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Served chilled or at room temperature, this Summery White Bean Salad is great to make ahead, or to grab and go! A short prep time means you can have it on the table fast!
Packed with protein, and yummy veggies, and dressed with a simple homemade vinaigrette (don’t forget the salt and pepper!), it’s ready fast – and lasts in the fridge for a few days. Great for a quick lunch, an easy side, or even as a mid-afternoon snack.
I do love Spring and (the beginning of) Summer. Summer here in Phoenix is crazy amounts of hot, and so heating up my kitchen to make a tasty side for something grilled is not my idea of a good time.
I love beans, and I love a good salad – especially one that takes so little time to make, and can be made ahead! This white bean salad recipe is quick and easy, and stays super yummy for several days in the refrigerator.
We have this a side dish regularly, but can also grab some crackers and pack it for lunch to be the main dish. This is a great recipe for picking and choosing ingredients and mixing it up!
If you love make-ahead salads, you’ll enjoy this Kale Salad as well as this Southwestern Chicken Salad!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Make ahead. This salad actually improves with a good long stay in the refrigerator! Perfect for meal prep fans and other organized folks.
- Easy to make. A little bit of chopping, but can be done very very quickly!
Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.
Just a few simple ingredients and tons of flavor – what’s not to love? This bean salad is PERFECT!!
- White Or Cannellini Beans. Drained and rinsed well. Cannellini, Great Northern, or Navy Beans. all will work just fine!
- Red Peppers. Dice these up small.
- Parsley. Don’t leave this out, it adds a pretty green color and a savory flavor to the bean salad.
- Red Onion. You can sub white onion if you must, but red is prettier.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You can use Extra Virgin or a light blend, either will work.
- White Wine Vinegar. This, combined with the olive oil forms the vinaigrette on the salad.
- Garlic. Garlic is important! Mince finely and add it to the vinaigrette.
How to make this recipe
Scroll for Recipe
The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
- Place the beans, red bell peppers, parsley, and onion in a large bowl.
- In a lidded jar, add the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt & pepper. Put the lid on tightly, and shake until well combined.
- Add the dressing to the bean mixture, using a spatula to combine (gently – so you don’t break the beans).
- Taste, add more seasoning if needed.
- Refrigerate until needed (up to 4 days).
- Devour.
Kylee’s Notes
Substitutions/Additions
I like to mix this up and use navy, or great northern beans, and even add some black beans occasionally.
Switch out the parsley for cilantro, and add some corn for a southwestern bean salad!
Some of our favorite salad recipes:
- Easy Southwest Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Dressing. Black beans, corn, red peppers, jalapenos, cilantro and red onions feature in this easy to make pasta salad. With the addition of the lime vinaigrette… oh, myyyyyyy.
- Vegan Chickpea Salad An excellent make-ahead Summery Vegan Chickpea Salad, that will stay good for a few days in the fridge, making this perfect for lunches.
- Crunchy Curried Chicken Salad. A brilliant make-ahead curried chicken salad balanced with tart apples, sweet raisins, and finished with cilantro, this is one you will make over and over!
- Caprese Orzo Salad (Basil Tomato Mozzarella). An easy side, this salad combines tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with a yummy homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Make ahead!
- Grilled Vegetable Salad with Tarragon Dressing. A spectacular, smoky charcoal-grilled vegetable salad, bursting with flavor, this is an easy side that you can make ahead or make with the family!
- Roasted Beet Salad with Feta & Walnuts. Made with feta and roasted walnuts, drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette. The beets are the star of the show!
- Arugula Salad (with Lemon Vinaigrette). This is the one you’ve been looking for! Peppery arugula mixed with bright tomatoes, parmesan, and dressed with fresh lemon vinaigrette. Perfection!
- Kale Salad (with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette). Simple ingredients and simple instructions (including how to massage kale) make this Kale Salad Recipe an absolute keeper!
- Easy Coleslaw (Homemade Coleslaw Dressing Recipe). Basic ingredients make this Homemade Coleslaw Recipe a cinch to make! With a Creamy Coleslaw Dressing, this side will be a welcome addition to any table.
- Bacon, Parmesan & Arugula Potato Salad. A combination of tiny buttery potatoes, peppery & spicy arugula, salty bacon, parmesan…. this extra special potato salad is out of this WORLD.
- Easy Italian Salad (from Spend with Pennies)
- Chopped Asparagus Salad (from View from the Great Island)
If you have tried this recipe or any other recipe on Kylee Cooks, leave a comment and rating – I truly love to hear from you!
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Summery White Bean Salad
Suggested Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 15oz cans cannellini or northern beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup red bell pepper , finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley , chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion , finely chopped
- 4 Tbs olive oil
- 4 Tbs white wine vinegar
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place the beans, red pepper, parsley, and onion in a large salad bowl.
- In a lidded jar, add the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt & pepper. Put the lid on tightly, and shake until well combined.
- Add the dressing to the bean mixture, using a spatula to combine (gently – so you don’t break the beans).
- Taste, add more seasoning if needed.
- Refrigerate until needed (up to 4 days).
- Devour.
Tips & Notes:
nutrition facts
Nutritional Disclaimer
Recipes written and produced on Kylee Cooks are for informational purposes only. Kylee is not a certified nutritionist. Nutritional data provided on Kylee Cooks has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration.
Source: Adapted from Good Cheap Eats
NeeNee says
Great salad. Love the simple dressing. I make a pasta salad every week for our Food Pantry volunteers. I used an orange pepper, sweet white onion and added capers and ditalini to your recipe and called it done. Perfect!
NeeNee says
Great salad with a simple dressing. I make a pasta salad every week for our Food Pantry volunteers. I used an orange pepper, sweet white onion, added capers and ditalini to your recipe and called it done. Perfect!
NeeNee says
Great salad with a simple dressing. I make a pasta salad every week for our food pantry volunteers. I used an orange pepper and sweet white onion, added ditalini and some capers to your delicious recipe and called it done. Perfect.
Jessica says
This turned out amazing. My husband and his brother raved about the salad!!! What I found to be scary was the salt and pepper to taste. I am not a good cook and can not just wing it. To much food ruined and thrown away when I just wing it. I used 1/2 tsp of pepper and just under a 1/2 tsp. of salt. Perfect! will definitely make this again and again this summer.
Alice@beefsteakveg says
My Mom love to eat salad so much and your suggestion give me a lot of ideas to make healthy meals for her. She loves to eat that she becomes happier when enjoying what I make for her according to your recipes. Thank you so much for sharing.
Williams says
I love Summery White Bean Salad as well as your guide, just follow it and everything else is easy. Thanks for your sharing
Anamika says
These look amazing. Love summery white bean salad……….
Rosamonde Simone @ KetoBotyToneAvis says
Your recipes of ‘summery-white-bean-salad’ look very delicious and healthy I love it, Thank you for sharing it.