Classic 3-Bean Salad

March 13, 2020
Just what's to love about classic 3-Bean Salad?  How about great taste, super easy preparation, and make-ahead convenience?  Put those three things together and you've got one perfect side dish to prepare for any occasion.  There's just no wrong time to enjoy this marinated goodness!
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Serving Spoon of Classic 3-Bean Salad Image

This classic 3-Bean Salad has been a staple recipe in our family ever since I can remember, way back to when I was just a little kid.  One of my Mom's best friends just adored this salad, and I can remember my Mom making it whenever their family came to visit. 

Of course, with its fabulous flavor and just how totally easy it is to make, what's not to love?  Oh, this classic is always a hit.

I have fond memories of this salad making its appearance at many family dinners, and especially as an easy side tagging along to all those summer cookouts with friends.  There's just no wrong time to enjoy this marinated goodness.

I have fond memories of this salad making its appearance at many family dinners, and especially as an easy side tagging along to all those summer cookouts with friends.

3-Bean Salad is one of those recipes that needs time to marinate for its flavors to develop to their fullest.  Which means, not only do you get ease of prep and great taste from this classic recipe, you also get make-ahead convenience.

And this make-ahead convenience makes it a perfect dish to prepare for just about any occasion -- you can get its prep done well in advance, leaving last-minute time clear for making other dishes.

Two days is the recommended minimum marinating time, but truly this salad gets better and better with even a little more flavor-melding time than that.  3-Bean Salad can be prepared about 4 or 5 days in advance, no problem at all.

Mixing Up a Bowl of Classic 3-Bean Salad Image

Just exactly what 3 beans does the name 3-Bean Salad refer to?

Cut green beans, yellow wax beans, and kidney beans are the standard combination that make up classic 3-Bean Salad.  Our family always uses dark red kidney beans, rather than their lighter counterpart, because of the beautiful color contrast they bring to the salad.

Cut green beans, yellow wax beans, and kidney beans are the standard combination that make up classic 3-Bean Salad.

To whip up a batch, simply drain cans of the classic 3 beans.  Then combine them in a large bowl with plenty of chopped onion and green pepper.

Be sure to chop the onion and green pepper finely, so it readily distributes throughout the entire salad and you don't get huge bites of them in the finished dish.

Beans for Classic 3-Bean Salad Image

Then mix up a very simple marinade of oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Classic 3-Bean Salad Marinade Ingredients Image

Pour the marinade over the bean mixture, and give everything a good gentle toss to get it well combined.

Then pop the salad in the refrigerator and let the marinade do its thing.

Two days is the recommended minimum marinating time, but truly this salad gets better and better with even a little more flavor-melding time than that.

The flavors meld as the beans marinate and the salad's flavor develops more and more as time goes on.

I recommended a minimum of 2 days marinating time, but truly this salad gets better and better with even more time than that.  The salad will taste great after 2 days, and even better with more developed flavor after 3 or 4 days.

So don't be afraid to prep this salad well in advance of when you'd like to serve it.

Bowl of Classic 3-Bean Salad Image

If you have any reservations about using canned beans in this salad, don't.

I know canned beans, especially green and yellow wax beans, can have a bit of a "tinny" taste sometimes.  The vinegar and sugar-based marinade in this recipe completely takes away any trace of that "tinny" taste.

Concerned the canned beans will get mushy?  Again, don't be.

The texture of the beans holds up just fine, even after days of marinating.  There's no changing of the beans into a mushy mess.

Serving Bowl of Classic 3-Bean Salad Image

So if you're looking for a super easy, super flavorful classic salad to enjoy, give this 3-Bean Salad recipe a try.

With its great taste, how easy it is to make, and make-ahead convenience, it's a perfect salad to prepare for just about any occasion.

Check out these other tasty salad favorites:
Serving Classic 3-Bean Salad Image
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3 bean salad recipe, marinated beans recipe, salads with no mayonnaise
Salads
American
Yield: about 12-16 servings

Classic 3-Bean Salad

Classic 3-Bean Salad

Just what's to love about classic 3-Bean Salad? How about great taste, super easy preparation, and make-ahead convenience? Put those three things together and you've got one perfect side dish to prepare for any occasion. There's just no wrong time to enjoy this marinated goodness!
prep time: 20 Mcook time: total time: 20 M

ingredients:

Bean Mixture:
  • 1 (14.5 oz.) can cut green beans
  • 1 (14 .5 oz.) can cut yellow wax beans
  • 1 (15.5 oz.) can dark red kidney beans
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 green pepper, finely chopped
Marinade:
  • 3/4 c. white vinegar
  • 3/4 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/2 c. canola or vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper

instructions:

How to cook Classic 3-Bean Salad

  1. Drain green and yellow beans well.  Drain and rinse kidney beans.  Place beans in a large bowl; add finely chopped onion and green pepper.   Toss gently to combine, taking care to not break the beans.
  2. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt, and pepper.  Whisk until well combined and sugar is dissolved.
  3. Pour vinegar mixture over beans.  Stir gently to combine.
  4. Place in refrigerator and marinate beans for at least 2 days to allow flavors to meld, stirring once a day.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. Prep time noted does not include 2 days of marinating time in the refrigerator.
  2. Two days is the recommended minimum marinating time, but truly this salad gets better and better with even a little more flavor-melding time than that.  This 3-Bean Salad can be prepared about 4 or 5 days in advance, no problem at all.
Created using The Recipes Generator


This post is linked with Weekend Potluck, Meal Plan Monday.

11 comments

  1. Easy, make-ahead, AND inexpensive? That's like the trifecta!

    ReplyDelete
  2. One of my favorite salads! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Stay safe and stay well.

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  3. I love this classic salad, it is so good! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,476.
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for this recipe! I am generally the only one who eats 3-bean salad and this sounds delcious! I can't wait to try! I've pinned for later!

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  5. This was so good! I made it ahead of time and let it sit for 3 days and it was perfect! We even were able to eat it for 3 or 4 more days. I used allulose sweetner instead of sugar and it was just fine!

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  6. This looks so good & exactly how I buy it from the grocery store deli. I would like to make it with fresh wax & green beans from my garden. What should I do with the beans to make sure I get the right texture & they soak up the marinade?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have never made this salad with fresh beans though it does sound interesting. Your question was on point; fresh beans would change the texture. If you tweak the recipe with fresh beans please let us know how it turns out.

      Delete
  7. Have you ever made with Splenda instead of granulated sugar - hoping to make it sugar free?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have never substituted sugar with Splenda. We think it would work fine.

      Delete
  8. I love 3 bean salad and I make it with the exact measurements but WITHOUT sugar - that's the way my ma made it, and I prefer the unsweetened flavor.

    ReplyDelete

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