7 No-Cook Dinner Salads Starring Canned Beans

Because sometimes the easiest dinners are also the best.

We’ve all been there: You don’t know what to make for dinner (again), so you scan your pantry shelves looking for inspiration—and ingredients. And then you spot the can of beans. Your salvation! From black beans to cannellini beans to kidney beans, having a can of beans in your pantry means that you’ve got the anchor for an easy dinner that doesn’t even require turning on the stove. Ready to eat? Here are 7 no-cook salads you can turn into dinner that start with a can of beans.

Black Bean and Corn Salad

All you need is 25 minutes to make this well-seasoned, savory salad. Each bite contains a splash of lime juice,  fresh tomatoes, corn, black beans, green onions, cilantro, and avocado—all simple ingredients you might already have on hand. You could also easily bulk this dinner recipe up by adding romaine and a sprinkle of cotija cheese.

Best Bean Salad

This recipe doesn’t just include one can of beans—but four! As written, the recipe features garbanzo, wax, kidney, and black beans, but a few of the commenters mentioned that they use whatever canned beans they have on hand and it’s always delicious. The trick for this salad is making it ahead of time–at least 8 hours in advance—so that all of the flavors meld together.

Summery Bean Salad

Okay yes, this recipe is technically written with summer in mind, but don’t let that deter you. Filled with fresh cilantro , black beans, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, and tomatoes, this salad is good any time of year. Bonus: this recipe only takes 20 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for any night of the week. I’d recommend bulking it up with a side of tortilla chips for dinner, but that’s just me. Chips and “dip,” anyone?

Four Bean Salad

Community member Donna T says that this recipe is “the best bean salad ever.” Do we need to say more? The base of the recipe includes lima, kidney, and pinto beans; you get some added crunch from celery, onion, and bell pepper; and the jar of mild pimentos adds a little heat and color. Turn this into dinner by serving it over some leafy greens.

Greek Garbanzo Bean Salad

Just one spoonful of this Greek Garbanzo Bean Salad will convince you to add it to your weekly dinner rotation. It’s that good! Packed with feta cheese, black olives, red onions, cherry tomatoes, garlic salt—and of course chickpeas—this salad is equally filling as it is delicious.

Three Bean Salad With Celery

Serve this simple yet satisfying bean salad to your family and hear nothing but “mmm” as everyone dives in. "I didn't change a thing and it was great!" said reviewer Mike G.  While traditionally served as a summer picnic side, you can turn this recipe into a quick dinner by serving it over rice (okay, yes, technically not no-cook, but we’re breaking the rules with this one.)

Mexican Bean Salad

With close to 2,000 reviews and an almost 5-star rating, I think it’s safe to say that people really like this recipe. And it’s easy to see why! This simple bean salad packs a kick thanks to the chili powder and hot sauce, and it’s endlessly versatile. You can enjoy it by itself, or it’s also great as the base for tacos—just don’t forget the cheese and sour cream.

More Inspiration

• 15 Bean Recipes That Go Global And Far Beyond Basic 

• 11 Dishes to Make With A Pound of Dry Beans

• 16 Quick Meals That Start With A Can Of Black Beans