Kidney Beans Substitutes

Out of kidney beans? These are the swaps that actually work, with conversion ratios for any recipe size and notes on how each one changes the result.

Need to convert kidney beans between cups, grams, or ounces first? Open the kidney beans converter.

What to use instead of kidney beans

  • Butter Beans

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup kidney beans = 1 cup butter beans (1:1 cooked and drained)

    Butter beans swap 1:1 by volume for cooked kidney beans with a softer, creamier texture and a milder flavour. They weigh almost the same per cup (180 g vs 185 g drained), so volume and weight track closely. Expect a paler dish and a smoother bite in stews and bakes.

    See butter beans substitutes →

  • Chickpeas

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup kidney beans = 1 cup chickpeas (1:1 cooked and drained)

    Chickpeas swap 1:1 by volume for cooked kidney beans and bring a firmer bite and a nutty flavour. They are a little lighter per cup (170 g vs 185 g drained), so weigh when the bean ratio matters in a chilli, soup, or salad. The colour shifts from deep red to pale gold.

    See chickpeas substitutes →

  • Black-Eyed Peas

    Ingredient swap

    1 cup kidney beans = 1 cup black-eyed peas (1:1 cooked and drained)

    Black-eyed peas swap 1:1 by volume for cooked kidney beans, bringing an earthier flavour and a softer skin. They are close in weight per cup (175 g vs 185 g drained), so the swap holds by both volume and weight in soups, salads, and stews.

    See black-eyed peas substitutes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I substitute for kidney beans?
There are 3 workable substitutes for kidney beans, depending on what you have on hand and which property of kidney beans matters most for your recipe. The closest swap is usually 1 cup kidney beans = 1 cup butter beans (1:1 cooked and drained). Each option below lists the conversion ratio for any recipe size, plus notes on how the swap changes the texture, flavour, rise, or browning.
Will substituting kidney beans change how my recipe turns out?
Yes, every swap trades one property for another: fat content, moisture, acidity, or protein. The notes on each substitute describe what changes in texture, flavour, rise, or browning, so you can choose the swap that matters least for your recipe. Open the kidney beans converter
How do I measure kidney beans accurately?
Weighing in grams is more reliable than scooping cups, especially when a substitute has a different density from what the recipe expects. The kidney beans converter on this site converts between cups, grams, ounces, tablespoons, and teaspoons, so you can scale a recipe up or down without losing the ratio. Open the kidney beans converter

Other ingredient and produce substitutes

Find what to use instead of: