24 healthy bean recipes

A one-pan orzo dish with tomatoes and prawns

Eating more beans has many benefits to your health. Beans are packed with fibre which supports good digestion and contributes to a healthy gut. They are also high in protein, so you can either replace the meat or fish with beans, like we do in our vegan chilli, or you can double up on protein, like we do in our baked cod with butter beans.

Beans also count towards your 30 daily plant foods, so if you're keeping count you'll be impressed with our five-bean chilli and green bean and grain salad, both of which contribute multiple plant points.

To see more of our delicious, hearty and filling bean ideas, check out our butter bean recipes, black bean recipes, borlotti bean recipes and broad bean recipes. Plus see all our high-fibre meals.

Healthy butter bean recipes

Healthy beans on toast

Ditch the processed variety and make your own baked beans using tomatoes, spices and honey. They are truly delicious on wholegrain toast for lunch.

Turmeric and ginger butter bean stew

Nourish yourself with a big bowl of our butter bean and kale stew with a zingy ginger, turmeric and creamy coconut milk broth.

A silver pan and white bowl filled with butter beans, green kale and a yellow broth

Harissa, butter bean and red pepper orzo

Tuck into a comforting bowl of butter bean orzo with the fresh, punchy flavours of harissa and red pepper.

Baked cod and butter beans

Cod is topped with a rosemary parmesan crust then baked in a rich tomato and butter bean sauce to make this seriously high-protein dish.

Cheesy bean omelette wraps

These cheesy bean omelette wraps make a quick, protein-packed lunch ready in just 20 minutes. Filled with spinach, giant baked beans and mature cheddar, they’re hearty, satisfying and freezer-friendly for up to a month – perfect for easy make-ahead lunches.

Tuscan pork loin steaks

For a speedy dinner that's low in calories and fat but high in protein, try this speedy supper with Mediterranean flavours.

Healthy black bean recipes

Healthy chicken and black bean stew

Make a rich and warming chicken stew with black beans for extra protein. Top with soured cream and grated cheese then dig in.

Chicken Thigh Stew Recipe with Jalapeño and Black Beans

Slow cooker black bean chilli

This easy chilli with black beans and fiery chipotle chilli paste is a great low-calorie veggie version the whole family will love.

Quinoa and black bean chilli

For a meat-free alternative to regular chilli, try this quinoa and black bean version, it's high in protein and low calorie.

Pot of chilli and bowl topped with avocado

Healthy green bean recipes

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Turn storecupboard staples into this vibrant, nutritious orzo pasta salad with roasted red peppers, black olives and green beans.

Green bean curry

You can use frozen green beans to make this simple low-calorie curry, but use fresh while they're at their best in the summer to add crunch. Serve with wholegrain rice and yogurt.

Metal pan containing green beans and tomato with a bowl of rice on a stone background

Green bean salad with mustardy dressing

For a light side salad, try charring green beans on a griddle pan and mix with a mustardy dressing.

Grains, greens and beans salad with pesto dressing

On the table in 15 minutes, this nutritious salad is packed with green veggies, wholegrains and tossed in fresh pesto.

Easy Grain Salad Recipe with Pesto Dressing

Healthy cannellini bean recipes

Five-bean chilli

Make the most of storecupboard tins in this easy vegan bean chilli. Serve this comforting one-pot with brown rice, avocado, coriander and dairy-free yogurt for a nourishing dinner.

A cast iron pot filled with bean chilli with sliced avocado on the side

Mediterranean nourish bowls

Full of flavour, colour and texture, make these Mediterranean nourish bowls for a fast and simple midweek dinner.

A colourful salad with beans, salad leaves and vegetables

Harissa chicken and white bean bake

Chicken thighs are coated in harissa and cooked in a rich tomato sauce with beans and olives to make this healthy, high-protein dish.

Cod, kale and marinated beans

For a high-protein and fibre-rich dinner, try this light cod recipe with kale and cannellini beans.

A plate of cod and kale on a terrazzo board with a pink background and glass of water

Chorizo, greens and bean stew

This hearty, healthy and high-protein chorizo stew dinner is flavoured with sweet smoked paprika and peppered with cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes and kale.

Braised courgettes and cannellini beans

This low-calorie one-pot recipe with courgette, cannellini beans and parmesan makes a delicious filling lunch.

A cast iron pot of creamy braised courgette with the lid leaning on the side, on a grey concrete background with a grey napkin and brushed sliver serving spoon

Spiced cod one pot

Cod is simmered with beans, tomatoes and ’nduja to create a flavourful dish that's low in calories yet high in protein.

Pot of cod fillets in a tomato and bean sauce topped with parsley

Healthy kidney bean recipes

Tahini chicken chilli con carne with kidney beans

Packed with protein from tender chicken and nutty tahini, plus kidney beans and nutritious wild rice, this one-pot wonder deserves a spot in your recipe rotation.

A whole dish of tahini chicken chilli with dip on the side

Vegan chilli

A sweet 'n' smoky chilli with vegan mince, two types of beans and plenty of spices for kick.

Healthy bean salad

Ready in just 20 minutes, this colourful salad is packed with green beans, kidney beans and cannellini beans, all drizzled with a green tahini dressing.

Healthy mixed bean recipes

Spiced steak with bean salad and avocado sauce

Serve tender paprika-spiced sirloin steak with a punchy pineapple, bean and red chilli salad, finished with a creamy avocado sauce. Bold, fresh and full of colour, it’s the perfect midweek pick-me-up.