Last Updated on January 13, 2024
A Three Bean Salad that is so easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and can be made ahead of time!
Actually, this salad gets much better the more it sits to marinate.
Do not worry about any of the beans becoming too mushy as it sits, they hold up rather nicely.
And with summer just around the corner, this salad is a perfect side dish for those family cookouts.
Believe me this salad will soon become a staple in your home as it is in our home.
What Beans do I use in A Three Bean Salad?
- Green Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Garbanzo Beans or Chickpeas
These are my favorites for this salad, I love the color that the kidney and green beans add and the chickpeas add just the right kind of texture.
What I love about this salad is that you can customize it with your favorite beans or even just what you may have on hand in the pantry.
The canned beans work the best to keep this salad easy and simple.
Beans you can try
- Black Beans
- Wax Beans
- White Beans – Great Northern, Cannellini, or a navy bean.
Ingredients for the dressing
- Apple Cider Vinegar – The apple cider vinegar gives this salad a slight apple taste that is sour and tart.
- Oil – Any oil will work in this salad, but I prefer avocado oil. It has a mild flavor and marinates well with the other ingredients.
- Real Maple Syrup – The maple syrup is the sweetener of choice in this salad. Most of the time you will see a white sugar added to this salad, but I like the flavor that maple syrup adds.
- Salt and Pepper – Salt and pepper are added to enhance the flavor of the dressing ingredients.
- Onion – Any fresh onion will work in this salad, but this can be eliminated or switched to a powdered onion. The onion will add a sweeter flavor to the salad when it is marinated in the vinegar dressing.
How to make A Three Bean Salad
Open, rinse, and drain the kidney, chickpeas, and green beans.
Set the beans aside to continue to drain while making the dressing for the salad.
In a large measuring cup, blend together the maple syrup, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, then set aside.
Clean and dice the onion into small pieces, set aside.
In a large serving bowl add the beans and onion, stir.
Drizzle the dressing over all the ingredients in the large bowl and lightly toss the salad.
Cover and place the bowl into the refrigerator for no less than 12 hours before serving.
This salad gets better with age, so make this salad ahead of time to get the full flavor.
How to serve A Three Bean Salad
A three Bean Salad can be served not only as a side dish but also as a main dish.
Here are a few creative ways to enjoy this salad.
- On top of a bed of lettuce.
- As a side dish to any meal.
- Try it on top of a piece of buttered toast.
- It also makes for a great chip dip.
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A Three Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 15oz. Can Garbanzo Beans
- 1 15oz. Can Kidney Beans
- 1 15oz. Can Green Beans
- 1 small Onion
The dressing
- 3/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Avocado Oil
- 1/3 Cup Real Maple Syrup
- Salt and Pepper to taste.
Instructions
- Open, rinse, and drain the kidney, chickpeas, and green beans.
- Set the beans aside to continue to drain while making the dressing for the salad.
- In a large measuring cup, blend together the maple syrup, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, then set aside.
- Clean and dice the onion into small pieces, set aside.
- In a large serving bowl add the beans and onion, stir.
- Drizzle the dressing over all the ingredients in the large bowl and lightly toss the salad.
- Cover and place the bowl into the refrigerator for no less than 12 hours before serving.
- This salad gets better with age, so make this salad ahead of time to get the full flavor.
Notes
- On top of a bed of lettuce
- As a side dish to any meal
- Try it on top of a piece of buttered toast
- It also makes for a great chip dip
