46 White Bean Recipes to Cook with Cannellinis and More

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. One-Pan Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans

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.

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Chelsea Kyle/For the Table

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Tomato and White Bean Stew on Toast

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.

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Nisha Vora

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.

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Katherine Gillen

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.

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Ryland, Peters & Small/Cucina Siciliana

7. Braised Cannellini Beans with Prosciutto and Herbs

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.

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Heidi Swanson/Super Natural Simple

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.

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Linda Pugliese/Help Yourself

9. Spiced Lamb Meatball and Escarole Soup

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.

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Aran Goyoaga/Cannelle et Vanille

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.

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Katherine Gillen

11. Easy, Lazy Chicken Soup with Beans and Greens

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. White Beans with Rosemary and Caramelized Onions

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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?

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Feed Me Phoebe

15. Gluten-Free White Bean Zucchini Burgers with Green Olive-Basil Aioli

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.

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Oh Carlene

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.

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The Full Helping

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.

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Inspiralized

18. Tomato-Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp, Roasted Artichokes and Cannellini Beans

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.

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Bojon Gourmet

19. Smashed White Bean Salad Tartines with Herbs and Watermelon Radish

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.

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The Mom 100

20. White Bean and Roasted Cauliflower Spread with Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

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.

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What’s Cooking Good Looking

21. Grain and Sprout Bowl with Sautéed Chard Stems and Green Harissa

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.

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Foodie Crush

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?

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Plays Well with Butter

23. Lightened-Up Italian Wedding Soup

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.

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Two Peas and Their Pod

24. Mediterranean Three-Bean Quinoa Salad

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.

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The Clean Eating Couple

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.

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The Full Helping

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.

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Ambitious Kitchen

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.

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Half Baked Harvest

28. Sun-Dried Tomato, White Bean and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

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.

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Dude That Cookz

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.

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Spoon Fork Bacon

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.

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The Modern Proper

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.

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The Full Helping

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.

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Ambitious Kitchen

33. White Bean, Spinach & Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers with Burrata

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?

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The Mom 100

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?

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The Full Helping

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.

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Half Baked Harvest

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.

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Ambitious Kitchen

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.

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The Mediterranean Dish

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.

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Spoon Fork Bacon

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.

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The Full Helping

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.)

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The Mom 100

41. Avocado and Cannellini Bean Crostini with Gremolata

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.

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Half Baked Harvest

42. Crockpot Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Ragu with Buttered Gnocchi

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.

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The Full Helping

43. Polenta Tomato Tart with White Bean Spread

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.

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Ambitious Kitchen

44. Vegan White Bean Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

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.

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The Full Helping

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.

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Foodie Crush

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.

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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.}

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46 White Bean Recipes to Make with Cannellini Beans, Great Northern Beans and the Like

1. One-Pan Sausage with Broccoli Rabe and White Beans

2. Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad

3. Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup

4. Tomato and White Bean Stew on Toast

5. Instant Pot Farro Risotto

6. Spicy Slow Cooker Green Chicken Chili

7. Braised Cannellini Beans with Prosciutto and Herbs

8. Five-Minute Bean Salad

9. Spiced Lamb Meatball and Escarole Soup

10. Roasted Squash Salad with White Beans, Breadcrumbs and Preserved Lemon

11. Easy, Lazy Chicken Soup with Beans and Greens

12. White Beans with Rosemary and Caramelized Onions

13. Cheater’s Italian Wedding Soup

14. White Turkey Chili with Avocado

15. Gluten-Free White Bean Zucchini Burgers with Green Olive-Basil Aioli

16. Winter White Bean-Kale Pappardelle Pasta

17. Warm Leek White Bean Salad

18. Tomato-Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp, Roasted Artichokes and Cannellini Beans

19. Smashed White Bean Salad Tartines with Herbs and Watermelon Radish

20. White Bean and Roasted Cauliflower Spread with Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

21. Grain and Sprout Bowl with Sautéed Chard Stems and Green Harissa

22. Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad

23. Lightened-Up Italian Wedding Soup

24. Mediterranean Three-Bean Quinoa Salad

25. Easy Pasta Fagioli

26. Vegan Kale White Bean Caesar Salad

27. Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus

28. Sun-Dried Tomato, White Bean and Goat Cheese Pasta Salad

29. Instant Pot Cajun White Beans

30. White Bean and Corn Salsa

31. White Bean Sausage Skillet

32. Cheesy Vegan Quinoa Bake

33. White Bean, Spinach & Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers with Burrata

34. Salmon and White Bean Bruschetta

35. The Best Brothy White Beans

36. Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup

37. Vegetarian White Bean Buffalo Dip

38. 15-Minute Garlic Parmesan White Beans

39. Shakshuka with White Beans and Spinach

40. Creamy Vegan Kale White Bean Soup

41. Avocado and Cannellini Bean Crostini with Gremolata

42. Crockpot Tuscan Sausage and White Bean Ragu with Buttered Gnocchi

43. Polenta Tomato Tart with White Bean Spread

44. Vegan White Bean Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

45. Vegan Spaghetti & White Bean Balls

46. The Best Stewed Cannellini Beans

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