The Easiest Kidney Bean Salad Recipe
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Do you need a quick side dish for a summer cookout? Try this Red Bean Salad that can be pulled together quickly with just a few simple ingredients. This version serves four but by simply doubling (or tripling) it, you can serve a crowd.
Kidney Bean Salad
We love old fashioned recipes, easy recipes, homey recipes and country recipes. This Red Bean Salad is all of those things. It is the perfect side for a summer night when you are grilling out.
Recipe FAQs
- This kidney bean salad is only 4 ingredients plus salt and pepper! We love recipes with only a few ingredients. Some of our favorites are Cheeseburger Turnovers, Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, Chicken Salad, and French Onion Joes.
- The main ingredient in easy red bean salad is kidney beans. You could use light red kidney beans, dark red kidney beans, or small red beans. Just be sure to drain and rinse to get off all the canning liquids.
- Mayonnaise is the binding ingredient in this salad. We’ve made it with regular mayonnaise and also with Miracle Whip, and both ways are delicious. Use your favorite!
- Hard-boiled eggs is another ingredient in kidney bean salad. We recommend chopping up into smaller chunks. The best way to do this is to toss the peeled, hard-boiled eggs into a chopper or food processor and pulse. To make things easy, add the eggs, mayonnaise, relish, salt and pepper all into the processor and give it a good buzz to make the dressing.
- Pickle relish is the last ingredient in kidney bean salad. We recommend using sweet pickle relish; however, you could use dill pickle relish for a whole new recipe.
- Feel free to make this kidney bean salad ahead of time. Be sure to refrigerate until ready to eat. The flavors will just get better and better.
- Serve this easy red bean salad along side Grilled Pork Shoulder Steak or the Easiest Grilled Chicken Ever!
Red Bean Salad Recipe
This old fashioned red bean recipe originally came from Loretta Lynn’s Cookbook, You’re Cookin It Country. The longest part of this recipe is hard boiling the eggs. If you have some eggs cooked up ahead, you could toss this together in about 2 minutes flat. Be sure to put it in the refrigerator for a few hours to let the flavors incorporate. It gets better with time.
Ingredient List
- Large Eggs
- Canned Red Kidney Beans
- Mayo
- Pickle Relish
- Salt
- Black Pepper
How to Make Red Bean Salad
Step by Step Instructions
- Hard boil eggs and chop.
- Drain and rinse a can of red kidney beans.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients – eggs, beans, mayonnaise, pickle relish. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate at least two hours to allow the flavors to combine. Stir and serve.
Storage Instructions
Transfer salad to an airtight container, and store in the fridge for several days.
Find the complete recipe at the end of this post.
Recipe Variations
- Add diced onion. White onion, red onion or yellow onion work.
- Diced celery, cucumber or bell pepper both give a great crunchy texture.
- Fresh herbs go a long way to bring more flavor. Try fresh parsley, fresh dill, or fresh cilantro.
- Use sweet pickles relish or dill pickle relish.
- Swap out red kidney beans for cannellini or garbanzo beans (chickpeas).
Are red beans good or bad for you?
Red beans are actually good for you! They are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients like iron, magnesium, and folate. Including red beans in your diet can help support heart health and provide sustained energy. Plus, they are a great addition to a balanced and healthy diet.
Can you eat canned red kidney beans cold?
Yes, you can eat canned red kidney beans cold, especially when they are used in a salad like the Red Bean Salad. The beans are already cooked and ready to eat, so you can use them straight from the can in a cold salad without needing to heat them up.
More Old-Fashioned Salad Recipes
Our family is a big fan of these old-fashioned salad recipes, including Pea Salad, Classic Macaroni Salad and Old-Fashioned Fruit Salad.
Red Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 15 oz. can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1/8 cup pickle relish
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate for a minimum 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- This kidney bean salad is only 4 ingredients plus salt and pepper! We love recipes with only a few ingredients. Some of our favorites are Cheeseburger Turnovers, Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, Chicken Salad, and French Onion Joes.Â
- The main ingredient in easy red bean salad is kidney beans. You could use light red kidney beans, dark red kidney beans, or small red beans. Just be sure to drain and rinse to get off all the canning liquids.Â
- Mayonnaise is the binding ingredient in this salad. We’ve made it with regular mayonnaise and also with Miracle Whip, and both ways are delicious. Use your favorite!
- Hard-boiled eggs is another ingredient in kidney bean salad. We recommend chopping up into smaller chunks. The best way to do this is to toss the peeled, hard-boiled eggs into a chopper or food processor and pulse. To make things easy, add the eggs, mayonnaise, relish, salt and pepper all into the processor and give it a good buzz to make the dressing.Â
- Pickle relish is the last ingredient in kidney bean salad. We recommend using sweet pickle relish; however, you could use dill pickle relish for a whole new recipe.
- Feel free to make this kidney bean salad ahead of time. Be sure to refrigerator until ready to eat. The flavors will just get better and better.Â
- Serve this easy red bean salad along side Grilled Pork Shoulder Steak or the Easiest Grilled Chicken Ever!
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