You can make tasty three bean salad anytime. This is perfect to make ahead and serve later.
This side dish is the perfect salad to make up to pair with any meal. It is super simple and takes just a few minutes to make!
Entree Ideas for Old Fashioned Three Bean Salad
This classic three bean salad recipe is great with a lot of different meals.
I love to make this salad during the spring and summer times when the grill comes out. It is an easy side dish to make up and enjoy with little preparation. You can make it to go with grilled chicken or grilled steak. Serve it along with a pot roast. It is a great dish to go with a hearty entree.
Three bean salad is a less traditional take on salad, so it is a great way to mix up adding a salad to your meal.
I’ve also used it as a snack or to bring to a potluck because it goes great with meatballs and all of the fantastic casseroles people bring to get-togethers. Essentially, you cannot go wrong with this three bean salad.
How to Make Three Bean Salad From Scratch
Have you wondered how to make three bean salad? Most of the time it is seen in a restaurant or at a buffet, but it is very easy to make your own version from scratch.
Begin by getting the beans, draining, and rinsing them. Once they are all mixed together, put them aside. Then you’ll mix up the ingredients for the dressing, pour it over top of the beans, and then pop the bowl in the fridge to let the salad chill. Then once it’s chilled it is good to go!
Do You Need to Rinse Canned Beans Before
The wax and green beans do not need to be rinsed. You should rinse the kidney beans before using them to make the salad.
Make It Your Own!
If you aren’t a huge fan of everything in the classic three bean salad recipe, then make some changes! That is the beauty of this recipe, change and substituting for things you like is okay.
So, if you do not like wax beans or are not able to find them, swap them with something else. Chickpeas or great northern beans would also work great.
For kidney beans, you can choose whether you want them to light or dark, or you can even swap them for black beans if you like those better.
You can choose the type of green beans you want. If you like the french style, feel free to use those!
Also, if you aren’t sure what salad oil is, it is a type of light tasting vegetable oil. However, if you want to use olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or corn oil those are great options to use too.
Three Bean Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Canned wax beans
- Canned green beans
- Canned kidney beans
- Celery
- Onion
- Salad oil
- White vinegar
- White granulated sugar
- Salt
How to Make Three Bean Salad
- Drain the beans and place them in a large bowl.
- Add chopped celery and onion to the bowl with the beans.
- Stir to mix the beans and vegetables.
- Place the oil, vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
- Whisk until the dressing is thoroughly combined and the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the dressing over the beans and toss to combine.
- Refrigerate the salad overnight.
How Long Does Three Bean Salad Last?
While I do suggest eating this salad within 24 hours of making this salad, it can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for later.
However, this salad will only last about 3-5 days in the fridge, after that the beans will be too soggy.
Want more vegetable salad recipes? Try these!
- Black Bean and Corn Salad
- Carrot and Raisin Salad
- Cold Beet Salad
- Copper Penny Carrots
- Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad
- Homemade Broccoli Salad
- Sauerkraut Salad
Favorite Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Crispy Brussel Sprouts
- Fried Potatoes
- KFC Coleslaw
- Yellow Squash Casserole
Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best vegetable side dish recipes here on CopyKat!
This recipe is by Judy McDowell. Jefferson City, Mo. 1967.
Three Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces canned wax beans
- 16 ounces canned green beans
- 16 ounces canned kidney beans
- ½ cup chopped celery
- 1 tablespoon chopped onion
Dressing
- ½ cup salad oil
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Drain the beans and place them in a large bowl.
- Add chopped celery and onion to the bowl with the beans.
- Stir to mix the beans and vegetables.
- Place the oil, vinegar, sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
- Whisk until the dressing is thoroughly combined and the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the dressing over the beans and toss to combine.
- Refrigerate the salad overnight.
John Gibson
Can brown sugar be use for white in the popeye recipes (cole slaw red beans and 3 bean)?
Stephanie Manley
I haven’t worked the Popeyes coleslaw, it looks very white, so I would say they don’t use it. I don’t think I add sugar to red beans, so I don’t know why it would be necessary to add brown sugar to the red beans recipe that I have. I don’t think popeyes has a 3 bean recipe.
Linda C Clark
How did you know I had this or something near like it on my menu list for next week? Right on time. I normally add some red bell pepper to mine for color and more crunch.
Stephanie Manley
That’s a great way to customize the recipe!
cindy bartolotta
I add a can of corn to mine. You can also use cannolini beans. I add some finely diced sweet pepper and splenda instead of sugar. And some dill.
Liz Nelson
This was really good, I cut back on the sugar but it turned out really well!