Home ยป Recipes ยป Lunch & Dinner ยป Best Three Bean Salad

Best Three Bean Salad

Who can say no to a delicious, tangy bean salad with cannellini, kidney beans, and balck beans? Itโ€™s healthy and takes only three steps to make!

A bright and inviting bowl of three bean salad is one of the smartest (and quickest) dishes you can pack for a summer picnic, a camping trip, or an outdoor BBQ party. 

The origins of the three bean salad are unclear. We know that this side dish became popular in the 50s because it was made of canned beans which everyone already had in their pantry. The cherry on top was a tangy, refreshing marinade that the beans soaked in. 

By the 60s and 70s, companies came up with instant 3 bean salads in cans, which you can still find on shelves today. I think itโ€™s way healthier to make your own from scratch and itโ€™s reassuring to know there arenโ€™t any chemicals or preservatives in your bean salad. And since itโ€™s so easy to make, why not? 

I love the festive look of this salad, with its pop of colors when youโ€™re done assembling the tomatoes, corn and cilantro โ€“ do you see the Mediterranean influences? Itโ€™s like all of summer is defined by this one vibrant dish.

All you need is 10 minutes to serve a fresh bowl of bean salad, and if youโ€™re making this ahead of time, itโ€™ll taste even better! 

What Are The Best Beans to Use For This Salad?

It is also not known what beans were used in the 1950s when this recipe was popularized. Essentially, there had to be 3 types of beans. 

In this recipe, we are using:

  • cannellini beans (high in proteins, also called white kidney beans)
  • kidney beans (dark red and low in saturated fats) 
  • black beans (rich in antioxidants). 

Other popular options for three bean salad include cooked green beans, wax beans, garbanzo beans, or pinto beans. If you want to, you can add any other type of bean and call it a 4 bean salad. 

Recipe Ingredients

You can use any type or combination of beans for this recipe. Just be sure to use a total of 3 cans, or 4.5 cups of cooked beans. With that said, there are more than just beans in this salad! These juicy vegetables will perfectly complement the beans. 

  • Kidney beans โ€“ 15 oz. can
  • Black beans โ€“ 15 oz. can
  • Cannellini beans (also called white kidney beans) โ€“ A 15 oz. can 
  • Grape tomatoes โ€“ 1 ยฝ cups of grape tomatoes, halved 
  • Corn โ€“ 2 cups of corn kernels (fresh or frozen) 
  • Cilantro โ€“ ยฝ cup, finely chopped
  • Fresh parsley โ€“ ยฝ cup, finely chopped

Now that the bean salad is full of vegetables that are soft and succulent, we can introduce a crunchy texture to make it tastier and more fun. Some crunch vegetables include celery, fennel, and bell peppers. Yum! 

Typically, the canned instant 3 bean salad would be soaked in a sour salad dressing. Hereโ€™s what you will need to make it from scratch:

  • Lemon โ€“ Freshly squeezed lemon juice of about ยผ cup
  • Garlic โ€“ Either mince 4 cloves of garlic at home or purchase ready-made minced garlic. 
  • Extra virgin olive oil โ€“ โ…“ cup of olive oil will bring the flavors in the dressing together. 
  • Sea salt โ€“ ยฝ teaspoon, to taste
  • Ground black pepper โ€“ ยผ teaspoon, to taste
Three Bean Saladย | cookingwithcassandra.com

Step-by-Step Instructions

This easy home cooked salad comes together in just three steps.

Step One: Drain and rinse all of the canned beans until the water runs clear. Add to a large bowl. 

  • Pro Tip: When you open the cans of beans, youโ€™ll see murky, grimy liquid in the can.  To wash the beans from the salty solution, I always drain the beans in a strainer, then rinse them in cool water.

Step Two: Chop the grape tomatoes in half and defrost the corn if using frozen corn. Add corn, parsley and cilantro to the bowl with beans. Toss all the ingredients. 

Step Three: Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and pour it on top of the salad.

  • Pro Tip: Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving to allow the beans to marinate in the dressing.

Dig in and enjoy the salad! 

Optionally, you can sprinkle fresh herbs onto this bean salad as garnish. Perhaps try basil, mint, tarragon, dill and cilantro. I like to also crumble some feta cheese and red onion on top for that extra Mediterranean touch. 

Storage Instructions

Make this salad ahead of time for picnics and potlucks. Itโ€™ll be a tasty appetizer if kept properly.  

Store this three bean salad in the fridge, covered tightly, for about 5 days. This will taste so good, especially since the salad has had more time to soak in all the marinade and meld with the flavors. 

Three bean salad stays fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months. Meal-prep friendly dish coming through. 

Thereโ€™s more where this recipe came from. Check out these salad recipes which are to die for: 

Kidney Beans, Black Beans and Cannellini Beans Salad | cookingwithcassandra.com

Three Bean Salad Recipe

Who can say no to a delicious, tangy bean salad with cannellini, kidney beans, and balck beans? Itโ€™s healthy and takes only three steps to make!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 15 ounce can kidney beans
  • 1 15 ounce can black beans
  • 1 15 ounce can cannellini beans
  • 1 ยฝ cups grape tomatoes halved
  • 2 cups corn thawed
  • 1/2 cup cilantro chopped
  • 1/2 cup parsley chopped

DRESSING

  • 1/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper

Instructions

  • Drain and rinse all of the beans until the water runs clear. Add to a large bowl.
  • Chop the tomatoes in half and defrost the corn if necessary. Add corn parsley and cilantro to the bowl.
  • Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together and pour on top of the salad.
Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I’m Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Featured On

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

sun

Summer Cravings

Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas

Sheet pan chicken quesadillas sliced with melted cheese, refried beans, and shredded chicken being served on a serving turner

I love a good quesadilla, but standing over a skillet flipping them one by one while everyone else is already eating? Not exactly my idea of a good time. Thatโ€™s why these Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas are such a game-changer. They bake all at once, slice beautifully, and the best part? I get to sit down and enjoy them with everyone else. It might just be the easiest, most crowd-pleasing appetizer Iโ€™ve ever made. These chicken quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, packed with flavor, and made to feed a crowdโ€”no stovetop required. This isnโ€™t your average Tuesday-night quesadilla situation. Itโ€™s...

Lemon Bars Recipe

Close-up of a thick lemon bar with a buttery shortbread crust and vibrant lemon filling, dusted with powdered sugar and surrounded by lemon wedges.

Who else LOVES lemon bars?! For me, theyโ€™re one of my all-time favorite dessertsโ€”bright, tangy, buttery perfection. This lemon bars recipe is one Iโ€™ve tested to perfection, made with an easy, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread crust and a smooth lemon filling that strikes just the right balance of sweet and tart. I love a generous bite, which is why I created this recipe in a 9x9-inch pan, giving you that perfect ratio of thick lemon filling to buttery crust. If life gives you lemons, this is the recipe to make. Whether youโ€™re bringing dessert to a spring brunch, prepping for a holiday tray,...

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles

Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundlesย | cookingwithcassandra.com

So, here is my recipe for fresh asparagus with puff pastry, a lovely side dish for any dinner party.  Iโ€™ll be honest: it doesnโ€™t look like much at first, and itโ€™s definitely not as tantalizing as a colorful berry salad. But donโ€™t be fooled, one bite into this asparagus with puff pastry and youโ€™ll be amazed: glazed with honey, oozing with the best cheese mixture, and simply robust asparagus, this is definitely going to be one of the most memorable dishes youโ€™ll ever have.  It is very similar to cheesy asparagus tarts, except this one has already been apportioned and is shaped...

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

Overhead view of creamy lemon chicken breasts in a skillet, garnished with lemon slices and fresh parsley, with a gold spoon resting in the sauce.

If youโ€™re craving a quick and easy one-pan meal thatโ€™s bursting with flavor, this creamy lemon chicken is just what you need! In just 25 minutes, youโ€™ll have tender, pan-seared chicken breasts covered in a rich, tangy lemon garlic butter cream sauce thatโ€™s absolutely irresistible. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantryโ€”think butter, garlic, and a splash of heavy cream. The best part? This family-friendly dinner is incredibly versatile and can be served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice, making it a guaranteed favorite every...

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

You Might Also Like

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Thereโ€™s something about a big bowl of creamy Pasta alla Vodka that just speaks to my soulโ€”especially when the sauce is rich, garlicky, and clings...

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

If youโ€™re craving a quick and easy one-pan meal thatโ€™s bursting with flavor, this creamy lemon chicken is just what you need! In just 25...

Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken

Easy Steak Marinade

How do you like your steak done? Cooking steak to a certain degree of doneness is hands-down one of the hardest things for me to...

Easy Steak Marinade

๎‚š

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cookingwithcassandra on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingwithcassandra

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Cassandra | Cooking With Cassandra

Hi, I'm Cassandra!

ย Iโ€™m so happy youโ€™re here! Iโ€™m here to spill the beans (and maybe some wine) on the best, tested-till-perfect recipes for every occasion. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a seasoned pro, all of my recipes come with clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions, plus helpful tips and tricks to make cooking delicious meals easy for everyone. Letโ€™s get cooking and make every meal a success!

More about me

Never miss a recipe!

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox:

Unsubscribe at any time.

Free E-Cookbook!

Cooking dinner doesnโ€™t have to take all night. Subscribe & receive my favourite 10 Quick & Easy Dinner Recipes in an easy e-cookbook format!

Jujeh kabab - Eating | cookingwithcassandra.com

Get the Inside

Scoop

Be the first to receive free e-books, recipes, inspiration, and exclusive extras you wonโ€™t want to miss!

We wonโ€™t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.