
Three Bean Salad is a simple, no-fuss side dish that’s packed with colorful beans, crisp vegetables, and a sweet and tangy homemade dressing.

Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, holiday dinners, or meal prep, this classic salad only gets better as it chills, making it an easy make-ahead recipe everyone will come back for seconds.
Why This Recipe is a Winner!
- Ready with just 10 minutes of prep.
- Made with simple pantry staples and fresh vegetables.
- No cooking required—just rinse, chop, mix, and chill.
- Packed with plant-based protein and fiber from three different beans.
- Great for meal prep because it stores well in the refrigerator.

Prep Time:
10 minutes
Chill Time:
1 hour
Yield:
Serves 8-12

Ingredients You’ll Need
- 15.5 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15.5 oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt

Printable Recipe Card with a Full List of Ingredients and Instructions is Located at the Bottom of the Post.
Be sure to read through the entire post so that you don’t miss out on any important tips and tricks!
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1:
I started by chopping some fresh parsley, yellow onion and celery.


STEP 2:
I drained and rinsed canned black beans, kidney beans and cannellini beans.
I poured the rinsed beans into a large mixing bowl.


STEP 3:
I added the chopped parsley, onions and celery to the bowl with the beans.


STEP 4:
I poured minced garlic, cumin and salt into a small mixing bowl.
I added apple cider vinegar to the bowl.


STEP 5:
I added some olive oil to the bowl and whisked all of the ingredients together well.


STEP 6:
I poured the dressing over the beans and veggies in the large bowl and then tossed until all of the ingredients were well coated in dressing.
Then I chilled the salad.


After an hour in the fridge, every bite is cool, crisp, and coated in the perfect balance of sweet and tangy dressing, making this salad impossible to resist.

Whether you’re serving it at a backyard barbecue, holiday gathering, or simple family dinner, this classic Three Bean Salad is guaranteed to disappear fast.

If you are looking for a simple cold side dish for your next gathering, then you need to try this 3 Bean Salad!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I make Three Bean Salad ahead of time?
- Yes! This is a great make-ahead recipe because the flavors continue to develop as it chills. You can prepare it up to a day in advance for even better flavor.
Can I use different types of beans?
- Absolutely. Pinto beans, chickpeas, green beans, or wax beans all work well if you’d like to swap one of the beans or create your own variation.
Do I have to chill the salad before serving?
- Chilling the salad for at least one hour is recommended. It allows the beans to absorb the dressing and gives the salad its best flavor.
3 Bean Salad
Three Bean Salad is a simple, no-fuss side dish that's packed with colorful beans, crisp vegetables, and a sweet and tangy homemade dressing.
Perfect for potlucks, barbecues, holiday dinners, or meal prep, this classic salad only gets better as it chills, making it an easy make-ahead recipe everyone will come back for seconds.
Ingredients
- 15.5 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 15.5 oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 stalk of celery, diced
- ½ medium yellow onion, diced
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Drain and rinse all 3 cans of beans.
- Chop the onion, celery and parsley
- Pour the rinsed beans into a large mixing bowl and add the chopped onion, celery and parsley to the bowl.
- Whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, cumin and salt in a small bowl, then pour over the beans.
- Toss to coat.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Enjoy!12
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 183Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 55mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 8gSugar: 1gProtein: 10g

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