A reasonable dietary intervention is an effective way to alleviate exercise-induced fatigue. Kidney beans, due to their high protein content and abundant bioactive components, show great potential in the field of exercise recovery. This review summarized the nutritional components and major bioactive components of kidney beans, analyzed the physiological changes occurring during human physical exercise, and elaborated on the effects of kidney beans on these exercise-induced physiological changes, as well as their beneficial role in alleviating exercise-induced fatigue. Furthermore, the review provided an outlook on the future applications and research directions of kidney beans in the field of sports nutrition.