You might want to try making beans from scratch if you’re going through a lot of them already. You can use the Instant Pot, the stove, or a slow cooker to cook beans. This article will show you how to prepare dry beans and how long to cook them.
Beans and other shelf-stable foods are being used by more and more people to get protein and make healthy, quick meals. Even though canned beans are cheap, dried beans are even cheaper per serving! If you eat a lot of beans, it makes sense to learn how to make them from scratch.
If you’re used to just opening a can, cooking beans might seem hard, but they’re really easy to make from scratch. Plus, cooking them from dry gives you the opportunity to add your flavors of choice. We have everything you need to know about how to cook beans on the stove, in a slow cooker, or in an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker.
Beans are a versatile, protein-packed staple that can be part of any meal. But when cooking for a group, it can be tricky to know how much beans to make per person. You want to make sure you have enough without ending up with loads of leftovers. This guide covers everything you need to know about proper bean serving sizes.
Typical Serving Size Per Person
The typical serving size for beans is 1/4 cup uncooked beans per person. This usually translates to around 1/2 cup cooked beans once they’ve absorbed water and expanded during cooking.
However, this can vary based on the meal:
- As a side dish – 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked beans per person
- As a main dish – Around 1 cup cooked beans per person
Portion sizes may need adjusting based on who you’re serving:
- Kids – 2 to 4 tablespoons uncooked beans
- Teenagers/Men – 1/3 to 1/2 cup uncooked beans
- Women/Elders – 1/4 cup uncooked beans
The serving information below provides more details on bean quantities per person
Serving Information
Here is some key information to help determine bean servings
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A portion of uncooked beans typically doubles in volume after soaking and cooking, So 1/4 cup uncooked yields around 1/2 cup cooked
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The average serving size is 1/4 cup uncooked beans per person, which equals approximately 1/2 cup cooked beans.
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For kids, serve 2-4 tablespoons uncooked beans depending on age and appetite.
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One pound (two cups) of uncooked beans generally serves 3 to 4 people as a side dish.
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As a main dish, plan for around 1 cup cooked beans per person.
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Buy at least 25% more than you think you’ll need to allow for losses from soaking/cooking and to accommodate larger appetites.
Serving Beans as a Side Dish
When serving beans as a side dish alongside other mains and sides, a 1/4 to 1/2 cup portion is typical per person. Here are some serving guidelines:
- For 10 people – Plan on 40 oz or 5 cups of uncooked beans to yield 10-15 cups cooked beans
- For 25 people – Plan on 200 oz or 12.5 cups uncooked to yield 25-30 cups cooked
- For 50 people – Plan on 400 oz or 25 cups uncooked to yield 50-60 cups cooked
Serve beans on the side along with dishes like grilled meats, potatoes, salads, breads, etc. This gives a well-rounded meal.
Serving Beans as a Main Dish
If beans are the main protein/bulk of the meal, then serving sizes should be increased. Here are some main dish guidelines:
- For 10 people – Plan on 640 oz or 40 cups cooked beans
- For 25 people – Plan on 1600 oz or 100 cups cooked beans
- For 50 people – Plan on 3200 oz or 200 cups cooked beans
For a crowd, gallons of pre-cooked beans can be ordered from restaurants and cafeterias to save time. Or beans like chili or bean soup can be made.
Portion beans out into bowls and allow people to add desired toppings like cheese, sour cream, chives, etc. Serve alongside bread and salad.
Tips for Serving Beans to a Group
Here are some tips to ensure you have the right bean quantities for your group:
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Know your crowd – Adjust portions based on demographics like age, gender, activity levels, etc.
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Prepare extra – Make at least 25% more than your estimates to allow for losses during prep and larger appetites.
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Offer other sides – Include other sides like grains, vegetables, salad, bread to round out the meal.
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Cook both ways – Try making beans two ways like chili plus oven-baked beans to add variety.
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Check for doneness – Undercooked beans expand less. Make sure beans are fully cooked through before serving.
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Provide toppings – Offer shredded cheese, scallions, salsa, etc. so beans can be customized.
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Label allergen-friendly – Note ingredient lists for options accommodating common allergies.
With the serving size estimates above and these tips in mind, you’ll be prepared to make the perfect bean quantities for any group!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I cook per person if beans are a side dish?
Plan for 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked beans per person when served alongside other main dishes and sides. Purchase 25% extra uncooked beans.
How much should I prepare if beans are the main dish?
Allow around 1 cup cooked beans per person for a bean-based main dish like chili. Have extra cans handy to supplement if needed.
How much do I serve kids versus adults?
Serve kids just 2-4 tablespoons uncooked beans based on age and appetite. Adults get 1/4 to 1/2 cup uncooked beans on average.
How can I stretch beans if I run out?
Add extra vegetables, cheese, breadcrumbs, rice/pasta, or gravy to make beans go further. Or quickly microwave another can or two of beans.
What are some tips for serving beans to large groups?
Cook extra, offer other sides, make beans two ways, ensure beans are fully cooked, provide garnishes, and clearly label allergen-friendly options.
The Takeaway on Bean Servings
Determining how much beans to make per person ensures you have sufficient portions without wasting food. Remember these key points:
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Typical serving is 1/4 cup uncooked beans per person
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Double amount when beans are main dish
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Reduce portions for kids
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Prepare at least 25% extra for safety
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Offer multiple bean dishes and sides
With the guidelines above, you’ll confidently be able to serve up the perfect bean feast for any crowd!
Ways to Soak Beans
Regardless of what type of bean you’re cooking, the first step is to soak the dried beans. This begins to dissolve the starches in the beans, which makes them more easily digestible. To soak your beans, start by rinsing them in cool water. Then sort them and pick out any beans that aren’t the right color or small stones (yes, stones are normal!).
From here, you have a choice. You can do a hot soak, which is faster, or an overnight soak, which is simpler.
Hot soak: Boil three to five cups of water (you don’t have to be exact) for every cup of beans you want to cook. Let it boil for two to three minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let the beans sit for one hour. Drain and rinse them before proceeding to cooking.
Overnight soak: Put the beans on the counter with water covering them and leave them there for eight hours, or overnight. Drain and rinse.
In a pinch, you can skip the soaking step and simply cook your beans a little longer. Just remember that if you skip the soak, you’ll still want to start by rinsing and sorting.
Ways to Cook Beans
When it’s time to cook, you again have some options. Usually, beans are cooked on the stove, but a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot makes them cook much faster. And if you want to walk away all day while your beans cook, consider using a slow cooker.
Put four cups of water for every cup of beans in a large pot. Add the aromatics of your choice (see below), and then bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Too high a heat will cause the beans to fall apart while cooking.
Slow-cooked foods, like beans, take different amounts of time to cook depending on your stove’s heat, the size and age of the beans, and how soft you like your beans. Beans can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over three hours. Consult the bag for more info, but here are some very general cook times:
- Black beans: 45 minutes – 1½ hours
- Navy beans: 1 – 2 hours
- Pinto beans: 1½ – 2½ hours
- Garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas): 1½ – 2½ hours
- Kidney beans: 1½ – 2½ hours
Keep an eye on the beans as they cook and add more water if needed. Remove the foam that forms on top of the liquid as it cooks. When the beans are just barely tender but not quite done yet, add some salt. Salting too early will prevent the beans from becoming tender.
Pressurized cookers, like the Instant Pot, are the fastest way to cook beans these days. Cook the beans on high pressure with three cups of water per cup of beans and any aromatics you like. Then let the pressure go down naturally.
- Black beans: 20 – 25 minutes
- Navy beans: 22 – 28 minutes
- Pinto beans: 25 – 30 minutes
- Garbanzo beans: 32 – 40 minutes
- Kidney beans: 17 – 25 minutes
Add salt once the pressure has been released, and simmer uncovered if the beans aren’t quite done yet.
Get our Instant Pot Cheat Sheet (Recipe Converter) to learn how to cook adzuki, cannellini, great Northern, and lentil beans. 99.
Place beans in your slow cooker and add any aromatics you’re using. Cover.
The amount of heat in each slow cooker can be very different, so the cooking time can be very different as well. Most beans will cook in 3 to 4 hours on high and 5 to 6 hours on low. However, slow cooker beans should be made early in the day or even the day before you want to use them because they can take up to 10 hours to cook. It’s not fun to have to wait two hours for dinner to be ready because of your beans.
We suggest that you put the beans in the slow cooker on low heat and check on them after an hour. If they’re not simmering, turn the heat up. Begin checking for doneness every half hour starting after about 4 hours. Because every slow cooker is different, we can’t give exact cooking times for different kinds of beans. But in general, bigger beans like garbanzos and kidney beans will take longer to cook than smaller beans like black beans.
