For many, eating beans as a snack doesn’t sound as fun as diving into a bag of salty potato chips or pretzels. We tend to associate beans as a side dish, not as a snack. That doesn’t have to be the case. In this post, we share a recipe roundup of the best bean snack recipes, from a variety of cuisines using a variety of beans. How you think of beans will never be the same.
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What Are Bean Snacks
Beans are an extremely versatile food product. With over 400 varieties of beans, the skies the limit on what you can make with beans. For the longest time, beans have been associated with side dishes, casseroles, and chili, but rarely as a snack. This is unfortunate because there a ton of snacks you can make using beans.
Arguably the most popular bean snack is hummus. Made using chickpeas, hummus is a Middle Eastern dip eaten with bread or vegetables. Chickpeas by themselves can be transformed into a healthy and delicious snack with a little seasoning and roasting. High in fiber and protein, roasted chickpeas are one of the best energy snacks you can eat.
Beyond hummus, bean snacks come in all shapes and sizes. From sweet dessert black bean snacks to battered and fried green bean snacks, there are many snack options to choose from. Best of all, most bean snack recipes require only a few ingredients and are super easy to make.
Looking for more chickpea snacks? Check out our recommendations for the Best Chickpea Snacks.
Or, check out our recommendations for The Best Healthy Bean Recipes.
Why Eat Bean Snacks
Increasingly, we are looking for more ways to include healthy and sustainable foods into our diets. Traditional snack foods like chocolate bars, cookies, and chips, are loaded with sugar and artificial flavorings. Making snacks using beans not only provides needed vitamins and minerals, but beans are a highly sustainable food source.
Looking for more healthy snacks? Check out our Vegetarian Zucchini And Lentil Fritters recipe.
Benefits Of Beans
Some of the benefits of beans comes from them being great sources of fiber and protein. Fiber helps regulate our digestive system making beans one of the best snacks for IBS. Research has shown that beans are a great source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. A heart-healthy food, beans have been shown to help reduce cholesterol and control appetite.
Beans Snacks Are Great For Kids
All of these benefits make it easy to understand why making your own bean snacks instead of resorting to store-bought snacks is the right choice for good health.
These snacks are also a great alternative for kids’ snacks. They are a way to keep kids happy without the extra salt, fat, and sugar that comes with typical snacks for kids. We make some dessert hummus recipes, like snickerdoodle hummus, which are great to sneak protein to kids when they least expect it.
Types Of Bean Snacks
Our list includes both sweet and savory snacks, for every budget and with dietary restrictions taken into consideration. We offer recommendations for black bean snacks, roasted bean snacks like a protein-packed trail mix, and even a green bean snack.
Here are our recommendations for fabulous bean snack recipes that are easy to make and delicious. With over 400 varieties of beans to choose from, we have tried to include a wide range of bean types.
More importantly, we’ve selected beans that are more readily available in shops. As we find and test out new recipes, we will continue to update. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed.
Best Bean Snacks
Our list of the best bean snacks includes sweet and savory options, including chickpeas, black beans, pinto beans, and even fava beans.
Spicy Buffalo Hummus Recipe
Looking for an alternative to fried chicken wings? This buffalo hummus recipe is a more heart-healthy alternative, even with a little guilty-pleasure blue cheese.
Spicy Black Bean Hummus Recipe
Hummus isn't limited to chickpeas. This black bean hummus recipe is a great alternative and a perfect pairing for fresh veggies. It's one of our go-to black bean snacks.
Homemade Falafel with Fava Beans
Healthy and delicious homemade falafel with a crisp outside and a succulent herb inside. This easy to make fava bean snack can be baked or cooked in an air-fryer. This is one of the most classic fava bean snacks.
Seven Layer Dip Recipe
This Best 7 Layer Dip recipe combines lots of southwestern flavors into one unbeatable appetizer. When you are getting ready for your next get together, make sure you include this easy dip recipe.
Parmesan and Garlic White Bean Patties
Gluten-free Parmesan and Garlic White Bean Patties feature the flavors of white beans, garlic, rosemary, and olive oil in little nibbles that are perfect for a party or picnic.
White Bean Protein Crackers
Protein dense white bean crackers are crunchy, savory, and delicious! Perfect for munching or dipping with hummus.
Vegan Black Bean Taquitos
These creamy vegan black bean taquitos are fabulously delicious and so fun to make! Perfectly crispy and chewy, you can bake them in the oven for a healthier take on traditional recipes or pan-fry them for a delicious black bean snack!
Cheesy Black Bean Puff Pastry Triangles
If you're looking for a fun, easy, tasty snack, try these easy cheesy Black Bean Puff Pastry Triangles - the perfect after-school snack!
Snickerdoodle Hummus Recipe For Dessert
This dessert hummus recipe is a great way to sneak protein into a snack without the added sugar and fat. Plus, this is one of the best dairy free snacks.
Peanut Butter Stuffed Chocolate Black Bean Cookies
These black bean cookies are stuffed with creamy peanut butter for a decadent and gooey center. They’re a healthier, nutritious, and gluten-free way to indulge in dessert or snack! This is one of the best peanut butter snacks that is actually healthy.
Black Bean Brownies Recipe
The best black bean brownies recipe! They are the perfect healthy dessert or snack that’s ready in 30 minutes and are delicious straight from the oven.
Roasted Chickpeas and Edamame
Super easy to make and loaded with protein. This soy bean snack is ready in just 20 minutes and is one of the best high protein snacks you can make.
Roasted Kidney Bean and Chickpea Trail Mix
This trail mix ditches the peanuts and uses roasted kidney beans and chickpeas instead. The perfect roasted bean snack, it tastes great and gives you the energy you need. It's one of the best trail snacks made with beans and protein.
Tex Mex Roasted Chickpeas
These low calorie roasted chickpeas are a delicious snack the whole family will enjoy. Tex Mex seasoning makes this crunchy garbanzo bean snack a winner!
Cinnamon Toast Crunch Roasted Chickpeas - Sweet Cinnamon Chickpeas
These cinnamon toast crunch roasted chickpeas taste just like the cereal. Made with maple syrup, coconut oil, and cinnamon, they’re a much healthier way to snack.
Crispy Roasted Chickpeas Four Ways
Crispy & crunchy roasted chickpeas make the perfect plant-based snack! Choose your favorite flavor combination: Vegan Parmesan & Garlic, Maple Cinnamon, Tandori Lime, or Sweet & Spicy Chili. This garbanzo bean snack recipe is simple, easy, and sure to satisfy your snack cravings.
Cinnamon Chickpea Dairy Free Truffles
They may be small in size, but these dairy-free truffles are big in cinnamon flavor, reminiscent of unbaked Snickerdoodles. They are also gluten-free and so incredibly easy to make.
Tempura Green Beans With Sriracha Aioli
Looking for a fun alternative use for seltzer? Just add flour and salt to turn it into a beautifully light and fluffy tempura batter for a delicious green bean snack.
Spicy Cheesy Pinto Bean Bowls
Need a tasty, easy dried bean snack recipe? Try this spicy cheesy dried pinto bean bowls! They’re sure to become a lunchtime favorite
These bean snack recipes barely scratch the surface on the ways beans can be incorporated into your diet. With their health benefits and sustainability, it’s no wonder that beans are increasing in popularity.
Check out all of our recipes for snacks and dips made from beans and lentils.
