Participant-sourced recipes and practical ideas to help families make the most of what they bring home from Birch.
Easy Bake Enchiladas
These easy layered enchiladas are cozy, hearty, and perfect for busy nights! Packed with sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, and melty cheese, this vegetarian twist on a classic enchilada casserole is freezer-friendly, budget-friendly, and even better as leftovers.
Crispy Cheesy Potato Bean Cakes
These crispy potato and bean cakes are cheesy, comforting, and packed with flavor in every bite. Inspired by pupusas and made with simple pantry ingredients, they’re golden and crunchy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside, and perfect dipped in sour cream.
Chocolate Banana Black Bean Smoothie
This creamy chocolate banana smoothie is a kid-approved breakfast that’s secretly packed with protein and fiber. Made with simple pantry staples, black beans blend right in for an extra filling, milkshake-like smoothie no one will guess is actually nutritious.
Bean and Tortilla Casserole with Cilantro Lime Carrots
A cozy, flavor-packed vegetarian casserole layered with salsa verde, beans, corn tortillas, and melty pepper jack cheese, served alongside buttery cilantro lime carrots for a fresh and zesty finish!
Sweet & Smoky Pork and Beans Over Potatoes
This sweet-and-savory pork and beans recipe is the ultimate comfort meal. Inspired by a Finnish school lunch and a craving for BBQ beans, tender pork and hearty beans are simmered in a smoky, tangy sauce and served over boiled potatoes for an easy, filling dinner the whole family will love.
Traditional Guatemalan Breakfast
A classic Guatemalan breakfast that’s simple, hearty, and full of flavor. This dish combines savory refried black beans, fluffy eggs, and sweet fried plantains, with creamy additions like avocado and fresh cheese for a perfectly balanced, satisfying meal.
Braised Black Beans
A sweet and savory Korean-inspired side dish you’ll want to keep on repeat! These Braised Black Beans are protein-packed, full of garlic and sesame flavor, and perfect for meal prep or grabbing straight from the fridge. Easy to customize and made with simple ingredients you can often find at BCS, they’re a versatile add-on that pairs well with rice bowls, noodles, chicken, or fried rice.
Tasty Turkey Chili
A cozy, all-seasons favorite with tons of flavor—this Turkey Chili is thick, hearty, and seriously comforting. It’s packed with ground turkey, beans, tomatoes, green chilies, and a warm blend of spices that just gets better as it simmers. Even better, many of these ingredients can be found right at BCS, making it an easy go-to meal from what’s already on hand.
How to Cook Dried Black Beans
Cooking dried black beans doesn’t have to be complicated. This easy recipe turns a pantry staple into a flavorful, ready-to-use protein for any meal!
Chicken Protein Bowls
Here’s a quick video with our BCS Financial Literacy Counselor, Katie, sharing her go-to Chicken Protein Bowls. These are made with simple, healthy ingredients all found at Birch. Enjoy!
Easy Protein Jar Salad
Here’s a quick video with our BCS Financial Literacy Counselor, Katie, sharing a simple Protein Jar Salad, made with black beans from BCS—an easy, budget-friendly way to turn what’s available into something filling, balanced, and ready for busy days.
Marinated White Beans
These marinated white beans are quick, easy, and full of flavor. Tossed in a garlicky, herby dressing, they’re perfect on toast, with crackers, or in a salad—great for snacking or adding a little something extra to any meal.
Greek-Inspired Dense Bean Salad
This Greek-Inspired Dense Bean Salad is a flexible, high-protein staple made from ingredients often found at Birch. Bright, hearty, and even better the next day, it’s a simple way to stretch what’s on hand into a meal that feeds many.