Loaded Bean Salad

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This loaded bean salad is a simple yet satisfying dish that’s full of creamy texture and all the classic fixings. The navy beans serve as a neutral base, allowing ingredients like bacon, scallions and Cheddar cheese to shine. A creamy dressing made with mayonnaise and sour cream ties everything together. This salad is rich in fiber and plant-based protein, making it the perfect easy side dish.

Recipe image of Loaded Bean Salad
Credit:

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.

Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
8
  • The recipe only requires three preparation steps for an easy and quick kitchen experience.
  • Scallions in the salad add fiber and vitamin C to support your immune system.
  • Start cooking bacon in a cold pan to make it crispy and crunchy for extra texture.

This Loaded Bean Salad is a side that will steal the show. Creamy, protein-rich navy beans soak up the ranch-style dressing, complemented by fresh scallions that add brightness. Cheddar adds a slight sharp bite that teams with the bacon’s rich, salty flavor—a result reminiscent of a loaded baked potato. This salad might even be better the next day after the flavors have time to meld. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to ensure your bacon cooks up crispy.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • The bacon adds saltiness and crunch to the dish. To save prep time, cook the bacon in advance. But remember to reserve the flavorful bacon fat for the dressing.
  • For the crispest bacon, start cooking it in a cold pan. This allows the fat to render slowly as the pan heats.
  • For convenience, we recommend using canned beans, which should be drained and rinsed before adding them to the salad. If you have time, cooking dried beans from scratch would be excellent as well.

Nutrition Notes

  • Navy beans are the star of this salad with their plant-based protein and antioxidants. The fiber in these white beans will help fill you up and feed your gut-loving bacteria. Navy beans’ fiber and magnesium are a rock-star combo to help prevent and treat constipation.
  • Scallions fall into the allium family, which includes onions and garlic. Scallions add a small amount of fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C to this dish. Regularly eating allium plants like scallions may help reduce your risk of certain cancers. 
  • Cheddar cheese sprinkles its bone-building calcium and protein throughout this salad. It’ll even add some beneficial bacteria to your gut, which will nosh on the fiber in the beans and scallions.
Ingredients for a bean salad, including beans, shredded cheese, dressing, green onions, bacon, herbs, and seasonings

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 3 slices bacon

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise

  • ¼ cup sour cream

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish

  • tablespoons cider vinegar

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

  • 2 large scallions, thinly sliced, divided

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added navy beans, rinsed

  • 4 tablespoons shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

Directions

  1. Cook 3 slices bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve 1 tablespoon bacon fat; discard the remaining fat. Chop the bacon when cool enough to handle. Set aside 1 tablespoon for garnish.

    Chopped cooked bacon on a cutting board with a knife

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.

  2. Whisk ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons dill, 1½ tablespoons vinegar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and the reserved bacon fat together in a medium serving bowl.

  3. Reserve 2 tablespoons sliced scallions for garnish. Add the remaining scallions to the dressing in the bowl, along with the rinsed beans, chopped bacon and 3 tablespoons cheese. Gently toss to coat.

    A mixed bean salad in a green bowl with a creamy dressing and serving utensils

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.

  4. Top with the reserved scallions and bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon cheese. Garnish with additional dill, if desired.

    A hand adding an ingredient to a bowl of bean salad on a marble counter, with shredded cheese and chopped green onions in the vicinity

    Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Hannah Grennwood.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I have to use navy beans?

    Through our testing, we discovered that white beans offered the creamy texture we desired. If navy beans are unavailable, consider using cannellini, great northern or any other tender white bean of your choice.

  • Do I have to use Cheddar cheese?

    We like the way Cheddar adds sharpness and blends well with the dressing, but you could swap it for mozzarella pearls, feta or vegan cheese.

  • Can I add other ingredients?

    Absolutely! Use our bean salad as a base for adding corn, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, chile peppers and more. You can also include shredded rotisserie chicken. Just be sure to cut everything into bite-size pieces for the best flavor and easier eating.

  • How should I store leftovers?

    If you anticipate having leftovers or are preparing this salad to take to work, store the dressing and the salad in separate airtight containers. This will help prevent the salad from becoming soggy. The salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before adding the dressing, simply give it a quick shake.

  • What should I serve with Loaded Bean Salad?

    If you’re serving it as a side dish, try pairing the salad with our Herb-Grilled Chicken Frites, Easy Baked Fish Fillets, Muffin-Tin Crab Cakes or Grilled Lime Chicken & Steak. And it’s excellent with burgers and all your favorite sandwiches and rollups.

EatingWell.com, June 2025

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

287 Calories
11g Fat
34g Carbs
14g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about ½ cup
Calories 287
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 13g 47%
Total Sugars 1g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 14g 28%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 18mg 6%
Vitamin A 33µg
Vitamin C 2mg 3%
Vitamin D 0µg
Vitamin E 0mg 3%
Folate 181µg
Vitamin K 25µg
Sodium 232mg 10%
Calcium 150mg 12%
Iron 3mg 17%
Magnesium 71mg 17%
Potassium 543mg 12%
Zinc 2mg 16%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 1g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.