Three sisters meal

A Vegetarian Chili recipe inspired by the Native American legend of the Three Sisters: corn, squash, and beans.

Sean Sherman’s 10 Essential Native American Recipes is a group of recipes collected by the editors of NYT Cooking.

The Three Sisters—corn, squash and beans—is a Native American growing technique that capitalizes on the strengths of each individual ingredient.

In Native American culture, the three sisters are a trio of crops that benefit each other—and the soil—when planted together: squash, corn, and beans. This casserole celebrates that delicious combo with butternut squash (we recommend using precut cubes for easier prep), frozen corn, and canned kidney beans. The crowning glory is an easy drop biscuit topping that contains scallions for savory depth and cornmeal for a crunchy texture.

Low-fat, nutritious, and comforting, this Three Sisters Stew is brimming with plant powerhouse goodness and fragrant spices. Adapted from Chickasaw Nation

Try making Three Sisters Quesadillas, a cheesy, irresistible meal that celebrates the essence of the changing seasons and the rich tapestry of Indigenous cuisine.

Experience the rich culinary heritage of Native American culture with this delightful Three Sisters Soup, which honors the traditional trio of corn, beans, and squash. This hearty and nutritious soup not only warms the soul but also celebrates the balance of flavors and textures that these ingredients bring together. It is the perfect starter or main course for vegan or vegetarian meals.

Warm up your stomach with this chowder recipe. This comfort food contains corn, tomato, and shrimp cooked with different spices to give it amazing flavors.

These basic formulas are essential to completing more complex recipes featuring the Three Sisters. All of them can stand on their own or be added as side dishes to a meal—and making a pot of beans on Sunday is a great jump on meal prep for the week.

Three Sisters Stew is an easy-to-make, wholesome vegetable dish gently stewed in a fragrant broth. With indigenous roots, this delicious dish is perfect to serve during harvest, for Thanksgiving, or on any chilly winter day. And, it's ready in under 30 minutes.