Rainbow Bean Salad is one of my favorite summer side dish recipes. Three varieties of beans collide with a homemade bean salad dressing drizzled on top of them. Give this bean salad a try!
If you are looking for something fresh, full of vegetables, and light on the dressing, this vegetarian bean salad is a fantastic option. An easy cold bean salad. Plus, this salad is a great protein-packed vegetarian dish that is light and bright.

I enjoy whipping this up and then using it for my lunches for work for myself and my son. He absolutely loves this salad. We pair with some pita chips or flatbread. The pita chips add a nice crunch factor!
This Bean Salad Recipe Is..
- Healthy, hearty, and wholesome. A flavorful salad you will enjoy.
- Loaded with vegetables, beans, and a satisfying dressing.
- Nutrient-rich, protein-packed, and vegetarian.
- Great side dish, or light lunch option.

What Beans Are In This Summer Bean Salad
Black beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans are what are used in this summer bean salad.
Now, if you want to change the beans to fit what you have on hand or prefer, go ahead. These are just the beans I enjoy pairing together.
Other Beans to Consider
- Edamame
- Pale Navy Beans
- Pinto Beans
- Black Eyed Peas
- Etc

Bean Salad Dressing
You will find that making a bean salad dressing is a great way to really amplify the flavor. Now, you can skip the homemade dressing if you want.
We just love it with a homemade dressing. It helps to bring out the bold and rich flavors of the beans, veggies, and more.

How To Make Rainbow Bean Salad
- Step 1: Start by making your homemade dressing. I used a mason jar to pour in my olive oil, mustard, red wine vinegar, sugar, and seasonings.
- Step 2: Prep all your vegetables and pour your beans into a bowl.
- Step 3: Pour your dressing over the vegetables and beans, stir, and then place in the fridge. Make sure to place in an airtight container.
- Step 4: I recommend storing in the fridge for at least 4 hours, or best overnight, to allow the flavors to marinade.

This is a fantastic side dish to take to potlucks. A cold salad that is great for parties, summer cookouts, gatherings, and more. This is a sweet and sour dressing
Here are more great side dish recipes to try out.

FAQs
What Else Can I Use?
- If you want to add some cheese to the salad, you could toss in crumbled feta for a creamy twist, or even grated Parmesan.
- Any white bean will work for this recipe. You can just drain and rinse Cannelini or even Northern beans, or consider doing a mix.
- Fennel is a nice addition to the salad, brightening it.
- You can make your beans from scratch if you would like. Just soak, boil, and cook your dried beans according to the package instructions.
What To Pair With Fresh Bean Salad
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Rainbow Bean Salad
Ingredients
- 1 15.25 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15.5 ounce Can kidney beans drained and rinsed
- 1 15.5 ounce Can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper seeded and diced
- ⅓ cup red onion diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 3.8 ounces Can of sliced black olives drained
- 1 medium jalapeno pepper seeded and diced
- 1- pint grape tomatoes quartered
- ¼ cup finely chopped parsley
For the dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
Instructions
- To make this rainbow bean salad, you will want to prep all your veggies and open your cans and place them in a bowl.
- Then in a jar or bowl, you will want to work on adding all the ingredients for your dressing. Place lid on the jar and shake, or use a whisk to mix up the dressing.
- Pour over the veggies and beans, and toss the salad.
- Store your rainbow bean salad in the fridge for at least 4 hours or let it sit overnight.
- Then right before serving give your bean salad a toss, and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
did you make this recipe?
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Comments & Reviews
Mary says
SWEETENER??
Kelsey says
use whatever sweetener you prefer, I used sweet and low. Or you can replace with regular sugar.
K says
Delicious
Chris Clark says
Fantastic Recipe!!! loved it. The only thing I didn’t do was the sugar for personal preference. It will become summer staple when tomatoes are in season.