10 Creative Recipe Ideas

What is your favorite way to eat beans? Many people love bean chili, bean burritos, and soups with beans. We definitely agree that all of these are delicious. However, when it comes to beans, the options are truly limitless. Here are ten creative bean recipe ideas we bet you have not tried before! 

Pinto Bean Recipe Ideas

High Plains Pinto Beans have a rich flavor and work well in a wide variety of dishes. Did you know that the number one bean we grow here in the High Plains (Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming) is the pinto bean? So, we thought we should start off with some pinto bean recipe ideas that are sure to spark your interest. 

Recipe #1. Pinto Bean Pie. Pinto bean pie is similar to a pumpkin pie, except the creamy custard is made by pureeing cooked pinto beans instead of pumpkin. The beans add creaminess, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg bring a delightful flavor. Pinto Bean Pie makes a perfect fall treat and Thanksgiving dessert. There are lots of recipes available, and of course, using freshly cooked pinto beans can make this pie shine even more. This pie also works well with Mayocoba beans.

Recipe #2. Pinto Bean Fudge. You only need a few ingredients to make this sweet treat. Pinto Bean Fudge comes together quickly, with cooked pinto beans, cocoa powder, butter, vanilla, sugar, a pinch of salt, and an optional addition of chopped pecans.

Recipe #3. Chili Crunch Pinto Bean Pockets. This simple recipe for Chili Crunch Pinto Bean Pockets makes for “an irresistible snack,” as it says on Colorado Dry Beans. Beans are the star of the show, with chili crunch bringing a nice zing. Recipes like this are a great way to make quick pinto bean appetizers that will keep people coming back for seconds.

Recipe #4. Pinto Bean Cookies. The US Dry Bean Council shared this recipe for Pinto Bean Applesauce Raisin Cookies. Pureed pinto beans help keep these cookies nice and moist, and the sweetness of brown sugar, applesauce, and raisins is accented perfectly with a hint of cinnamon. You can also use chocolate chips instead of raisins.

Mayocoba Bean Recipe Ideas

Our High Plains Mayocoba Beans are a lovely ivory-yellow color, and their mild flavor and buttery texture make them an ideal bean to be used in anything from savory to sweet dishes. Here are a couple of Mayocoba bean recipe ideas we think you will like!

Recipe #5. Mayocoba Bean Hummus. You are probably used to hummus with chickpeas, but we would highly recommend taking your favorite hummus recipe and trying it with other beans. Mayocoba beans are incredibly buttery, making for a super smooth and indulgent hummus. 

Recipe #6. Mayocoba Beans and Basil Pasta Sauce. The creaminess of Mayocoba beans makes them a perfect base for a pasta sauce that has the velvety texture of an alfredo sauce, but that instead is low in fat and is packed with fiber and plant-based protein from the beans. The next time you want a nice, satisfying bowl of pasta, try this Mayocoba Beans and Basil Pasta Sauce.

Orca Bean Recipe Ideas

Orca beans have a mild flavor, creamy texture, and striking appearance. They are easily recognized for their beautiful, mottled black and white pattern. Orca beans are such a pretty bean that we like to use them in dishes like bean salads so that you can easily see their coloration. Of course, they are also great in dishes like chili. Plus, here is one creative and delicious recipe to try with High Plains Orca Beans!

Recipe #7. Brownie Batter Hummus with Orca Beans. If you haven’t tried making sweet bean dips before, you are missing out! Although this Brownie Batter Hummus was originally made with black beans, using orca beans is a great alternative. Sprinkle a few orca beans on top of the hummus so that people can see how beautiful this bean is, and serve with fresh fruit, graham crackers, and pretzels.

Black Bean Recipe Ideas

Black beans are mild and velvety, with a flavor that is naturally slightly sweet. Another versatile bean, there is no shortage of creative black bean recipe ideas.

Recipe #8. Vietnamese Black Bean Dessert. The list of ingredients for this Vietnamese Black Bean Dessert is short, and of course, black beans are the main ingredient. Check out the recipe on the US Dry Bean Council website.

Recipe #9. Black Bean Ice Cream. Serious Eats recently shared this delectable recipe for Black Bean Ice Cream. If you make this, have some fun and see if people can guess what the secret ingredient is! As they mention in the recipe post, red bean ice cream is popular in many countries in Asia, so this recipe also works well with our High Plains Small Red Beans.

Small Red Bean Recipe Ideas

Small red beans are a deep red, beautiful color and are mild in flavor. Like we said above, they can be used in desserts like red bean ice cream. Here, we share a savory recipe idea for red beans.

Recipe #10. Red Bean Burgers. These bean burgers are perfect for a BBQ. The recipe is flexible and can work with any of our High Plains beans, but it works really well with red beans, which lend a nice color to the burger.

Looking for More Bean Recipe Ideas?

We previously shared several tips for how to eat beans for every meal. Plus, for those of us with a sweet tooth, we also wrote about how to use beans in desserts, to create a healthier treat that is just as tasty as the original. Regularly adding beans to your daily routine is a great way to benefit your health as well as that of loved ones, not to mention the benefits for the environment.

Have fun experimenting with our High Plains beans in recipes that will hit the spot at any time of day! 

It may sound crazy at first, but as you can see, our High Plains beans can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert. Beans are the ideal medium to get creative in the kitchen, and we hope these recipe ideas inspire you to try something new. Have fun surprising your friends and family with the delicious results and showing them just how versatile beans are. Please upload a photo of your creation and tag us on Instagram and Facebook so we can see what you are making! You can also follow us on YouTube for more bean recipe inspiration, and for videos from the field that show you how Northern Feed & Bean and the farmers we work with bring you and yours the high quality, nutritious, and delicious beans for which we are known.