Are cans of beans sitting in your pantry waiting for a starring role on your plate? It’s time to bring these mighty beans into the spotlight and unleash the delicious potential of this versatile, nutritional powerhouse!
We’ve cooked up some inspiration to show you some un-BEAN-lievable possibilities, thanks to three creative home chefs who took on our “What’s In Your Pantry?" Challenge.
Tired of seeing beans relegated to the back of the pantry, overshadowed by flashier ingredients, these foodies raided their cupboards in an effort to transform Canadian beans from boring basics to pantry superstars.
Here’s how our Pantry MVPs transformed beans into a delicious meal using 10 ingredients or less!
Francesca is a stay-at-home mom of two, whose stomach is definitely the way to her heart! She believes food is love and sharing fun, quick and easy recipes is her way of spreading that love!
Black Bean and Chicken Fajita Bowls
Family-friendly
These black bean chicken fajita bowls are a family favourite recipe I’ve been making for years! Full of fresh flavours, juicy chicken thighs and of course Canadian black beans! This is a perfect meal for a weeknight dinner. Quick, easy, nutritious and delicious!
“I choose Canadian beans because I love supporting our local farmers. Not to mention, their high quality and sustainable production.”
Katherine from Love In My Oven LOVES baking and cooking with real, wholesome ingredients, with a focus on healthier options for the whole family. She believes in sharing recipes that anyone can make and enjoy, even with little experience in the kitchen! Her favourite type of meal to make is a quick 30-minute meal, and she also enjoys creating simple, 3 ingredient recipes that range from desserts to dinners!
Vegetarian Meatballs with Pesto Pasta
Budget-friendly
These vegetarian meatballs with pesto pasta are a quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love! These flavourful “meatballs” are made with fibre-rich, heart-healthy dark red kidney beans! Made with pantry staples, you can make this dinner in a pinch!
“What I LOVE about beans is that they’re a heart-healthy alternative to consuming protein! Not only are beans high in protein, they are also fibre-rich and full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals.”
Stacie Vaughan is a seasoned home cook and the founder of Simply Stacie, a popular Canadian food blog where she shares easy, comforting family recipes. Based in Pembroke, Ontario, Stacie has been bringing the warmth of home cooking to kitchens around the world since 2008.
Pinto Bean and Vegetable Stir-Fry
Plant-Based
This Pinto Bean and Vegetable Stir-Fry is a quick and satisfying meal, perfect for busy nights. Loaded with sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, and broccoli, it's a flavourful and nutritious dish that's ready in no time, served over a bed of warm rice.
“Integrating beans into recipes is super easy because they’re so adaptable! You can toss them into soups, stews, and salads or blend them into dips and spreads. They add protein and fibre to any dish without overpowering the flavours, making them a simple way to boost the nutrition of your meals.”
From boosting our strength and energy to being packed with healthy goodness, there’s so much beans can do, including helping these charities power up their efforts to battle food insecurity.
Did You Know? 16.9% of Canadians are food insecure.1
When you vote, you help a charity get one step closer to winning a $500 donation, so they can continue sharing their goodness with those in need. Let’s meet them!
No Waste. No Hunger. That’s Second Harvest’s vision and they’re making it a reality through their core work of Food Rescue.
They find surplus, edible food that businesses can’t use, and through their food recovery network, get it to the people in their communities who need it.
BB4CK brings people together to ensure kids in Calgary have access to food. With over 30 community kitchens staffed with hundreds of volunteers, assembling lunches for thousands of kids every day, they are committed to removing barriers to food in a dignified way for any child who arrives to school without enough food in their lunch.
They envision a world where children thrive, free from hunger, and poverty. Canadian Feed The Children partner with communities across Canada, taking a community-led approach to support them as they achieve their own long-term sustainable change.
Download our “What’s In Your Pantry” checklist and get creative in the kitchen! Whip up your favourite recipe and share it with us on social media using the #BeansInYourPantry hashtag. Don’t forget to tag @LoveCDNBeans and your recipe creation could be featured!
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Tired of the same-old, same-old? Try beans instead! Canadian beans can revamp your taco fillings, add creaminess to hummus, or heartiness to vegetarian chili. Discover the vast array of creative and scrumptious bean swaps that will make you a bean-liever!
With nine different types of Canadian beans grown coast to coast, there’s so much delicious goodness to explore! If you’ve never tried some of them before, we’ve got you covered with a mouthwatering, crowd-pleasing recipe recommendation for each one–tried, tested, and guaranteed to turn you into a bean lover (again, or for the first time)!
Canadian beans are grown right in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta! But, how do you know they’re Canadian when you’re at the grocery store? The answer is simple: look for "Product of Canada" on the label!
