This recipe for white beans with garlic, Parmesan, and cherry tomatoes only takes 15 minutes or less and 2 cans of cannellini beans. Serve it as an easy meatless dinner with your favorite crusty bread or as a side.
White beans are an incredibly versatile ingredient that can elevate a variety of savory dishes Their mild flavor and smooth, creamy texture make them a perfect addition to salads, soups, main courses, sides, and more This hearty legume is packed with nutrition like fiber, protein, and minerals. Read on to discover 15 delicious ways to incorporate white beans into your cooking.
Vibrant White Bean Salads
White beans shine when used in refreshing salads. Their soft texture contrasts nicely with crunchy vegetables and their mild taste absorbs other flavors easily.
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Make a Greek salad with white beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta. Toss with a red wine vinaigrette.
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Combine white beans, arugula, roasted beets, goat cheese, and toasted walnuts. Dress with a shallot vinaigrette.
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Mix white beans, corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Drizzle with a lime cilantro dressing.
Hearty White Bean Soups
The creamy nature of white beans makes them an ideal addition to hearty soups. They thicken the broth while adding protein and fiber.
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Purée white beans with vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion for a smooth, comforting soup.
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Add cannellini or other white beans to minestrone soup along with pasta, tomatoes, and spinach.
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Sauté white beans with garlic, rosemary, and kale. Add chicken stock and blend for an herby soup.
Main Dishes Starring White Beans
With their high protein and fiber, white beans can even serve as the main event in a variety of dishes.
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Make vegetarian white bean burgers by mashing beans with breadcrumbs, eggs, and seasoning.
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Sauté white beans, spinach, and chicken sausage for an easy weeknight skillet dinner.
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Combine white beans with ground turkey or beef and taco seasoning for a meatless take on tacos.
Perfect Side Dishes
The versatility of white beans makes them ideal for pairing with a variety of main dishes as a flavorful side.
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Toss roasted Brussels sprouts with white beans, garlic, and lemon zest for a bright contrast.
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Mix beans with roasted root vegetables like parsnips, carrots, and potatoes for a hearty roasted side.
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Sauté white beans with leeks, broccoli rabe, and garlic for an easy compliment to grilled fish.
Toppings and Mix-Ins
White beans can also be used as tasty mix-ins to enhance dishes with extra nutrition.
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Sprinkle garlicky white beans over pizza before baking for added protein.
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Fold white beans into an omelette along with sautéed spinach and feta cheese.
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Mix beans into cooked grains like farro, quinoa, or brown rice for a satisfying meatless meal.
Marinated Bean Salads
Marinating white beans boosts their flavor tremendously. The beans soak up the marinade while retaining their wonderful texture.
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Marinate beans in balsamic vinaigrette, garlic, and fresh herbs. Enjoy over greens.
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For Greek white beans, marinate in lemon, olive oil, oregano, and feta.
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For an Italian twist, marinate beans in a vinaigrette with sun-dried tomatoes and olives.
Baked Bean Dishes
Baking white beans brings out their natural sweetness while concentrating flavors. Bake them into casseroles, gratins, and more.
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Combine beans with tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and breadcrumbs for a veggie bake.
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Mix beans with sautéed spinach, garlic, and Parmesan, then bake until bubbly and browned.
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Bake beans in tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella for simple bean Parm.
White Bean Chili
The creamy heft of white beans makes them perfect for hearty chili. They provide thickness, protein, and fiber.
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Make classic white chicken chili with beans, shredded chicken, corn, and spices.
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For vegetarian chili, use white beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, chili powder, and cumin.
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White bean turkey chili with zucchini and roasted poblano peppers is delicious.
Slather Them on Toast
Spread mashed or whole beans over toast for an easy, nutritious light meal or snack.
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Smash white beans with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Spread on whole grain toast.
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Top toast with whole white beans, smashed avocado, arugula, and a fried egg.
Blend into Dips and Spreads
Blending white beans creates an ultra-creamy base for dips and spreads perfect for snacking.
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Purée beans with garlic, tahini, olive oil, and lemon for homemade hummus.
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For chip dip, blend beans with Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and fresh herbs.
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Make bean spread for sandwiches and wraps by mashing beans with pesto or sun-dried tomatoes.
The options are endless when cooking with white beans! Incorporate them into your meals to take advantage of their stellar nutritional profile and amazing versatility.
Types of white beans
There is a group of legumes called white beans. They are easy to spot because they are white and shape like kidneys. Cannellini beans (also called white kidney beans), lima beans (also called butter beans), great northern beans, and navy beans are all types of white beans. Yup, plenty of options you can find in most supermarkets in dry and canned form. A quick guide on each of them:
- Navy beans, which are also called pea beans, are smaller and have a mild taste. They are great for mashed preparations.
- Great Northern Beans: These white beans are about the size of a pea and are firm. They have a slightly nutty flavor.
- Cannellini beans, which are also known as white kidney beans, are bigger and heartier than other beans. When cooked, they have a nice creamy texture. There are a lot of dishes I make with these beans, like this orecchiette pasta, white bean shakahuka, vegetarian pasta fagioli, and ribollita. They are from Italy. And I use them in this recipe as well.
- Baby lima beans, which are also known as butterbeans, are small, creamy, and have a buttery feel. I love them, especially, in a mashed white bean dip.
Like I said, I used canned cannellini beans for this recipe, but you can use any kind of canned white beans you like! The dish will taste and feel a little different, but it will still be full of flavor.
Ingredients: What you’ll need to make this easy white beans recipe
You can make dinner quickly with just a few common pantry items. Here’s what you’ll need to make these white beans.
- Minced garlic: I like 3 to 4 minced garlic cloves in this dish, but you can change this number to suit your tastes.
- Extra virgin olive oil—Adding a lot of EVOO to the dish at the end makes the sauce smooth.
- Canned cannellini beans: You’ll need two cans of rinsed and drained cannellini beans. This recipe also works with other white beans, like butter beans and great northern beans.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half. A cup of cherry tomatoes gives the dish color and a hint of sourness.
- Aleppo pepper—I love how this recipe has a hint of sweetness and a tang from the Aleppo pepper.
- Cumin: The earthiness of this spice makes it a great base for the other flavors.
- Chopped fresh parsley—Fresh parsley is one of the herbs that can make any dish taste better.
- Grated cheese—Parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano, a dense, nutty, and sharp cheese, work together to give this white beans recipe a taste that makes your mouth water. If you can’t find either one, you can use only Parmesan or just Pecorino Romano. But the salty-tangy and nutty flavor of both together is great.
- Fresh lemon juice—A squeeze of lemon juice makes this dish instantly brighter and brings out its creamy, tangy flavors even more.
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