Super Yummy Bean Dinners (Fast!)

Find affordable, nutritious, and most importantly, yummy, bean dinners to share with the kids. These are each packed with vegetarian protein, fiber, and kid-friendly flavor.

I love incorporating beans into our go-to healthy family meals because they are affordable, filling, and so easy to use. These recipes are quick dinners that are designed to be doable for you to make, even on busy days, and yummy enough for the littles at the table.

Why These Recipes Work

With high fiber and plant-based protein, plus easy methods and affordable ingredients, you can turn beans and other legumes into kid-friendly meals in minutes.

Why These Recipes Work
Quick Pizza Beans
Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas
Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese
Vegetarian Bean Chili
Vegetarian Chili Mac
Easy Taco Roll-ups
Easy Chickpea Fritters
Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas
Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup
Easy Red Lentil Soup
Easy One-Pot Lentils and Rice
Lentil Falafel
How to Store
Best Tips for Success

Pizza beans in casserole dish and on plate.

Quick Pizza Beans

Beans, tomato sauce, and melted cheese turn pantry staples into a fast, cozy dinner.

Quick Pizza Beans

With just a few ingredients and a super easy method, this quick Pizza Beans recipe is here to make fast work of meal time. (Adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Quick Pizza Beans

Vegetarian burrito bowls with all the fixings served in adult and kid plateware.

Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

Build-your-own burrito bowls make it easy for everyone to choose their favorite beans, grains, and toppings.

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

Rice and bean burritos cut in half on plates with oranges.

Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos

Rice, beans, and cheese tuck into soft tortillas for a filling vegetarian meal.

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

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

This slow cooker soup is hearty, flavorful, and easy to blend smoother for younger eaters.

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

Sheet Pan Black Bean Quesadillas

One sheet pan makes a generous batch of crisp, cheesy black bean quesadillas with minimal effort.

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

cut up vegetarian quesadillas for kids on plate

Vegetarian Quesadillas with Beans and Cheese

Beans and cheese create a simple vegetarian quesadilla that works for dinner or lunch.

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

Vegetarian Bean Chili

This big-batch chili is packed with beans and vegetables and freezes beautifully for future meals.

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 Chili Mac

Macaroni, beans, vegetables, and mild spices come together in this cozy vegetarian dinner.

Easy Vegetarian Chili Mac

Cheesy, comforting, and packed with plant-based protein and veggies, this family-friendly Vegetarian Chili Mac is a super yummy dinner for everyone at the table. (Bonus: Leftovers reheat so well!)

Easy Vegetarian Chili Mac

Easy Taco Roll-ups

Refried beans and cheese roll into tortillas for an easy meal that is fun to eat.

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

chickpea fritters on plate with cucumbers.

Easy Chickpea Fritters

These crisp-edged chickpea fritters are tender inside and easy to serve with favorite dips.

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

Instant Pot Chana Masala-Style Chickpeas

Warm spices and tender chickpeas make this pressure-cooker dinner flavorful and family-friendly.

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

Lentil soup in white bowl with cheese on top.

Favorite Vegetarian Lentil Soup

Vegetables and lentils simmer into a comforting soup that is hearty enough for dinner.

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

Easy Red Lentil Soup

Red lentils, sweet potato, and coconut create a creamy soup with gentle, cozy flavor.

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

Easy One-Pot Lentils and Rice

Lentils and rice cook together in one pot for a simple, budget-friendly family meal.

One-Pot Lentils and Rice

Serve this easy family meal with optional toppings according to what everyone likes.

One-Pot Lentils and Rice

Lentil Falafel

With flavor similar to falafel and a really easy method, these dippable fritters are a favorite way to serve lentils to kids.

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

How to Store

Generally speaking, each of these recipes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to about a week. You can store longer in the freezer, too. See each individual recipe for the specific info.