Stocking your pantry with dried beans makes good sense. Beans are a great source of protein and versatile, as you will see in these dried bean recipes.
One easy way to make your family more prepared for unexpected situations or natural disasters is to have a well-stocked pantry. Even if you’re just having a hectic week, it’s nice to know that you can count on the ingredients in your pantry, freezer, and fridge to put together a quick, nutritious dinner.
Among my favorite foods to keep stocked in the pantry are dried beans. Beans are inexpensive, a great source of protein, and easy to prepare with just a bit of advance planning. Best of all, they are incredibly versatile, as you will discover in this delicious collection of dried bean recipes.
Dried Bean Basics
It’s incredibly fun and a great step in the direction of preparedness when you learn to grow drying beans for food security. Learning the skill of successfully saving seeds is also a good idea for those who strive to be self-reliant.
It will help you save money on seeds and allow you to have a steady source for years to come. We found a great collection of heirloom bean varieties to grow in your garden, give them a try and save the seed for years to come!
It’s not difficult to learn how to cook dried beans, but it does take a bit of advance planning and preparation. You can cook dried beans on the stove top or a slow cooker and it will take a few hours for them to get soft. If you’re short on time, you can use an pressure cooker and have beans ready in minutes instead of hours.
Some people choose to pressure can their dried beans so they are as convenient to use as canned beans from the store. This is sound practice and will, in the long run, save you time. You can even use dried beans when you make home canned soups like this canned ham and bean soup.
Dried Bean Recipes
Lentil Stew with Beef & Sweet Potatoes
Lentil stew is a hearty and flavorful one pot meal full of nutrition for cold days.
Easy Lentil Soup Recipe: A Fast, Healthy Meal on a Budget
Lentils are one of the fastest cooking legumes and don't need to be pre-soaked, making it possible to have a bean dinner on the table in 30 minutes! This easy lentil soup recipe is one you'll want to try.
Canning Ham and Bean Soup
Canning ham and bean soup at home provides quick and easy healthy meals straight from the pantry shelves.
Healthy & Hearty Greek Lentil Soup Recipe
Season lentils with Mediterranean seasoning for a fast and healthy weeknight dinner. There's no need to go through a drive though on busy nights since lentils can be cooked in just 30 minutes.
Kid Friendly Taco Soup, Easy and Inexpensive
Taco soup is a family favorite! Maybe because it's served with cheese and chips or maybe because it's just plain delicious!
White Bean Chili Recipe, GAPS and SCD Friendly
If you're trying to heal your gut and are looking for inexpensive recipes, this White Bean Chili Recipe is what you need. This can be cooked in a slow cooker and is Gaps and SCD Friendly, plus gluten free.
How To Make Black Bean Soup The Homesteading Hippy
Black beans and sweet potatoes are a great combination. Add in cilantro, onions, and avocado and you have a fantastic black bean and sweet potato soup recipe.
Beans with Bacon and Kale
Make a one pot meal by adding bacon and kale to a pot of pinto beans and, voila, you have a bean soup for dinner.
Easy Hummus Recipe: An Inexpensive, High Protein Snack
Hummus is expensive when purchased in the store but is super inexpensive to make at home. Use this hummus recipe to make a quick, high protein snack.
Green Garlic Hummus with Green Garbanzo Beans
Hummus comes in many flavors - use one of these recipes to make hummus for your family or to be inspired to make your own hummus combination.
How to Make Hummus: Garlic Scape Hummus
Need to use up extra garlic scapes? Make garlic scape hummus. Your family will thank you and you'll have a healthy, frugal snack!
Spicy Hummus Recipe - Easy to Make at Home Chipotle Hummus
Give your hummus a southwestern kick with this Chipotle hummus recipe! You can adjust the spiciness by removing the seeds from the peppers.
Brown Beans and Pork
Pintos and pork are a great combination. Pair these brown beans and pork with a skillet of corn bread and you have a comfort food meal.
Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel (SCCPVL600S)
Using a crockpot or slow cooker is a great way to cook beans without having to keep a close eye on them.
The Best Southern Ham and Beans Recipe
Seasoning white beans with ham is an inexpensive way to add depth and flavor to the beans. Add corn bread muffins for a southern classic.
Instant Pot Refried Beans: How to Make Refried Beans in a Hurry
Use your Instant Pot to make fast and frugal refried beans. These are perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Instant Pot - 6-Quart 7-in-1, One-Touch Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker
While it normally takes hours to cook beans, they can be cooked in an InstantPot or pressure cooker in just minutes.
Hearty Homemade Baked Beans
Baked beans is an old time recipe that help you remake leftover beans. Of course, you can use beans that are freshly cooked to make this recipe, you don't have to wait until you have leftovers.
Homemade Baked Beans Slow Cooked with Bacon and Molasses
Baked beans can be easily be made in the slow cooker for that creamy texture we all love. Add some bacon and molasses for a traditional baked bean recipe without heating up the house.
Cajun Red Beans and Rice in the Crock-Pot
You don't have to be Cajun to enjoy this classic red beans and rice comfort food recipe. This is traditionally served with sausage but that can easily be left out for an even cheaper meal.
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup - Vegetarian- Cooking Carnival
Use this 15 bean soup recipe and your Instant Pot to use up all your bits of dried beans from other recipes...maybe 9 bean or 12 bean soup instead of 15?
Quinoa Black Bean Summer Salad (Low-Fat, Vegan)
Black beans don't have to be served in soups and large pots, they can also be served burrito bowl style with quinoa, lettuce, onions, and corn. This summer salad is perfect as a light supper on a hot day.
Fudgy Flourless Black Bean Brownie Bites - Grain and Refined-Sugar Free
Why, yes, you can use black beans as a flour replacement for brownies. Your friends and family won't believe that these fudgy brownies are packed with protein and made with black beans.
Strawberry Ice Cream (Dairy Free with a SECRET Ingredient You’ll Never Guess!)
Who knew you could use beans to make a dairy free ice cream? Well, you can. Amaze your family with this dairy free strawberry ice cream.
Consider filling up your pantry with a variety of dried beans next time you place a bulk food order or hit the grocery store. Or add dried beans to your garden plan.
Beans store beautifully in the pantry and give you the comforting feeling of knowing that no matter what emergency or unexpected situation might arise, you can fill your family’s belly with one of these delicious and hearty dried bean recipes.
What is your favorite dried bean recipe? Please share it in the comments below!
M.
Wednesday 26th of April 2017
First of all, I never met a bean I didn't like. There are SOME beans I like MORE than others, but all beans are welcome at my table. Having said that, as a New Orleans girl, RED BEANS and rice top my bean list. I MUST have them every Monday. YUMMMMMMM!
Teri Page
Thursday 27th of April 2017
Yum! Red beans and rice are delicious!