This refreshing and crunchy 5 Bean Salad is perfect for a barbecue, cookout, or a light dinner. It's delicious!
This recipe was originally published on June 16, 2020. It was updated with new information and recipe tips on April 26, 2021.
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Make a healthier -- but still just as delicious -- take on a classic with my 5 Bean Salad Recipe! This 3-step reicpe is gluten-free, vegan, and made with no dairy or processed sugar. It's also brimming with plant-based protein.
Best of all, this bean salad still tastes like the classic summer bean salad recipes that we know and love. Read below for my tips to make a tasty bean salad every time!
Can you believe that the Fourth of July is already just a bit over two weeks away?!
I know I sure can't. I feel like I was just adjusting to never leaving home and then, suddenly, it's 3 months later and I'm still not entirely sure which end is up!
One thing I am trying to do is focus on and invest my time and energy in the more simple and (currently) safe activities we can do to make the most of our time and summer. Golfing, trail running, lounging in the hammock, hiking, reading at the pool, and -- of course -- grilling.
They're back-to-the-basics we can do to enjoy the weather, get out of the house, and focus on what we're grateful for.
And focusing on being grateful is something I really hope to do this year for the Fourth of July! Mom will be coming out for the week and whereas we usually go out to explore all the food and drink Fort Collins has to offer, this year we'll likely be cooking at home, grilling, and ordering the occasional takeout.
We haven't nailed down our exact Fourth of July menu yet, but I'm pretty sure this 5 Bean Salad will be on it!
With a handful of my favorite beans, crunchy vegetables, and an addicting sweet and sour vinaigrette, it's a healthier rendition of a salad I've enjoyed since I was a kid.
The recipe also makes enough to feed the type of moderate crew we'll have together this year while also providing leftovers for our hiking picnic lunches (this salad is even better as leftovers) the days after the holiday (hello, Rocky Mountain National Park!).
It's a recipe that makes the most of my summer while throwing me back to more simple, safe, and less confusing times. And I hope it comforts and nourishes you from the inside-out, too.
Table of contents
- This bean salad is...
- 5 Bean Salad Ingredients:
- Recipe subsitutions:
- How do you make 5 bean salad?
- Recipe pro-tips:
- Where do you buy wax beans?
- Do you need to cook canned beans?
- Is this healthy bean salad budget-friendly?
- Is bean salad vegan or gluten-free?
- How to make 3 bean salad with this recipe:
- Storage directions:
- Tools you need to make this recipe:
- Other delicious barbecue side dish recipes you'll love!
This bean salad is...
- Hearty
- Tangy
- Sweet
- Light
- Versatile
All while being naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and full of plant-based protein! This is a healthy budget-friendly side dish that will be welcome at any get-together this summer.
It's a super versatile side dish that goes well with everything from burgers and brats to grilled chicken, salmon, steak, and barbecue.
Ingredients:
The ingredients in this salad are pretty straightforward: beans, a few veggies, and a red wine vinegar salad dressing to tie it all together!
- Canned beans: kidney, pinto, garbanzo, green, and wax beans (all canned and drained!)
- Cucumber
- Red pepper
- Sliced black olives
- Sweet white or red onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Maple syrup
- Dijon mustard
- Dried dill & thyme
- Garlic
Subsitutions:
- Canned beans - use 3 cans of whichever types of starchy beans you prefer; this recipe is totally flexible. Some other beans I recommend are black beans, cannellini beans, navy beans, black-eyed peas, and lima beans.
- Maple syrup - using maple syrup adds a nice depth of flavor to the dressing and keeps it vegan. You can substitute honey, however, if you are not vegan.
- Herbs - fresh herbs work in this recipe instead of dry. Just use 3 teaspoons chopped fresh dill and 1.5 teaspoons fresh thyme.
- Wax beans - another can of green beans can substitute for the wax beans.
- Vinegar - distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar can replace the red wine vinegar if desired.
- Veggies - diced sweet peppers can stand in for the cucumber.
- Oil - avocado oil or walnut oil can sub for the olive oil
How do you make 5 bean salad?
- Combine all the beans and vegetables in a large mixing or serving bowl.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the beans and vegetables and gently fold or stir together. Serve the salad immediately or let marinate for a few hours up to a day before serving!
Recipe pro-tips:
- Let the flavors marinate overnight - the flavors in this salad really are the best once the salad dressing has had time to marinate the beans and pickle the veggies. I recommend making this salad 12-24 hours ahead of time if possible. If not, making it 1-2 hours ahead of serving time will also suffice.
- Uniformly dice the fresh veggies - dice the fresh veggies all a similar size. This helps the salad dressing to penetrate them evenly as well as to make the salad easier to eat.
- Serve the salad cold - though this salad is safe to eat after resting at room (or warmer) temperatures, I recommend serving it cold as the flavors are the brightest. This cool salad is also very refreshing on a warm day!
Wax beans can be found at most major grocery store chains here in the United States. Here in Colorado, I can find them at King Soopers (Kroger) and Safeway. They are harder to find at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. If you can't find wax beans, you can easily substitute another can of green beans.
This is a cool salad and all of the canned beans come cooked in their tins so there is no need to cook these beans before making this salad. This recipe really is next-level easy!
Yes, this bean salad is super budget-friendly. I spent just around $9 US dollars for all the ingredients in this salad which serves 8-10 people, meaning each serving can cost as little as $.90!
Yes, this salad is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and processed sugar-free! 🤯
How to make 3 bean salad with this recipe:
You can easily also make 3 bean salad with this recipe. Whip up the salad dressing as directed and toss in the fresh veggies with 2 cans of green beans, 1 can of wax beans, and 2 cans of kidney beans (all drained) until combined.
Storage directions:
- Refrigeration - This bean salad lasts in the fridge for 4-5 days. The cucumbers will start to pickle a bit after a day in the fridge, but they're still delicious. If you know you will have leftovers and want your cucumbers crisp, just stir them in before serving!
- Freezing - this easy bean salad does not freeze well, unfortunately. The beans and fresh vegetables change textures and get mushy when frozen.
Tools you need to make this recipe:
- Cutting board
- Chef knife and paring knife (optional)
- Large serving bowl
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wet measuring cup
- Whisk
- Silicone spatula or scraper
- Plastic wrap, aluminum foil, or beeswax wrap
More delicious barbecue side dish recipes:
- Broccoli Raisin Salad
- Balsamic Pasta Salad
- Broccoli Slaw
- Avocado Blueberry Salad
- Italian Tuna Pasta Salad
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Greek Penne Pasta Salad
- Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans
- Greek Quinoa Salad
- Roasted Sweet Potato & Quinoa Salad
Or, check out my complete list of 31 Best Healthy Salad Recipes -- all in one place!
If you made and liked this recipe, don't forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went for you in the comments! It always makes my day to hear from you!
5 Bean Salad (Vegan + Gluten-Free!)
Email FacebookIngredients
Salad
- 1, 15 oz. can pinto beans drained and rinsed
- 1, 15 oz. can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1, 15 oz. can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
- 1, 15 oz. can cut green beans drained
- 1, 15 oz. can cut wax beans drained
- 1 ½ cup diced cucumber*
- 1 large sweet red orange, or yellow pepper, diced
- ¾ cup sliced black olives
- ½ large sweet white or red onion diced
Salad Dressing
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey*
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 small garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing or serving bowl combine all the salad ingredients (the canned beans through the diced onion).
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl whisk together the vinegar, maple syrup or honey, mustard, salt, dill, thyme, garlic, and black pepper until combined. While still whisking, very slowly pour in the olive oil until all the olive oil is whisked in.
- Pour the dressing over the beans and vegetables and gently fold in until all the beans and vegetables are covered in the dressing. For best flavor, chill the salad for at least 1-2.5 hours (and up to 1 day) before serving, or serve immediately if needed.
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