10 Easy Vegan Bean and Lentil Dinners

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Canned beans and dry lentils make practical vegan dinners because they are inexpensive, easy to keep on hand, and useful in far more than soup. This collection includes pasta, burgers, curry, salad, a lentil loaf, and other full meals built around chickpeas, black beans, white beans, or lentils.

For this list, a bean recipe must use canned culinary beans such as chickpeas, black beans, or white beans. A lentil recipe can start with dry lentils or use cooked lentils with directions for cooking them from dry. Green beans, chickpea flour, snacks, and recipes where legumes are only an optional garnish are excluded.

Quick vegan bean and lentil dinners

1. 20-Minute Lentil Chili Mac

This lentil chili mac combines pasta, canned brown lentils, tomato sauce, spices, and vegan cheddar. The sauce and pasta cook separately, then come together in one pot for a 20-minute dinner.

2. Chickpea and Tofu Curry with Spinach and Brown Rice

Chickpea and tofu curry uses canned chickpeas, tofu, spinach, coconut milk, and a mild blend of curry spices. Brown rice turns the creamy stovetop curry into a complete bowl.

3. 5-Ingredient Vegan Chili

This 5-ingredient vegan chili gets its flavor from fire-roasted tomatoes, salsa, chili powder, and bell pepper. Use canned black beans or kidney beans, then add rice or a baked potato if you want a larger meal.

4. Vegan Greek Salad with Chickpeas and Tofu Feta

Canned chickpeas and marinated tofu feta give this vegan Greek salad enough substance for dinner. Crisp vegetables and a lemony dressing keep it fresh, and the recipe requires no stovetop cooking.

Comforting lentil dinners

5. Vegan BBQ Lentil Sloppy Joes

Vegan lentil sloppy joes start with dry green or brown lentils simmered until tender. Tomato sauce, barbecue sauce, smoked paprika, and cumin make a thick filling that stays put reasonably well for a sloppy joe.

6. High-Protein Lentil Mushroom Loaf

The lentil mushroom loaf combines lentils, mushrooms, walnuts, and a savory glaze. Partially mashing the lentils helps the loaf hold together while leaving some texture in each slice.

7. Healthy Vegan Lasagna

This vegan lasagna layers a lentil-walnut tomato sauce with tofu ricotta. The lentils cook from dry before going into the sauce, so you can make the filling without relying on canned lentils.

Hearty vegan dinners with canned beans

8. Lemon Herb Roasted Vegetables with White Bean Mash

Lemon herb roasted vegetables sit over a smooth garlicky white bean mash. Canned chickpeas roast with the vegetables while canned white beans blend into the creamy base, giving the dish contrasting textures without a separate grain.

9. Hearty Vegan Black Bean Burgers

These vegan black bean burgers use canned black beans, oats, flaxseed, tomato paste, and walnuts. Drying the rinsed beans and chilling the shaped patties help them stay firm during cooking.

10. Vegan Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpeas

Vegan Caesar salad replaces traditional croutons with seasoned roasted chickpeas and uses a tahini-based dressing. Dry the canned chickpeas thoroughly before roasting so they crisp instead of steaming.

How to choose a bean or lentil dinner

Choose chili mac, curry, or chili when time is tight. The lentil loaf and lasagna take longer but work well when you want sliceable leftovers. For something lighter, use the Greek or Caesar salad; for contrasting creamy and crisp textures, make the roasted vegetables with white bean mash.

Keep a few cans of beans and a bag of green or brown lentils available and dinner has options beyond another bowl of soup. Follow me on Instagram for more vegan recipes. Save this collection on Pinterest and share it on Facebook.