Three Bean Salad – an absolute classic dish. It’s super easy to make, is absolutely delicious, can be used as a main or a side and is very adaptable.

What do I need to make this three bean salad recipe?

• Salad
• a tin of red kidney beans
• a tin of butter beans
• a pack of green beans
• Dressing
• olive oil
• Dijon mustard
• sugar – optional
• cider vinegar
• parsley – optional
• salt and pepper

 

How do I make a 3 bean salad?

 

• Open and drain the two cans of beans
• Give them a bit of a rinse and drain well
• Top and tail the green beans, cut into pieces and simmer in a little water until cooked through. Drain well
• Whisk all the dressing ingredients together
• Mix the canned beans and green beans together
• Stir through the dressing and allow to marinate
• Store in the fridge until needed

How to store an easy three bean salad

In the fridge in an airtight container, this mix will sit quite happily for 3-4 days.

The undressed salad will freeze, but the dressing won’t be as good, so dress the salad after defrosting.

What other ingredients could be used in this recipe

• the easiest way to ring the changes in this recipe is to vary the dressing – here are just a few to give you ideas
  • a standard vinaigrette. Whisk together a tsp of Dijon mustard (mustard emulsifies a salad dressing, making it thicker) with 2 tblsps of vinegar (cheap white vinegar is fine here), 6 tbsps of oil and salt & pepper. Whisk until thickened
  • or how about a mustard and honey dressing. Whisk together 2 tsp wholegrain mustard, 2 tsp honey, the juice of 1 lemon and 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • For an Asian twist, try 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tbsp neutral oil, juice of 1 lime, ¼ tsp chilli flakes and 1 tsp honey, all whisked together
  • For a fruity dressing –  Whisk together the zest and juice of 1 orange, 4 tbsp sherry vinegar and 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Season to taste then stir in 2 tbsp sultanas.
  • A delicious light dressing can be made with 2 tbsp tahini, the juice of 1 lemon, salt, pepper and 6 tbsp water, whisked.
  • Or how about a lovely anchovy dressing?  Crush 1 clove garlic with a pinch of salt and 2 anchovy fillets in oil in a pestle and mortar. Whisk in 2 tbsp red wine vinegar followed by 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 2 tbsp capers.
  • A super simple dressing is made with 2 tbsp sweet chilli dressing whisked with the zest of 2 limes and 6 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • This Middle Eastern style dressing is fabulous! Whisk together 2 tbsp tahini with the juice of 1 lemon, salt, pepper and 6 tbsp water in a small bowl.
• change the beans to whatever you have or like – chickpeas and butter beans; red kidney beans and haricot beans; cannellini and green lentils.
• add a tin of drained tuna or salmon
• add a little crumbled feta, chopped mozzarella or mozzarella balls
• add fine chopped cooked chicken or turkey
• change the green beans to runner beans if you grow them; broad beans or edamame
• add a dollop of Dijon mustard
• if you like them, some raw red onion crescents would be good. Slice them really fine and soak in a little milk or water for a few minutes to take the strength down a notch
• add finely sliced spring onions
• You could add finely chopped vegetables
  • very finely sliced celery
  • grated carrot
  • fine chopped black olives
  • some sliced gherkins
  • finely sliced red chilli

How much does this salad cost?

priced at Tesco.com in July 2025

• tin red kidney beans, drained 33p
• tin butter beans, drained 50p
• 225g pack of French beans 85p
• Dressing
• tsp Dijon 2p
• 2 tblsp white wine vinegar 6p
• 90ml extra virgin olive oil 31p
• salt and pepper – negligible
• Total cost £2.01

 

What else can I use this bean mix for

You might not want this three bean mix as a salad any more before it’s used up, so how else can it be used

• stir it through cooked pasta and enjoy hot or cold, maybe with some added grated cheese, crumbled feta or drained tinned tuna
• top a jacket potato with it
• enjoy with a platter of crudités
• add other things to it to stretch it further or make it taste different – a bit of chicken or fish, a tin of drained tuna, some black olives and chilli etc

 

Other salads you might like

Chicken and mango salad

 

Vegan Couscous Salad

 

Red cabbage and Chicken Waldorf Salad