Marinated Olive & Bean Salad

This easy marinated bean salad is fresh, flavorful, and packed with simple ingredients. Tender beans are tossed with a bright, herby marinade for a quick side dish or healthy lunch that’s perfect for meal prep, picnics, and entertaining.

I loveee Castelvetrano olives.

I started eating them when I was pregnant with my 2nd child and wanted everything and anything salty. I haven’t stopped eating them since!

Surprisingly though, they barely make into recipes on my site. That needed to change.

I wanted to make an easy, no cook 30 minute meal. And knew there was a way I could include Castelvetrano olives. And alas, this salad was born.

Apparently, beans are having a moment on TikTok. Tbh, I don’t go on TikTok much… call it the elder millennial in me, but I’m just not into it.

BUT I’m totally here for beans having their moment in the sun. While there’s no such thing as an actual “superfood” (it’s just marketing!), beans are really a super food.

They’re full of belly-filling protein and fiber. They’re shelf-stable, meaning they’ll last in your pantry for a long time. And they’re so affordable!

You can easily find most cans of beans for about ~$1-3. For these reasons, I always keep a few cans stocked in my pantry.

Beans are so versatile too. You can cook with them. Add them to salads. Use them to make tacos or chili, etc.

This particular Marinated Olive & Bean Salad is full of so many delicious flavors and textures.

The butter beans and garbanzo beans add creaminess. The olives add a little salty flavor. The herbs add freshness. And the dressing is a mix of sweet and spicy.

Grab some bread to scoop this Marinated Olive & Bean Salad up. You’re gonna love it as an easy, no cook meal to make on repeat!

Why You’ll Love This Marinated Olive & Bean Salad

This salad makes an amazing, easy make ahead meal. And no cooking required!

It’s full of delicious and nutrient-dense foods – olives, chickpeas, and beans. As a result, despite it being so simple, the salad is loaded with protein, fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants – all foods that not only support health, but also promote satiety.

This quick 15-minute meal is perfect to meal prep. Make a big batch to enjoy for the week!

It’s so versatile too. You can eat it on its own, as a side dish, or with an extra protein on top.

This is an easy, make ahead, plant-based salad that you’ll want to come back to time and time again.

How to Make Marinated Olive & Bean Salad

Prepare dressing

Prepare the dressing. Add all ingredients to a large mason jar. Shake vigorously to combine.

*Add more honey for a sweeter dressing. Add more red pepper flakes for more of a kick.

Toss in dressing

Add the dressing to the Marinated Olive & Bean Salad and toss.

Add feta & serve

Add the crumbled feta on top of your Marinated Olive & Bean Salad and serve. 

Optional: add crusty bread or crostini to scoop or dip.

If You Love This Marinated Olive & Bean Salad, Try These

• Mushroom Farro Salad with Garlic & Herb Vinaigrette 
• Edamame & Peanut Crunch Salad
• Broccoli Caesar Salad with Crispy Chickpeas and Toasted Breadcrumbs
• Farro Salad with Grapes, Feta and Pistachios
• 15-Minute Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Butter beans: If you can’t find these, swap them for cannellini beans. Although slightly smaller, they have a similar texture to butter beans.
• Chickpeas: Look for canned chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans). You should be able to find these at most stores.
• Castelvetrano olives: Make sure to buy these already pitted! It will save you a lot of time so that you don’t have to pit them yourself.
• Shallot: A small shallot adds plenty of flavor.
• Herbs: You’ll need fresh dill and parsley.
• Feta: I don’t usually specify like this, but I highly recommend using sheep’s milk feta here. It’s a bit of a more mild and creamier feta that goes well with the salty olives. If you can’t find sheep’s milk feta, try using goat cheese instead.
• Red pepper flakes: Add more for a little more kick! I only like a little spice, but even a little adds such a fun flavor component to the dish.

Marinated Olive & Bean Salad Tips & Variations

• Changing the flavor: For a less spicy dressing, add less red pepper flakes. For a sweeter dressing, add a teaspoon or 2 of honey.
• Serving suggestions: I love this salad on its own with some crusty bread or tortilla chips to dip. You can also make it even more filling by adding a simple protein on top, like grilled chicken or shrimp.
• Storage: Store this Marinated Olive & Bean Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. The longer it sits, the more the dressing can really soak into the salad and make it even more flavorful. You may want to wait to add the feta until you’re ready to serve or eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Marinated Olive & Bean Salad

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Sammi Brondo

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

This easy marinated bean salad is fresh, flavorful, and packed with simple ingredients. Tender beans are tossed with a bright, herby marinade for a quick side dish or healthy lunch that’s perfect for meal prep, picnics, and entertaining.

Ingredients  

• 1 15- ounce can butter beans
• 1 15- ounce can chickpeas
• 1 cup Castelvetrano olives roughly chopped
• 1 shallot diced
• 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
• 4 ounces sheep’s milk feta or goat cheese crumbled
• Optional: crusty bread or crostini to scoop or dip

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 heaping tablespoon honey*
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes*
• Salt
• Pepper

Instructions 

• Rinse and drain the butter beans and chickpeas. Remove any extra skin from the beans that came off while rinsing. Add them to a large bowl and set aside.
• Roughly chop the olives and dice the shallot. Add them to the bowl with the beans.
• Chop the dill and parsley and add them to the bowl. Set aside.
• Prepare the dressing. Add all ingredients to a large mason jar. Shake vigorously to combine.
• Add the dressing to the salad and toss. Add the crumbled feta on top.

Notes

*Add more honey for a sweeter dressing. Add more red pepper flakes for more of a kick.

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