11 Low-Sodium Canned Bean Brands

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Beans are one of our favorite things to keep in the pantry. They're cheap, they're full of fiber, and they're a shelf-stable source of protein. Beans also naturally low in sodium, but here's where you need to be careful. Canned beans often have salt added during the cooking process, making a significant nutritional difference compared to dried beans. Don't worry, though; this doesn't have to mean soaking your own beans if you're watching your sodium intake. Instead, you just need to start making smarter choices, like selecting low-sodium canned beans. 

You're likely to come across a few different labels on food that mention the salt or sodium levels, but they can mean very different things. Reduced (unlike low) sodium simply means that the beans contain at least 25% less sodium than the regular recipe for that brand. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's a low-sodium option. Foods labelled with no added salt or unsalted means there was no salt added during processing, but they can potentially have naturally high sodium levels. In both of these cases, you'll need to check the nutrition label to find out just how much sodium you're consuming. 

The low-sodium label that's sometimes found on cans of beans is FDA-regulated, and means that each serving has a maximum of 140 milligrams of sodium. The low-sodium label makes it easier to see at a glance whether a product will fit into your daily recommended sodium intake goals. As a guide, here are some of the best canned bean brands that offer low-sodium options.

Goya Foods is famous for its wide selection of canned beans, and the low-sodium offerings are just as impressive, with a total of 13 varieties. Along with popular choices such as red kidney beans, you'll find more unique products like the green pigeon peas and Goya Low-Sodium Pink Beans. The cans clock in at around 135 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving, compared to around 300-400 milligrams per serving typical of regular recipe options.

Beans are generally cheap, but if you're on a tight budget, you still have plenty of low-sodium options at Target. The chain's Good & Gather canned bean range is predominantly low sodium, with just a few full-sodium options. You have the choice of regular and organic beans at as little as $0.99 for  a 15.5-ounce can. As well as staples such as garbanzo beans, you can get a three-bean blend that makes a great shortcut for this jalapeño-lime bean salad.

All of Eden's canned beans are either low-sodium or made with no added salt, making it a great brand for anyone watching their sodium intake — it's also a good illustration of what different labels mean. The low-sodium options are made with sea salt, and the cannellini beans, for example, contain 95 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving. The no-salt-added range is lower still, but not entirely free of sodium. The brand uses kombu as a salt alternative, yielding a sodium content around 25 to 50 milligrams per serving, depending on the can.

If you prefer to eat organic, then Full Circle Market makes it easy to stock up on all your pantry staples, with seven low-sodium varieties. Along with providing the base for classic bean recipes such as hearty chili or pinto bean tostadas, these are ideal for incorporating into other meals without pushing the salt content up. Added to a pot of soup, canned navy beans create a creamier dish without the need for dairy.

Kroger's own Simple Truth Organic range of beans makes it even easier to shop for healthier choices. The bulk of the canned beans (and lentils) offered are low-sodium options, with what you might consider as the regular recipe being labelled as "seasoned". The brand's low-sodium cans are lower than even the label requires, with around 120 milligrams of sodium per serving. If you want to amp up the flavor, salt is not the only option. Try one of these tips to make canned beans taste homemade.

S&W beans can be a little more expensive, but they are certainly worth it, if you favor convenience. Rather than making your own chili from scratch, you can pick up a can of S&W Low Sodium Chili Beans, which feature pinto beans in a spicy tomato sauce. Premade sauces are often high in salt, so it's great to have an option with just 140 milligrams of sodium per serving, compared to 480 milligrams in the regular S&W recipe.

The selection from Nature's Promise isn't extensive in terms of types of beans, but they do offer regular, low-sodium, and no-salt-added options, giving you a lot of control over what you're eating. Some low-sodium varieties are around 120 milligrams of sodium per serving, but even the regular Nature's Promise black beans are lower in sodium compared to other brands, with just 135 milligrams per half cup.

Hanover made the list of our favorite canned chickpea brands, with the only negative comment being the high sodium content (350 milligrams per serving). The good news is that six of Hanover's canned bean offerings are available in low-sodium versions, and another four as reduced-sodium varieties. As well as garbanzo beans, you can enjoy light and dark kidney beans, pinto beans, cannellini beans, and black beans at 130 milligrams of sodium per serving.

Anyone who likes to make Mexican foods at home will likely be aware of the La Preferida brand, but what you might not know is that it offers some low-sodium varieties of its canned beans. And, although they are labeled as low sodium, they technically fall into the very low sodium range as classified by the FDA, with about 5-10 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving. Try the black beans as the base for these black bean molletes, a traditional Mexican open sandwich.

Fans of Central Market may flock to the store for the extensive selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, but it's worth stocking your pantry while you're there. All of the Central Market canned beans are low-sodium and organic, with a choice of black beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, and dark red kidney beans. Take advantage of the produce section and you'll have all the makings of this spring-forward chickpea salad or a hearty black bean and pumpkin casserole.

Bush's is best known for its range of baked beans, but it's the chili beans you'll need to try if you're looking for a low-sodium choice. Bush's Low Sodium Pinto Beans in Mild Chili Sauce contains 130 milligrams per serving, compared to the 530 milligrams in the original recipe. For plain beans, there is a sodium-reduced range, but sodium levels differ considerably between varieties and are not necessarily low-sodium options.