Whether they’re navy beans, cannellini, limas or the “great Northern” variety—dried or straight out of a can—white beans are a permanent pantry staple in our kitchen. The legume is a simple way to add plant-based protein to soups, stews, chilis, dips, salads , pastas and more. They’re also incredibly […]
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Whether they’re navy beans, cannellini, limas or the “great Northern” variety—dried or straight out of a can—white beans are a permanent pantry staple in our kitchen. The legume is a simple way to add plant-based protein to soups, stews, chilis, dips, salads, pastas and more. They’re also incredibly versatile, thanks to their mild flavor that can adapt to just about any ingredient. Don’t believe us? These 46 white bean recipes prove its magical properties beyond a shadow of a doubt.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
A main and two sides, cooked to perfection on a single baking sheet—it’s a beautiful thing. Even better, all the additional ingredients are likely already in your kitchen.
2. Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, special occasion-worthy
This gluten-free starter is just the ticket for your next summer picnic. It can be pulled together in just an hour, but you can marinate the beans overnight instead for maximum flavor.
3. Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup
- Time Commitment: 7 hours and 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Bust out your Crockpot: It’s taking you to Tuscany (sort of). A kitchen sink’s worth of veggies—along with an ever-effective Parmesan rind—turn this pasta-and-bean soup into a bonafide masterpiece.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Don’t let the word “stew” fool you. This quick meal is prepared in a skillet, not a Dutch oven or stockpot. You have canned crushed tomatoes and white beans to thank for the reduced cook time.
5. Instant Pot Farro Risotto
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, Instant Pot recipe, high protein
How does this comforting classic turn out so indulgent without any butter, cheese or cream? We’re so glad you asked. The secret here is white bean purée seasoned with nutritional yeast.
6. Spicy Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Dinner for eight with just 15 minutes of active prep? We love you, Crockpot. If make-ahead meals are your love language, you should know this powerhouse can be frozen for up to three months.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours (plus soaking time)
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
This elegant side calls for a bit of forethought (you’ll have to soak the beans the night before you plan to serve them). If you want to make it as low-maintenance as possible, opt for canned beans instead.
8. Five-Minute Bean Salad
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Make it once and it’ll become your go-to potluck contribution. You’d be shocked what an impact fresh herbs, citrus zest and garlic can make.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
Think boldly spiced lamb shawarma meets Italian wedding soup. Substitute the escarole with any hardy green you prefer or have on hand, like Swiss chard, collards or beet greens.
10. Roasted Squash Salad with White Beans, Breadcrumbs and Preserved Lemon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour (plus soaking time)
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan
Once the weather starts to cool, we trade our kale Caesar in for something cozier, like this warm squash salad that’s begging for a spot on your Thanksgiving table. Take your pick of kabocha, acorn or butternut.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
Miso adds a punch of umami to the broth, while spinach and dill offer herbaceous flavor and freshness. Serve it with crusty bread for dunking.
- Time Commitment: 9 hours and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegan
Once the beans have been soaked overnight, they only require another hour of cooking to turn tender. Here, they’re simmered with garlic, rosemary, sage, onion and clove.
13. Cheater’s Italian Wedding Soup
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Buckle up for salty Parm, tender beans, doughy pasta, soft kale and juicy sausage meatballs in every bite. We’ll take extra grated cheese on ours, please.
14. White Turkey Chili with Avocado
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: one pot, high protein, crowd-pleaser
There’s no law that says you need to use kidney beans in your chili, so why not swap them for cannellini beans for a creamy twist on a classic?
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian
We’ll be putting olive aioli on every burger we ever make, TYVM. Substitute egg in the patties with ground flax seeds and use vegan mayo to make the sammies totally plant based.
16. Winter White Bean-Kale Pappardelle Pasta
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein
Not only is there bacon in the pasta (which makes it an instant home run in our book), but the mushrooms, garlic and herbs are also cooked in the leftover fat and butter for good measure.
17. Warm Leek White Bean Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegan
This white bean salad is the ultimate filling (or topper) for a lettuce wrap, sandwich or greens. Just a couple of scoops will fill you up with plant-based protein and fiber.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: dairy free, high protein, beginner-friendly
It’s your pantry’s time to shine, since this beauty includes canned artichoke hearts, diced tomatoes and white beans. Even the simply seasoned shrimp isn’t fussy, and it cooks in a flash to boot.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
These tartines are almost too pretty to eat—almost. Use gluten-free bread for the tartines to keep the meal wheat-free, and sub egg-free mayo to make it vegan.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
Mashed potato lovers, this one’s for you. Rather than adding dairy to the spread, it gets its silky mouthfeel and smooth texture from tahini, lemon juice and hot water.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegan, dairy free
The recipe calls for any type of bean for this grain and sprout bowl, but we’re partial to cannellini beans, obvi. Top yours with a runny fried egg for a protein boost.
22. Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, no cook
Coterie member Heidi Larsen adds a can of cannellini beans to her no-mayo tuna salad, which just so happens to make it the ideal patio dinner. Did we mention it’s chock-full of crumbled feta?
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser
Chicken meatballs set this riff on Italian wedding soup apart from its fattier predecessors. In case that’s not exciting enough, maybe the boatload of quinoa and pesto will sway you.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Need to clean out your pantry? Try this triple-threat, which stars cannellini beans, green beans and chickpeas. Don’t even get us started on the herby balsamic vinaigrette.
25. Easy Pasta Fagioli
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Since this version of the standard soup is mostly pasta and tomato broth, we’re betting even your spaghetti-loving picky eaters will ask for seconds.
26. Vegan Kale White Bean Caesar Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, vegan, dairy free
Traditional Caesar dressing has anchovies and egg in it, but this vegan version is made from cashews. White beans make the salad extra filling, while sun-dried tomatoes add a pop of sweetness and color.
27. Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
Complete with homemade toasted pita chips, because of course. You can also use the hummus as a sandwich spread, pasta sauce or crudité dip.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Equal parts tangy, savory and satisfying. The from-scratch basil vinaigrette, made with lemon juice, fresh dill and smashed garlic, pulls all the ingredients together.
29. Instant Pot Cajun White Beans
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, dairy free
Pair this crowd-pleaser with a seafood boil, barbecue brisket or jambalaya—or nothing at all. The white beans are surprisingly aromatic, courtesy of coconut milk.
30. White Bean and Corn Salsa
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
No tomatoes, no problem. This salsa won’t turn the tortilla chips soggy, since the only liquid in it is lime juice. Serve it as a party dip or scoop it onto burgers, quesadillas, guacamole or tacos.
31. White Bean Sausage Skillet
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, high protein
Dinner just tastes better when it leaves you with only one dirty dish to clean. Great Northern, butter and cannellini beans would all work here.
32. Cheesy Vegan Quinoa Bake
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, dairy free, make ahead
You know how your kids will only eat broccoli when there’s cheese on it? We’re betting they’d scarf this version in cashew-white bean “cheese” sauce down without noticing a difference.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Because a lil’ mozz never hurts. These wholesome stuffed peppers use brown rice and ground turkey instead of white rice and ground beef, so go ahead and lay the cheese on thick. Balance is everything, no?
34. Salmon and White Bean Bruschetta
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
This light snack screams alfresco summer lunch. Tender salmon, capers and lemon juice stand in for traditional tuna. Might we suggest using this recipe to give last night’s fillet a second life?
35. The Best Brothy White Beans
- Time Commitment: 9 hours and 55 minutes
- Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, vegan
Homemade beans are a labor of love that’s well worth the long soak time. But if you want to make this herby, garlicky dish in a pinch, use canned cannellini, Great Northern or navy beans.
36. Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Just looking at this hug in a bowl gives us all the warm and fuzzies. Store-bought basil pesto will do the trick for this lightning-fast soup, as well as canned coconut milk in place of dairy.
37. Vegetarian White Bean Buffalo Dip
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
Believe it or not, you won’t miss the chicken. Serve this bubbly masterpiece on game day with celery, carrots, bell peppers and tortilla chips.
38. 15-Minute Garlic Parmesan White Beans
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan
Your guests will think you cooked this pot of heaven all day long (don’t worry, the canned cannellini beans will be our little secret). If the leftovers dry out, add a bit of water to them and reheat on the stove.
39. Shakshuka with White Beans and Spinach
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Sunday brunch is served, friends. Finished with shaved ricotta salata and sliced chives, this baked egg dish is bound to impress. We’ll bring the mimosas.
40. Creamy Vegan Kale White Bean Soup
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, one pot
There’s little more to do besides dumping everything in a pot and letting it simmer. You’ll never guess where the soup’s luxurious texture comes from. (OK, we’ll spill: It’s silken tofu.)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
Buttery avocado is a stellar match for mild cannellini beans. Add chopped pistachios or almonds to the gremolata for extra crunch.
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 40 minutes
- Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
Dress up a pack of store-bought gnocchi with a hand-crushed San Marzano tomato sauce, red wine, spicy Italian sausage and Tuscan kale.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegan
If we were you, we’d make a second batch of the white bean spread especially for dipping. It’s basically bean-based hummus spiked with roasted garlic.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
This fall stunner contains a whopping 15 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per serving. Spice it up with cayenne or curry powder or emphasize the squash’s sweetness with a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar.
45. Vegan Spaghetti & White Bean Balls
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, beginner-friendly
The meatballs are loaded with plant-based protein in the form of walnuts and white beans. Quinoa and sun-dried tomatoes help them bind together.
46. The Best Stewed Cannellini Beans
- Time Commitment: 11 hours and 15 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegan
For when you want the white beans to take centerstage. All their flavor comes from EVOO, garlic and a bouquet of bay leaf, thyme and three other fresh herbs.
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
