Beans are a great source of fiber, but what do you do with a bunch of beans in your fridge? Once you find a bean you like, you might find yourself using it in a bunch of different ways or incorporating new beans into some of your favorite recipes.
Here we explore some very simple ways to use up the beans in your fridge, whether you cook them from scratch or get them out of a can!
For recipes on proteins, veggies, and sauces, check out our guide to batch cooking.
Bean and Grains
Beans are great additions to grain bowls. Toss the beans into your grains and layer with roasted veggies. Lentils are a great bean for this purpose.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 cup lentils
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs
- Spritz of lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix quinoa and lentils gently
- Mix in fresh herbs and lemon juice
Breakfast Beans
Beans for breakfast is a great way to start your day with fiber. If you have some leftover veggies in the fridge, feel free to add those in here too. Sweet potatoes would go great with a bbq sauce, and zucchini would go great with pasta sauce.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup pinto beans
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce (something you have laying around that is tasty. Think bbq sauce or leftover pasta sauce)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Heat beans and tomato sauce together
- Fry an egg
- Serve together with a piece of toast
Leftover Bean Salad
Bean salads last a long time in the fridge and can be served warm or cold. Feel free to mix in leftover veggies or some pepperoncini for added zip. The lemon juice and olive oil could be substituted for a vinaigrette that is hanging out in your fridge for added ease.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of beans (could be all one kind or a variety)
- 1-2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs or 1-2 tsp dried herbs
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Quick Bean Taco
Ingredients
- Tortilla shells
- 1 cup of beans (could be all one kind or a variety)
- Roasted veggies (sweet potato or zucchini works great here or peppers and onions)
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 6 oz greek yogurt
- Lime wedge
Instructions
- Mix together hot sauce and greek yogurt for a quick creamy taco sauce
- Warm up your tortillas
- Add creamy sauce to tortilla
- Layer with beans and roasted veggies
Use Up the Leftovers Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cooked beans
- 1 cup broth
- 1-2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- Roasted Veggies – Zucchini works great here
- Additional protein – chicken can work here
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a pot
- Gently heat the soup until warm. Should be simmering for a minute or two but not boiling.
- Taste to see if it needs anything. If it needs more flavor, you could try lime juice, more bouillon, hot sauce,or more Italian seasoning.