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If you are on the hunt for a healthy and tasty side dish try this rainbow bean salad. It is loaded with beans, and crisp veggies, and paired with a homemade vinaigrette dressing.

You might also know this as a 3 bean salad recipe. It is loaded with kidney beans, black beans, and garbanzo beans or cannellini beans (any kind of white bean will work).

This three-bean salad is nutrient-rich, loaded with fiber, and will fuel your body.

For more delicious side dishes, try this mashed cauliflower, cheesy peas, or cucumber tomato salad.

Rainbow Bean Salad

This Rainbow Bean Salad Is..

An easy vegan bean salad
Gluten-Free
Uses canned beans
Easy Prep
Homemade Dressing
Meal Prep Friendly
Uses fresh vegetables
Vegetarian Recipe

Health benefits of beans

Beans are a good source of plant based protein.

They are also high in fiber, which can help with digestion and blood sugar control.

Beans are a good source of several vitamins and minerals, including folate, iron, and potassium.

What vegetables can I add to bean salads?

The short answer is, any vegetable!

I used bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and chopped red onion. You could also add in some shredded carrots or chopped celery.

I simply whisked together olive oil, red wine vinegar, a little sweetener, spices, and dijon mustard for the dressing.

How to Make Rainbow Bean Salad

Add the drained and rinsed canned beans into a large bowl.

Then you will prep all your veggies by dicing them thinly and add into the bowl with the beans.

Next, you will grab a mason jar and add all the ingredients for the dressing in the jar.

Seal the lid and shake well till mixed. Then pour the dressing over the three-bean salad.

Toss well and then store the salad in the fridge overnight to allow the dressing to soak into the vegetables.

vinaigrette dressing with spices in mason jar

Helpful Tips For this Easy Three Bean Salad Recipe

Make sure to dice up the vegetables into small bite-size pieces. Finely chopped is the key to success.

The same goes with the fresh herbs - make sure to dice them up finely.

Drain and rinse your beans to help remove the juices from the beans.

You can use apple cider vinegar to replace red wine vinegar, but it will have a slightly different flavor.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.

You will find after a few days the vegetables will begin to soften a bit.

Common Questions About Bean Salad

Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh parsley?

You can replace fresh parsley with dried. Just use ⅓ of the amount as what is called for when using fresh.

How to make this salad spicier?

If you want to make your kidney bean salad spicy then leave some seeds in the jalapenos when you dice them up. This will really elevate the spice factor.

Can I serve immediately once made?

You can serve the three bean salad right away, or allow it to marinate in the fridge for a few hours or overnight.

The longer the dressing sits the more flavor that is infused. But it is also tasty when eaten right after it is made.

Can I add citrus to this salad?

Lime juice or lemon juice would add a nice tangy dressing flavor. Just add 1-2 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice to the homemade dressing.

Notes for those following Trim Healthy Mama:

You will notice in the nutritional information that one serving has 7 grams of fat and 15 grams of net carbohydrates. Of course, we know this would make this recipe a THM:XO (Crossover).

If you would like to make it a solid E, you can reduce the amount of olive oil to ⅓ cup - as long as you stick to a single serving, you would be fine!

You can also completely omit the olives and it will further reduce the fat content of the three bean salad.

This would make a great side dish to go with my Salsa Verde Chicken!

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