Classic 3-Bean Salad (2024)

Just what's to love aboutclassic 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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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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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:

• Marinated 9-Bean Salad
• Marinated Many Bean Salad with Corn
• Marinated Vidalia Onion Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• Lemony White Bean Salad
• Marinated Summer Vegetable Salad
• Carolina Caviar
• More salad recipes

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