Classic Three Bean Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Jump to RecipeJump to Video

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.

A delicious blend of beans tossed in a tangy dressing, three bean salad is the perfect side to any dinner! It’s super easy to whip up and has incredible flavor in each bite.

This three bean salad is an easy and flavorful salad you’ll love bringing to all of your potlucks this summer. A few more recipes to try out are Greek orzo salad, black bean and corn salad, and Mediterranean quinoa salad! They’re cool and refreshing but packed with amazing savory flavor!

Classic Three Bean Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1)

Three Bean Salad Recipe

If you’re looking for a tasty, protein-packed salad to bring to all of your summer get-togethers, look no further! This quick and easy salad uses 3 different types of beans- green, kidney, and garbanzo, all tossed in a delicious, tangy dressing. I add in chopped red onions too for crunch and a pop of flavor! It’s going to fly off the table at your next potluck.

The delicious texture of this salad works with just about any entrée! The crunch and tangy flavor is a great contrast to meat dishes like this grilled honey barbecue chicken! As simple as this three bean salad is, it is so satisfying and delicious! It’s always a favorite at our house! You’re going to love the tangy dressing combined with soft beans and crunchy red onions!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make It

The best part about this delicious salad is the fact that you only need a handful of pantry staples to throw it together! The combination of these flavors is absolutely irresistible. You can find measurements for each ingredient listed in the recipe card below.

  • Canned Beans: I used a mix of green beans, dark kidney beans, and garbanzo beans. You can also swap these out for black, pinto, or wax beans.
  • Red Onion: Adds sharp, delicious flavor and the perfect crunch!
  • Vinegar: This recipe uses a blend of white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar! The combination is tangy and slightly fruity.
  • Sugar: This helps to balance out the acidity of the vinegar.
  • Olive Oil: Helps coat the beans in all of the delicious flavors.
  • Salt and Pepper: Add both to taste!

How to Make Classic Three Bean Salad

Making this three bean salad is as easy as it gets! It mixes up in minutes and is great for making ahead. I actually recommend it because this way, the flavors have more time to meld!

  1. Prepare Beans and Onion: In a colander, add the beans and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and add the red onion.
  2. Mix Dressing Ingredients: In a small bowl whisk the vinegar, sugar, and olive oil.
  3. Combine: Add to the bowl and toss until coated. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.
Classic Three Bean Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips and Variations

Here are a few extra ways to customize this delicious salad! It’s so good, you’re going to want to bring it to every summer party.

  • Swap Out Dressing: A fun way to customize your salad is to use different homemade dressings! Try this lemon vinaigrette or Greek dressing next!
  • Add Herbs:Fresh herbs are the best way to add a delicious pop of flavor to your salad! Try adding a dash of Italian seasoning or chopped basil, or mint!
  • Use Other Veggies: If you find the flavor of red onion to be overpowering, try using chopped celery or red bell peppers instead!

Storing Leftover Three Bean Salad

This simple three bean salad is great for both storing and making ahead! It’s the perfect thing to have on hand for a quick and easy snack or dinner side. The best part about this salad? The longer it’s stored, the more infused and delicious the flavors become!

Classic Three Bean Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)

More Delicious Summer Salads

Cool, crisp, and bursting with flavor, here are a few more salads to add to your dinner lineup! They’re super easy to make and loaded with healthy and delicious ingredients. You can find my full list of tasty salad recipes here!

Pin this now to find it later

Pin It

Three Bean Salad

5 from 5 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

A delicious blend of beans tossed in a tangy dressing, three bean salad is the perfect side to any dinner! It's super easy to whip up and has incredible flavor in each bite.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a colander, add the beans and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and add the red onion.

  • In a small bowl whisk the vinegar, sugar, and olive oil. Add to the bowl and toss until coated. Salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 56gProtein: 18gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 327mgPotassium: 893mgFiber: 17gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 800IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 118mgIron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

More Ideas

Salads

The BEST Egg Salad

25 mins

Side Dishes

Classic Potato Salad Recipe

30 mins

Salads

Detox Salad

20 mins

Classic Three Bean Salad Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What is three bean salad made of? ›

Combine green beans, wax beans, kidney beans, onion, and green pepper in a large bowl; pour cooled dressing over all and toss to coat. Best if marinated for at least an hour before serving.

How many calories are in three bean salad? ›

Directions
Nutrition facts
6 servings per container Serving size1 Cup (237g)
Amount Per Serving Calories250
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g10%
14 more rows
Jun 9, 2022

Does Costco sell bean salad? ›

The 35.5 Oz jars of our Bean Salad are exclusively sold at Club Stores only (Costco, Sam's Club).

What is mixed bean salad made of? ›

Key Ingredients

Beans: In our photos, we've used chickpeas, pinto beans, and black beans. For a more traditional 3 bean salad, use chickpeas, kidney beans, and canned or blanched green beans. Or make it a 5 bean salad and use chickpeas, pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, and canned or blanched green beans.

What is the healthiest beans to put in a salad? ›

The 7 Healthiest Beans to Eat, According to Dietitians
  1. Lentils. Lentils are rich in polyphenols, plant-based compounds that have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. ...
  2. White Beans. ...
  3. Black Beans. ...
  4. Chickpeas. ...
  5. Pinto Beans. ...
  6. Red Kidney Beans. ...
  7. Lupini Beans.
Aug 14, 2023

Is it healthy to eat bean salad everyday? ›

Indeed, eating beans is associated with the prevention of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Also, beans can improve gut health. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends making foods like beans part of your usual daily diet.

Is canned bean salad good for you? ›

Additionally, remember to rinse any canned beans, as the liquids they're stored in are where most of the sodium content resides. Regardless of how they're prepared, beans are a great source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals like potassium, iron and magnesium. Simply put, they're a great addition to your diet.

How many carbs are in a cup of bean salad? ›

Kidney Bean Salad (1 cup) contains 43.2g total carbs, 32.1g net carbs, 15.5g fat, 12.8g protein, and 353 calories.

How many carbs are in a 4 bean salad? ›

  • Sodium 300mg (13%)
  • Potassium 68mg (2%)
  • Total Carbohydrate 13g (5%) Dietary Fiber 1g (4%) Total Sugars 9g. Includes 9g Added Sugars (18%)
  • Protein 1g.
  • Calcium (2%)
  • Iron (6%)
  • Vitamin D (0%)

Why did Costco stop selling salads? ›

The salad vanished during the pandemic when the store looked to simplify its menu, but as of this month, the staple item is back and better than ever.

Who makes Walmart's salads? ›

We value our strong partnership with Walmart and are thankful of the trust they have in Taylor Farms to deliver the healthiest, freshest foods to their customers.” Taylor Farms is a leading North American producer of salads and healthy fresh foods with production facilities across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

What happened to the dill pickle salad at Costco? ›

Taylor Farms Retail, Inc. initiated a recall of the Taylor Farms brand Creamy Dill Pickle Chopped Salad Kit due to the possible presence of metal or plastic. This item was specifically sold in Costco locations throughout Canada, no other products in Canada or the United States are affected by this recall.

Can a diabetic eat bean salad? ›

Beans are a diabetes super food, meaning they are good for your health and they have diabetes-specific benefits. They are a low-glycemic ingredient, and are high in protein and fiber.

Is three bean salad high in carbs? ›

Three bean salad, canned (0.5 cup) contains 15.5g total carbs, 12.7g net carbs, 0.3g fat, 3g protein, and 73 calories.

Are canned mixed beans good for you? ›

Canned beans that are simply beans (no sodium, sugar, or other harmful ingredients added) are a superbly healthy food choice. And do keep eating your beans, also called legumes, such as garbanzos (chickpeas), pintos, black beans, red beans, lentils, soybeans, and split peas.

What is the three sacred sisters salad? ›

Ingredients
  1. 2 pounds butternut squash.
  2. 2 tablespoons olive oil.
  3. 1 (15.5-oz.) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed.
  4. 2 cups fresh corn kernels.
  5. ½ small red onion, sliced.
  6. ½ cup chopped fresh basil.
  7. Balsamic Vinaigrette.
  8. 3 cups loosely packed arugula.

Who are the members of the three bean salad? ›

Three Bean Salad Three Bean Salad

A podcast from comedians Mike Wozniak, Henry Paker and Benjamin Partridge.

What is a good substitute for wax beans? ›

You can also substitute garbanzo beans in place of wax beans. If you do go with a garbanzo beans, I would use light red kidney beans instead of cannellini.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Velia Krajcik

Last Updated:

Views: 6474

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Velia Krajcik

Birthday: 1996-07-27

Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

Phone: +466880739437

Job: Future Retail Associate

Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.