Print

Old-Fashioned Bean Salad Recipe

4.8 from 144 reviews

A classic Old-Fashioned Bean Salad featuring a medley of mixed beans tossed with crisp onions and a tangy, slightly sweet vinegar dressing. This refreshing salad is perfect as a side dish for barbecues, picnics, or as a light, nutritious snack.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 cups mixed beans (such as kidney beans, chickpeas, green beans, and wax beans), cooked and cooled
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Beans: Ensure the mixed beans are cooked until tender, then drained and cooled to room temperature.
  2. Chop the Onion: Finely chop one medium onion to add a fresh, sharp bite to the salad.
  3. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the mixed beans and chopped onion.
  4. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the white vinegar and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  5. Toss the Salad: Pour the vinegar and sugar dressing over the beans and onions mixture and toss everything together until evenly coated.
  6. Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly before serving.

Notes

  • For best flavor, let the salad chill overnight.
  • Use canned beans to save time, but rinse and drain them thoroughly.
  • Optionally, add chopped celery or bell peppers for extra crunch.
  • Adjust sugar and vinegar to taste for desired sweetness and tanginess.

Keywords: bean salad, old-fashioned bean salad, mixed beans, vinegar salad, summer salad, picnic salad, easy side dish