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    Recipes » Recipes

    Easy Three Bean Salad

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Mar 14, 2019 · Modified: Feb 25, 2021 by Dee

    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!

    Jump to Recipe -

    easy three bean salad classic recipe

    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 ¾ cup of sugar, which seemed like a lot to me. So, I used only ½ 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.

    mix easy three bean salad dressing in bowl with whisk

    Whisk, whisk, whisk the dressing together until it's all nice and blended. Then, pour the dressing into the bean mixture.

    easy three bean salad pour dressing into beans

    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!

    mix 3 bean salad ingredients in mixing bowl

    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!

    old fashioned three bean salad recipe in white serving dish

    Easy Three Bean Salad Recipe

    old fashioned three bean salad made with canned beans in white serving dish with handwritten recipe card next to it

    Easy Three Bean Salad

    Published by Dee
    A classic recipe for old fashioned Three Bean Salad that combines canned green beans, wax beans and kidney beans with a tangy homemade dressing.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    refrigeration time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 10
    Calories 107 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 15-oz can green beans
    • 1 15-oz can kidney beans
    • 1 15-oz can wax beans
    • ½ cup yellow or white onion, chopped
    • 1 small yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
    • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
    • ⅔ cup vinegar
    • ⅓ cup olive oil
    • ½ 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 information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 10gFat: 7gSodium: 233mgPotassium: 15mgSugar: 9gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 13.6mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    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,

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. James says

      March 19, 2019 at 6:50 am

      An old family favorite is coming back again. Love this stuff!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        March 20, 2019 at 12:54 pm

        It's a favorite around here every spring and summer! 🙂

    2. Larry Gaines says

      November 24, 2018 at 10:11 pm

      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.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        November 25, 2018 at 10:52 pm

        I don't get it either! My grandma made this salad all the time, and I've always loved it. 🙂

    3. Miz Helen says

      March 07, 2017 at 9:22 am

      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 Helen5 stars

      Reply
    4. Sandi G says

      March 02, 2017 at 9:57 am

      This looks so fresh and delicious.

      Reply
    5. Melanie | Melanie Makes says

      February 28, 2017 at 2:18 pm

      I remember having this salad at so many family functions when I was younger - what a blast from the past!

      Reply
    6. katerina @ diethood.com says

      February 28, 2017 at 4:56 am

      Oh wow, I really love this bean salad!! So colorful and delicious!!

      Reply
    7. Sabrina says

      February 28, 2017 at 2:54 am

      I love creative salad dishes! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

      February 27, 2017 at 11:48 am

      Love how easy and delicious this salad is! A winner for sure!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 28, 2017 at 9:54 am

        It's super easy! I think we'll be having this a lot this summer! 🙂

    9. Stephanie says

      February 27, 2017 at 11:22 am

      I love family recipes!! Your version looks really tasty!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 28, 2017 at 9:53 am

        Thanks, Stephanie! I love going through our family recipes.

    10. Erren says

      February 27, 2017 at 10:14 am

      Looks so colourful and packed with flavour! Yummy!

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 28, 2017 at 9:52 am

        Thanks, Erren. I like to make things as colorful as possible! 🙂

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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