well combined. Pour this dressing over the bean mixture in the large bowl.
Step 3: Marinate and Serve
Gently toss everything in the bowl until all the ingredients are well coated with the dressing. Cover the bowl and let the salad marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps the flavors blend nicely. Serve chilled.
📝 Final Note
This salad tastes even better the next day after the flavors have fully developed. It’s great for meal prepping!
Easy Mediterranean Bean Salad Recipe For Healthy Meals
This Mediterranean bean salad is full of fresh vegetables and healthy beans. It’s a quick and easy way to add flavor to your lunch or dinner.
You’ll appreciate how simple it is to get so much goodness into one bowl, perfect for a light and satisfying meal.
Key Ingredients & Tips for a Mediterranean Bean Salad
- Fresh Herbs: Lots of fresh parsley or mint make a big difference in taste and really brighten up the salad.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential; it truly brightens up all the other ingredients.
- Vegetable Variety: Use crisp cucumbers and ripe tomatoes for the best texture and color in your salad.
What You Need for this Healthy Bean Salad
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mint
- Salt and black pepper to taste
⏱️ Time: 20 mins🍽️ Yields: 6 servings
How to Make It
Step 1: Prepare Your Vegetables
First, rinse and drain both your chickpeas and kidney beans thoroughly. Next, dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely chop the red onion and fresh parsley. Place all these prepared ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Dress the Salad
In a separate, smaller bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, dried mint, salt, and black pepper. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well mixed and form a dressing.
Step 3: Combine and Chill
Pour the prepared dressing over the vegetables and beans in the large bowl. Gently toss everything to make sure it’s all well coated. You can serve this salad right away, or for even better flavor, chill it in the fridge for about 15 minutes to let the tastes meld.
📝 Final Note
Add a sprinkle of feta cheese right before serving for extra saltiness if you like a bit of a tangy kick!
