Bean and Legume

45 White Bean Recipes for Soups, Salads, Stews, and More

Sure, you can crack the can of white beans and just eat them drizzled with olive oil and doused with salt and pepper. But these creamy beans can do so much more.

By The Epicurious Editors

March 18, 2020

Photo of a favorite white bean recipe easy marinated white beans with oil vinegar and herbs on toast.

The good thing about bean recipes is they're often pretty flexible. So if you're looking for a white beans recipe because you have a few cans of cannellini or Great Northern beans in your pantry (or a few bags of dried white beans on your shelf), you can start below, or consider any of these options, too.

Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop styling by Tim Ferro, Food styling by Taneka Morris
1/45
Marinated Mixed Beans
A white beans recipe can be as simple as this: Soak a shallot (or onion) in vinegar, mix whatever herbs you have with oil, combine it all with the white beans to avoid oxidation, and keep in the fridge for several days.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
2/45
Shrimp with Herby White Beans and Tomatoes
This one-pot meal of shrimp (frozen work well!) and white beans is herby, sweet, and garlicky all at once. To add more green, throw in a handful of arugula or spinach at the end; for more garlic, pair it with garlic toast.
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Photo by Travis Rainey, Prop styling by Gerri Williams, Food styling by Erika Joyce
3/45
White Bean Turkey Chili
A dash of cocoa powder adds depth and richness to the broth of this easy turkey chili.
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Photo by Peden + Munk
4/45
Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Braised White Beans
Bridge the gap between chilly weather and the first warm breezes of spring with this lazy-day braise.
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Photo by Alex Lau
5/45
Clams in White Bean Sauce
Any type of medium white beans work for this one-pot dinner. Just make sure to enjoy it with a side of country-style bread for soaking up the lemony, herb-packed sauce.
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Ditte Isager
6/45
Toasted Spelt Soup with Escarole and White Beans
This dish was inspired by pasta e fagiole, the classic Italian pasta and bean stew. Unlike macaroni, the grains stay nice and chewy, even when reheated days later.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
7/45
Navy Bean and Escarole Stew With Feta and Olives
Pleasantly bitter escarole adds balance to a rich vegetarian stew brightened with feta cheese and green Castelvetrano olives.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, prop and food styling by Ali Nardi
8/45
Roasted Chicken Thighs with White Beans, Lemon, and Capers
Chicken thighs are an inexpensive and delicious alternative to chicken breasts. This one-pan dinner is perfect for a weeknight because it's so simple to put together and cleanup is a breeze.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Ali Nardi
9/45
Sheet-Pan Skirt Steak With Balsamic Vinaigrette, Broccolini, and White Beans
Balsamic-marinated steak cooks over the broccolini and white beans in this sheet-pan dinner, flavoring them with its tasty juices.
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Christina Holmes
10/45
Skillet Bruschetta with Beans and Greens
This is the perfect weeknight veggie-heavy white beans recipe. Top with a fried egg to add a little richness.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks
11/45
Veggie Burgers With White Beans, Zucchini, and Corn
Bright zucchini, sweet corn, nutty millet, and creamy white beans add vibrant flavor and texture to these gluten-free veggie burgers.
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Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott
12/45
Sausage, Greens, and Beans Pasta
What's in your pantry? Chickpeas? White beans? Either will work in this easy, filling pasta.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
13/45
Lemony Chicken Soup With Farro, White Beans, and Kale
For an extra burst of flavor, swirl some salsa verde into each serving of this hearty soup packed with farro, white beans, kale, and plenty of lemon.
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Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
14/45
Baked Beans with Slab Bacon and Breadcrumbs
These aren't sticky-sweet brown sugar baked beans. Think of them like the top crust of a good cassoulet.
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