This Easy Three Bean Salad recipe mixes canned green beans, wax beans and kidney beans with a tangy dressing. An easy side salad for spring or summer!
Old fashioned three bean salad is another one of my grandma’s recipes, and it’s been in the family for ages and ages. It’s her recipe for three bean salad from canned beans, and it’s the absolute best three bean salad recipe in the universe. Well, to me it is, anyway.
Growing up, 3 bean salad was on the table at Easter and at just about every special spring or summer holiday. We also had this almost every summer weekend for Sunday supper.
I am so stinkin’ excited to be sharing this salad because I have been trying to re-create the recipe forever, but I could never get the flavor right. So when I found this little gem nestled in the mountain of old family recipes my parents gave me recently, I literally squealed.
My kids thought I was really overreacting, but if you’re into heirloom recipes, you’ll get it. I love it about as much as my grandma’s potato salad recipe and our favorite Instant Pot Potato Salad recipe. So does the Hubs, which tells you something, because he normally does not like three bean salad!
3 bean salad made from canned beans is a great summer side dish because it’s so easy to make, and you can throw it together in a few minutes. It goes with just about any kind of main dish, and the recipe is perfect for potlucks because it’s also gluten free and vegan.
Even though I love Grandma’s old fashioned bean salad recipe, I did change a few things.
- I reduced the amount of sugar
- I subbed yellow peppers for green
- I used olive oil instead of salad oil as the original recipe called for
The original salad recipe called for 3/4 cup of sugar, which seemed like a lot to me. So, I used only 1/2 cup of sugar, instead.
The rest is easy.
How to make Old Fashioned Three Bean Salad
Just drain and rinse the beans, then toss them into a large bowl. Add a few chopped ingredients, then prepare the dressing.
Whisk, whisk, whisk the dressing together until it’s all nice and blended. Then, pour the dressing into the bean mixture.
Stir it all together, and stick the bowl in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve the salad. I let it sit for an hour, but I’ve heard other people say to let it sit for several hours. Personally, I think an hour is fine, but do whatever works for you!
Store this easy three bean salad in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it. Then, you can let your guests dig in and enjoy!
Easy Three Bean Salad Recipe
Easy Three Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 15-oz can green beans
- 1 15-oz can kidney beans
- 1 15-oz can wax beans
- 1/2 cup yellow or white onion, chopped
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 2/3 cup vinegar
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Empty the beans into a colander, rinse well, and pour into large mixing bowl
- Add the chopped peppers, onions and celery
- In a small mixing bowl, add the vinegar, olive oil, sugar and sea salt, and whisk together until well blended
- Pour the dressing over the bean mixture, stir well, and refrigerate until ready to serve
Video
Nutrition
If you’re looking for a quick and easy salad recipe that’s perfect for spring and summer parties and potlucks, I think you’ll love this easy three bean salad. Do you have a similar recipe that you absolutely love? Let me know!
Happy Munching,
An old family favorite is coming back again. Love this stuff!
It’s a favorite around here every spring and summer! 🙂
Three bean salad very popular in the Midwest where I grew up and I loved it. People I California are crazy cause they say it is horrible.
I don’t get it either! My grandma made this salad all the time, and I’ve always loved it. 🙂
We just love a Three Bean Salad! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome recipe with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great day and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
This looks so fresh and delicious.
I remember having this salad at so many family functions when I was younger – what a blast from the past!
Oh wow, I really love this bean salad!! So colorful and delicious!!
I love creative salad dishes! Thank you for sharing!
Love how easy and delicious this salad is! A winner for sure!
It’s super easy! I think we’ll be having this a lot this summer! 🙂
I love family recipes!! Your version looks really tasty!
Thanks, Stephanie! I love going through our family recipes.
Looks so colourful and packed with flavour! Yummy!
Thanks, Erren. I like to make things as colorful as possible! 🙂