Kidney beans are a staple store cupboard ingredient, most often used in a classic chilli con carne or a bean stew. With minimum effort, you could also achieve tasty meals with this ingredient in as little as 30 minutes. We have listed our best kidney bean recipes, ranging from Mexican and South American cuisine to Caribbean and Chinese, and other flavours fusions from around the world. These recipes are quick, healthy, use less home energy, use alternative methods like a slow cooker, are fuss-free, freezable and meal plan friendly, perfect for those who want to stick to a budget but want to enjoy wholesome food. As a protein source, beans and pulses are also high in fibre and iron, a great way to bulk out meals and achieve your five-a-day and a balanced meal.
There's a kidney bean recipe collection for more inspiration, as well as healthy bean and bean salad collections. Learn more about the 10 best vegan protein sources and our store cupboard collection has smart recipes using cheap and healthy cupboard ingredients.
This guide was brought to you by Cook Smart, a campaign designed by Good Food experts to help you save money and reduce food waste. Dive into more Cook Smart content in our budget hub.
Can you freeze kidney beans?
Yes, kidney beans can be frozen. Plenty of the recipes shared below are freezable, such as our kidney bean curry and vegan chilli.
Can you reheat kidney beans?
Yes, once cooked, kidney beans can be enjoyed cold or reheated.
20 delicious kidney bean recipes...
1. Kidney bean curry
One of the easiest ways to use this staple ingredient is to make a quick, hearty kidney bean curry. It is cheap and uses bulk buy ingredients making it the perfect budget meal for an easy weekday dinner. Batch cook and freeze this curry ahead if that suits you, too. Find more hearty curries in our winter curry collection.
2. Bean & halloumi stew
Put a can of mixed beans to use in this tomato-based bean & halloumi stew. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's brilliant for a quick and easy midweek supper, with any leftovers put in the freezer. You could also bulk it up by serving with garlic bread, which is great for mopping up all the sauce. Check out more of our flavourful and warming veggie stew recipes.
3. Spicy bean tostadas with pickled onions and radish salad
Mix kidney beans with chipotle paste and grab corn tortillas for these simple spicy bean tostadas with pickled onions & radish salad, a lunch full of flavour and nutrients so you won't go hungry. The pickled onions add acidity and the radishes give it an earthy, peppery flavour. Enjoy more Mexican cuisine with these vegetarian Mexican recipes. And find more uses for fluffy tortillas in these enchilada recipes.
4. Burnt aubergine veggie chilli
This warming aubergine chilli is a storecupboard winner, making brilliant use of everyday spices and canned beans as well as cheap veg such as carrots. It's low fat and four of your five-a-day, too. We like to serve this smoky spiced vegetarian supper with brown rice and all the trimmings, such as tortilla chips, mashed avocado, yogurt or soured cream and grated cheddar. More low-fat vegetarian recipes can be found in our collection.
5. One-pot vegan rice and beans
Packed with kidney beans, green olives and peppers, this vibrant vegan rice dish is a great option for a healthy, fuss-free dinner. This one-pot also makes great use of inexpensive veg, storecupboard favourites as well as warming spices. It just so happens to be gluten free and low in fat, too. Take a browse through more of our vegan one-pot recipes and budget vegan recipes.
6. Spicy chicken with coconut rice & beans
Try this creamy Jamaican-style chicken served with kidney bean and red pepper coconut brown rice for a simple chicken dinner for two. Chicken breasts are coated in spices like allspice, ginger, garlic and paprika for depth of flavour, as well as fresh thyme for a herby boost. Served with a creamy rice and kidney bean mixture, it’s a deceptively healthy dinner that's low in fat and rich in fibre. You can find more healthy rice recipes in our collection.
7. Chipotle sweet potato & black bean stew with cheddar dumplings
Enjoy this filling sweet potato and black bean stew for a budget-friendly, midweek meal which the whole family will love. Featuring moreish, golden brown cheddar dumplings placed on top, it makes a comforting veggie main which is also great for feeding a crowd. Serve the stew with the sliced jalapeño scattered on top, if you like. You can find more budget-friendly vegetarian meals in our collection.
8. Refried beans
Ditch the shop-bought variety and try our easy homemade recipe for homemade refried beans instead. They work equally well as a party dip served with nachos, or as an accompaniment to a larger Tex-Mex-style meal. Blitzed kidney beans, oregano, paprika and a pinch of salt are tipped into an onion mixture that's flavoured with garlic, chilli and cumin seeds and cooked for 5 mins until the beans have heated through. You can serve straightaway with a sprinkling of coriander, if you like, or leave to cool and keep chilled. Find more Tex-Mex favourites in our easy Mexican recipe collection.
9. Vegan chilli
This vegan chilli is a simple meal when you have leftover veg that needs using up, and doesn't fail on flavour, with spices, herbs and lots of fiery chilli. It's very nutritious and freezable, great for meal prep and budget-friendly living. For student- and family-friendly meals, check out our vegan bowl recipes and these delicious vegan rice recipes.
10. Double bean & roasted pepper chilli
One of our most popular hearty dishes is this double bean & roasted pepper chilli. Low-fat, high in fibre and protein, and very wholesome, this chilli can be dowsed in Tabasco sauce, soured cream or yogurt to add creaminess or to take away some spice. Our vegetarian chilli collection is also a hit, paired with rice, tacos or grains.
11. Slow cooker chilli con carne
Why cook on the hob when a slow cooker can do a better and easier job? This slow cooker chilli con carne makes kidney beans the star, alongside slow-cooked red pepper, celery and onion, with the smokiness from the chipotle paste and richness from the dark chocolate. Use cupboard ingredients to achieve this meal, serving alongside tortilla chips for some scooping action and lime wedges for that sharp kick. There are more healthy chilli con carne recipes in our collection.
12. Spaghetti puttanesca with red beans & spinach
Swap the anchovies for kidney beans in this vegan spaghetti puttanesca with red beans & spinach. Full of nutrients such as iron, fibre, healthy fats and protein, this will prove a hearty meal for two; it is easily doubled if feeding a family. Find more ways to swap the classics in these vegan pasta recipes.
13. Spicy bean burgers with lime yogurt and salsa
These vegetarian spicy bean burgers with lime yogurt and salsa are a great way of trialling healthier alternatives to meat. They are low in calories and can be dressed up in a bun with salad, avocado, salsa and lime dressing. Uncooked burgers can be made in advance and frozen to keep for a later date. For more inspiration, check out this bean burger collection and more vegetarian burgers.
14. Three bean salad with mozzarella
Up your fibre and protein with this impressive three bean salad with mozzarella. It's a healthy balanced meal or side at a barbecue or dinner party and puts your store cupboard ingredients to good use. The silky and garlicky vinaigrette adds a nice acidity which binds the flavours together. You can find more in our bean salad collection and other tasty salads, too.
15. Refried bean quesadilla
Have some friends and family coming round? This is an easy winning dinner. These refried bean quesadillas are vegetarian, full of flavour, cheap and take no time to put together. Fluffy tortillas filled with beans, spices, fresh herbs and melted cheese is always a great choice. Why not make more variety with recipes from our quesadilla collection and go crazy for refried beans in our collection.
16. Sweet potato jackets with guacamole & kidney beans
Sweet potatoes, a great source of fibre, are counted as one of your five-a-day and are delicious in this sweet potato jacket with guacamole & kidney beans. This meal is very balanced and low-cost, making it an easy family dinner. Add red chilli for a kick and sprinkle fresh coriander with a drizzle of lime juice. Explore more recipes with sweet potato as the star ingredient.
17. Stuffed avocado with spicy beans and feta
Fill halved avocados with this spicy beans and feta salsa. Full of vegetarian protein and fresh ingredients, this easy starter or snack is great for a Mexican-themed evening or if you're looking for a healthy meal to satisfy your hunger. There are more healthy avocado recipes to give a try.
18. Spicy chicken & bean stew
Stews are generally easy meals to cook and prepare, whether in a slow cooker or on the hob. This spicy chicken and bean stew is made in one pot, hearty and nutritious, a tasty family meal for all to enjoy. More of this comes your way in our bean stew collection and you can find delicious chicken casseroles, too.
19. Vegetarian chilli
Raid your cupboards for this easy four-ingredient vegetarian chilli. Grab a ready-to-eat pouch of grains, some tinned tomatoes, a pack of roasted vegetables and, of course, those delicious kidney beans. This wholesome vegan chilli will go down a storm. There's more where that came from in this guide to vegetarian storecupboard recipes.
20. Spicy chicken with rice and beans
Chicken thighs are really budget friendly and can add an important protein source into a meal. This spicy chicken with rice and beans takes inspiration from many cuisines and is simple but very tasty. Add red or yellow peppers, which provide vitamin A and magnesium, adding to your five-a-day. Freeze the chicken sauce for another day and quickly make up some rice and beans. Head to our healthy chicken thigh for more cost-effective and nutritious meals. Enjoy the heat in these spicy chicken dishes.
For more healthy meals on a budget, check out the following content...
High-protein vegetarian recipes
Healthy budget pasta
Budget winter recipes
Healthy student meal
Budget entertaining recipes
Budget autumn recipes
Budget slow cooker recipes
Budget batch-cooking recipes
Healthy chicken recipes
Healthy kids' recipes
What are your favourite kidney bean recipes? Leave your comments below...
source https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/20-ways-with-kidney-beans
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