Find the best kid-friendly and healthy bean recipes to use canned beans and dried beans in recipes to share with the entire family. I have easy, budget-friendly, and yummy recipes that use pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, lentils, and split peas.

Lentils and rice on two plates with sides.

Beans and legumes are such an easy way to serve up affordable plant-based protein. And they are ingredients we can keep in the pantry and quickly turn into yummy kid-friendly meals.

These easy and healthy bean recipes rely on canned beans, dried beans, and legumes and are both nutritious and yummy. I love using beans and legumes as affordable meat alternatives to ensure that we’re all meeting our protein needs, feeling satisfied at meals (fiber helps with that!), and keeping our food budget in check.

I’ve included my favorite recipes for black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, red kidney beans, lentils, and split peas to make sure you have lots of options to use what you have on hand.

You may also like Iron-Rich Recipes for Kids, vegetarian protein, high fiber foods, and Shortcut Toddler Meals.

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black bean soup in white bowls

Recipes for Black Beans

Black beans are my go-to beans for Mexican-inspired meals (in part because my oldest kiddo LOVES them for some reason!) and more, and I always have them on hand in my pantry. Stock up the next time you have a chance to make these healthy bean recipes, and try one of these easy recipes for your toddler—or the whole family.

Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
Transform pantry staples into the yummiest homemade Vegetarian Burrito Bowls with this easy recipe. (Prep the rice, beans, and veggies ahead if you can or want to. They store well in the fridge and simply need to be reheated.)
Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
Vegetarian Rice and Beans Burritos
You can make and serve these at the same time, or prep them ahead of time and warm up quickly for an easy meal. You can vary the beans in these simple burritos. Serve them with salsa and/or sour cream.
Vegetarian Rice and Beans Burritos
rice and bean burritos on two plates.
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
Use the crock pot to cook up a hearty and nutritious Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with veggies and lots of kid-friendly flavor. It's easy, versatile, and a great freezer meal
 
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
slow-cooker-black-bean-soup
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
These easy quesadillas can be made with pumpkin puree, sweet potato puree, or butternut squash puree. You can also skip it and just go with beans and cheese! I make these as half moon shapes since it helps contain the mess a little when feeding these to kids.
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
sheet-pan-quesadillas-on-platter
Black Bean Brownie Bites
You can add sprinkles to make these fun or leave them plain—either one works! Serving size is 2 brownie bites.
Black Bean Brownie Bites
black-bean-brownies-on-plate-with-sprinkles

TIP: Cooked black beans can be frozen for future use if needed. I like to freeze any extras in meal-size portions if possible.

cut up vegetarian quesadillas for kids on plate

Easy Pinto Bean Recipes

Pinto beans are versatile and mild and are easy to make into healthy bean recipes including chili, quesadillas, rice and beans, and more.

Easy Pinto Beans Recipe
Learn how to make perfect Pinto Beans in the Instant Pot (or Slow Cooker) with this easy method. You can double this recipe to cook 2 pounds of dried beans at once. Just increase the water to 12 cups.
Easy Pinto Beans Recipe
pinto beans recipe in white bowl
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
You can make as few or as many of these easy quesadillas as you like.
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
cut up vegetarian quesadillas for kids on plate
Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)
When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
Vegetarian Bean Chili (Big Batch)
vegetarian bean chili in bowls on table.
Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)
You can use precut butternut squash or sweet potato and shredded carrots to cut down on the prep time if desired. This isn’t super saucy, but you can increase the liquid if desired. See the Notes for details.
Easy Chili Mac (with Extra Veggies)
chili-mac-in-white-and-stainless-bowl
Easy Taco Roll Ups
This super simple riff on tacos takes just minutes to make, is really satisfying, and is great for lunch, dinner, or even snack. (This makes 6 rolled-up tacos, so you can adjust this as needed for your family.) 
Easy Taco Roll Ups
Taco roll ups on kids plate with sides.

TIP: Place canned beans into a colander and rinse well with water to avoid any excess salt (and the sort of weird liquid from the can).

creamy hummus in bowl on plate with veggies

Garbanzo Bean Recipes

Garbanzo beans, or chickpeas, are a mild bean that can be used in hummus (and I have a few options below to try!) and other healthy bean recipes including grain bowls and salads. Here are my favorite chickpea recipes.

Homemade Hummus (Without Tahini)
With just 5 minutes and basic pantry ingredients, you can make the yummiest Homemade Hummus without tahini. This means that it's nut-free, so it's an option for school and allergy families, and it's just perfect for dunking crackers or spreading on bread.
Homemade Hummus (Without Tahini)
hummus without tahini on plate with dippers.
Soft Roasted Chickpeas with Cinnamon
This roasted chickpeas recipe is an easy and delicious way to add nutrition to your toddler’s diet. If you start with dried beans in this salty-sweet snack, make sure to cook them until they are very tender. If making these for a kiddo under one, use maple syrup instead of honey or skip the sweetener altogether.
Soft Roasted Chickpeas with Cinnamon
roasted chickpea recipe
Easy Chickpea Fritters
With just a few ingredients and a quick cooking time, these Chickpea Fritters are a protein–packed meal that's ready in under 20 minutes. (And they reheat well for the future, too!)
Easy Chickpea Fritters
chickpea fritters on plate with cucumbers.
Easy Carrot Hummus
Taste the hummus and adjust for salt as needed. You may need more depending on whether or not you started with canned beans, and sometimes after the hummus sits in the fridge, it needs another sprinkle of salt. 
Easy Carrot Hummus
Carrot hummus in bowl with sides for dipping.
Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
Try making a super easy Indian food recipe at home with this mild Instant Pot Chana Masala. It's easy to make, freezes beautifully, and packs extra veggies tucked right into the sauce. (This will likely make enough for two meals—I like to freeze the second half for a future week.)
Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
instant pot chana masala meal.
Easy Beet Hummus
This brightly colored hummus is a delicious spread for crackers, toast, or sandwiches. Or it can be served as a dip. You can omit the tahini if needed for an allergy.
Easy Beet Hummus
beet hummus on blue plate with crackers
Easy Butternut Squash Hummus
You can use canned squash or whole squash that you’ve roasted and pureed.
Easy Butternut Squash Hummus
butternut squash hummus on plate with cucumbers
Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos
You can try serving this to your toddler with the components separated if they aren’t quite up to holding and eating a regular taco. Simply arrange the filling, the tortillas, and toppings on a plate and let them eat them however they like!
Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos
parent and kids roasted sweet potato taco plates
Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Mix up this grain salad to have lunches prepped for the week for yourself, or to have a dinner side or vegetarian main dish to share with the family.
Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
mediterranean quinoa salad on two plates

TIP: You can lightly smash whole chickpeas for babies and one year olds to ensure they’re safe to eat.

pasta salad with chicken in bowl on counter.

Recipes with White Beans and Red Beans

White beans are soft and mild and are easy to blend into soups and dips to add vegetarian protein. They’re also really great to add to salads! Red beans, I admit, are ones I use less often, but they are super tender on the inside, making them a great choice for kids.

Pasta Salad with Chicken
This simple Pasta Salad with Chicken works well anytime of the year, but the flavors are particularly great in summer. Try it for dinner, a potluck, or to meal-prep lunch.
Pasta Salad with Chicken
pasta salad with chicken in bowls.
Creamy Carrot Soup
This creamy Carrot Soup is easy and comforting, and it's a great vegetarian soup to share with the kids. Add some crackers or pita alongside to round out this meal.
Creamy Carrot Soup
Carrot soup in various bowls and pan.
Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
With one simple method, you can make the best pasta salad ever using your family's favorite ingredients and dressing. This is infinitely flexible, it stores well so you can make it ahead, and it's great cold or at room temperature. (See the Notes for variations!)
Best Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
pasta salad in glass bowl.
Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Learn how to turn fresh zucchini into a bright and fresh pasta sauce with a simple method. Add the optional toppings for extra flavor as you and your family like. (Heads up: You'll want to reserve a little of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pot.)
Zucchini Pasta Sauce
Zucchini pasta sauce with pasta on two plates with sides.

TIP: You may want to mash the beans slightly if they are very large.

Lentils and rice on two plates with sides.

Recipes for Lentils and Split Peas

Lentils and split peas are legumes with high iron and protein, and they’re an easy shelf-stable protein source to keep in the pantry. Here are my favorite healthy bean recipes to make with them.

Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup
With a quick method and a variety of vegetables packed into the soup, this vegetarian Lentil Soup is a perfect weeknight family dinner—especially when you're craving comfort food.
Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup
bowl of vegetarian lentil soup.
Easy Red Lentil Soup
With plant-based protein and Vitamin C-rich veggies, this brightly flavored Red Lentil Soup—with sweet potato, ginger, and coconut— is a perfect fast family dinner ready in less than 30 minutes.
Easy Red Lentil Soup
red lentil soup for parent and baby
Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta
Learn this easy technique to add iron and fiber to pasta sauce without impacting the flavor or texture. This is a great option to make a meal a little more satisfying and as an iron-rich vegetarian meal. (You can start with half the amount of lentils to start to ensure the kids like the sauce, if desired.)
Quick Lentil Sauce for Pasta
Lentil pasta in two white bowls with spoon.
Italian Lentils with Rice
We like this with rice, but you can also serve this with pasta if you prefer.
Italian Lentils with Rice
italian green lentils with rice and cucumbers
One-Pot Lentils and Rice
Serve this easy family meal with optional toppings according to what everyone likes.
One-Pot Lentils and Rice
Hands holding bowl of lentils and rice.
Easy Lentil Patties
This Lentil Patties recipe has a short ingredient list, the flavor of lentil falafel, and a cooking method that's quick and easy. Plus, each patty is easy enough for little ones to pick up and eat, and they store and reheat well for future meals!
Easy Lentil Patties
Lentil falafel on plate with dip.

TIP: Red lentils cook a lot faster than brown or green ones, so be sure to get the right kind for your planned recipe if possible.

Best Tips for Cooking with Beans and Legumes

  • When cooking dried beans from scratch, make sure they have plenty of water in the pot. The beans will absorb a lot of water; not having enough water will result in beans that aren’t uniformly cooked.
  • Be sure to season beans in these healthy bean recipes that you cook from dry to ensure they have flavor.
  • With any canned beans, pour them into a colander from the can and rinse them with water to remove any excess salt and the liquid they were in. This helps them to taste fresher.
  • Mash beans slightly in dishes like tacos or burritos to make them a little less likely to fall out when the kids try to eat them.
  • Store any leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.

I’d love to hear your favorite bean recipes, so please comment below to share!

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