Now, these are the SEXIEST white beans you'll ever try! It takes only 2 cans of cannellini beans, and 15 minutes or less to make this delicious white beans recipe with garlic, Parmesan, and cherry tomatoes. Serve it as an easy meatless dinner with your favorite crusty bread or as a side.
The sexiest creamy garlic white beans you'll try!
White beans cooked in extra virgin olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and a duo of Italian cheese, now this is the BEST (even sexiest) white beans recipe you'll try! And it's ready in just 15 minutes.
Using canned cannellini beans, which are tender and slightly nutty tasting, is a major shortcut that is worth taking (just like with butter beans, there's no overnight soaking or boiling required)! Garlic is essential here, but I also add warm Mediterranean spices including cumin and Aleppo pepper to flavor the beans. And a little grated parmesan and nutty Pecorino Romano add heft and creaminess, while a squeeze of fresh lemon balances the dish with just enough acidity.
This one-pan creamy white beans recipe is a true warm-your-belly meatless dinner that requires nothing more than your favorite crusty bread to serve. I can't wait for you to try it!
Types of white beans
White beans are a group of legumes that are easily distinguishable because of their white color and kidney-like shape. Some types of white beans include cannellini beans (also called white kidney beans), lima beans (also known as butter beans), great northern beans, and navy 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: Also called pea beans are smaller and have a mild flavor. They are great for mashed preparations.
- Great Northern Beans: These white beans are medium-sized and firm with a slight nutty taste.
- Cannellini Beans: Also called white kidney beans, are larger and heartier, but they do have a nice creamy texture when cooked. These beans are native to Italy and you’ll find them in many of my meals, like this orecchiette pasta, white bean shakahuka, vegetarian pasta fagioli, and ribollita. And I use them in this recipe as well.
- Baby Lima Beans: Also called butterbeans, are small and creamy with a buttery texture. I love them, especially, in a mashed white bean dip.
Like I said, I used canned cannellini beans here, but you can use any canned white bean variety you like! There will be a subtle difference in taste and texture, but you'll still have a delicious bean dish that is loaded with flavor.
Ingredients: What you’ll need to make this easy white beans recipe
With just a few pantry staples, you can have dinner ready in a flash! Here’s what you’ll need to make these white beans.
- Minced garlic – I like 3 to 4 minced cloves of garlic in this dish, but feel free to alter this amount based on your preference.
- Extra virgin olive oil – A generous drizzle of EVOO to finish the dish adds a nice silkiness to the sauce.
- Canned cannellini beans – You’ll need 2 cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed. Other white beans such as butter beans and great northern beans would also work well in this recipe.
- Halved cherry tomatoes – Just a cup of cherry tomatoes adds color and a hint of bright acidity.
- Aleppo pepper – I love the subtle tang and hint of sweetness that comes from Aleppo pepper in this recipe.
- Cumin – Its earthiness is the perfect base for the other flavors to balance on.
- Chopped fresh parsley – Few herbs elevate a dish as easily as fresh parsley does!
- Grated cheese - A combination of parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano (which is a dense, nutty, sharp cheese) add tantalizing umami to this white beans recipe. If you can’t find one or the other, you can use just parmesan or Pecorino Romano, but the combination together is a good balance of salty tang and nuttiness.
- Fresh lemon juice – A squeeze of lemon juice instantly brightens this dish, enhancing its creamy, tangy flavors.
How to make this white bean recipe
My favorite thing about this dish is just how simple it is to make and all you need is one large pan and 15 minutes of time. Here’s how you make it:
- Sauté the garlic and beans. In a large pan, sauté 3 to 4 minced garlic cloves in heated olive oil over medium heat. Once the garlic is golden, add 2 15-ounce cans of cannellini beans that have been drained, and about ½ cup of water. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
- Add the tomatoes, fresh parsley, and cheese. Add 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes, and cook for about 10 minutes, until the beans and tomatoes are warmed through and the tomatoes have softened a bit. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley, ¼ to ⅓ cup shaved parmesan, ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano, and the juice of half a lemon.
- Serve! Drizzle extra virgin olive oil generously to finish the white beans dish, and serve immediately.
Can I make this recipe from dry white beans instead of canned?
If you have the time, and you’re looking for a way to use up those dry white beans that have been in your pantry for what seems like forever, you can make this white beans recipe from scratch.
Three quarters of a cup of dry white beans equals approximately 1 15-ounce can of beans. So start with 1 ½ cups of dry beans and add them to a medium to large bowl. Cover with water (there should be about 3 inches of water above the beans). Let them soak for at least 8 hours – overnight is ideal!
Drain and rinse the beans thoroughly, and then add them to a large pot on the stovetop. Cover with water once more and bring to a boil. Add some kosher salt (about 2 teaspoons) and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the beans simmer uncovered. The beans are ready when they are tender, but not mushy. This can take 2 to 3 hours. Keep an eye on the beans as they cook and add water if they start looking dry.
Once the white beans are cooked, follow the recipe as is from step one!
What to serve with this cannellini beans recipe
These creamy white beans are delicious with pita or your favorite fresh crusty bread. I also like to start the meal off with a big salad.
How to store leftovers
These garlic parmesan white beans will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days. To reheat, add the beans to a pan on the stovetop on medium heat. If the beans have dried out a bit in the fridge, add a small amount of water (no more than ¼ cup).
Other white beans recipes to try
Hungry for more? Here are all our Mediterranean Recipes!
Garlic Parmesan White Beans
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ to ⅓ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- In a large pan, warm 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook briefly, tossing regularly, until just golden.
- Add the cannellini beans and ½ cup water. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, and the spices. Add the tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally until warmed through (about 10 minutes)
- Stir in the parsley, cheese, and lemon juice.
- Finish with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately with pita or your favorite crusty bread.
Video
Notes
- If you don't have cannellini beans, feel free to use another kind of white bean such as butter beans or great northern beans.
- I used canned beans in this recipe to save time, but you can also prepare the beans from scratch if you prefer.
- Leftover tips: These garlic parmesan white beans will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 4 days. To reheat, add the beans to a pan on the stovetop on medium heat. If the beans have dried out a bit in the fridge, add a small amount of water (no more than ¼ cup).
- Visit Our Shop for quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices.
This was amazing! No changes made! Will absolutely make again!!!
Suzy, another great recipe!! Love it!! Can’t wait to try your new creamy orzo soup!!
Thanks, Karen!
Made this recipe tonight for dinner. Delicious. And trust me if I can make it without screwing it up it as easy. LOL
Haha! Well done, Bob!!
Made these tonight for dinner after watching your LIVE from last night. So good, and such a big amount of flavor from so few ingredients! I used up some Parmesan and Asiago blend I had for the cheese and served it with some toasted pita. Once I order more Aleppo Pepper (my new favorite spice and I am almost out!) I will definitely make this one again and again!
Awesome! Thanks, Alicia!
Made this for lunch with a small tin of beans! Delicious and quick!
I will make it again for a quick and easy dinner
Thank you!
Awesome! Thanks, Roselyne!
Followed recipe exactly. Great way for me
to try your Aleppo pepper seasoning. Such a simple recipe but remarkably good!
Thanks so much!
Great recipe. It didn’t make as much as I thought it would. We had it with a Greek salad and hard bread.
We really enjoyed this dish, and it was very easy. Used it a side with broiled branzino but would enjoy it as a vegi main as well. I didn’t have the Aleppo pepper, but substituted with your sweet paprika and red pepper.
Next time will try with Aleppo. The video was helpful especially with the hint to add a generous use of additional olive oil to add more flavor.
Thanks for a creamy, fresh & tasy dish!
You are very welcome, Joanne! Glad you enjoyed it!
Made this with grilled calamari! Delicious.
Yum! Thanks so much!
Made this a couple of nights ago exactly to the recipe except I used my homemade canned navy beans. Did a thick pork chop sous vide to go with it. Outstanding use of navy beans.
What can be used to replace the cheeses if someone is unable to have dairy?
Hi, Toni. I know there are some vegan parmesan cheeses out there that may work. You can also try replacing it with a bit of nutritional yeast to get a little cheesy flavor without the dairy (although, it won't give you the same creaminess). With nutritional yeast, you'll only need to use about half as much. Would love to hear your thoughts if you give either a go, as I've never tried them here, personally.
Made this last night to go with a chicken dish I concocted. Absolutely delicious! The only change I made was to use 1 plum tomato chopped into tiny pieces, which I cooked down for a couple minutes with the garlic before adding the beans. But that's just because I prefer totally cooked down tomatoes. Other than that, I followed the recipe as is, and it was fantastic!!
Thanks for sharing, Ania!
Had some dried Navy beans that I had cooked and didn't want to make soup or escarole and beans so I found your recipe and just made it and it is wonderful. We love beans! Will make it again and again I am sure. Didn't have cherry tomatoes so I cut up some med size tomatoes and no difference. So glad I found this recipe.
Thanks, Karen!
This was superb! So much flavor depth for a quick and healthy meal.
Thanks, Jeannie!
This dish was absolutely delicious! I didn't have Aleppo Pepper so I substituted jalapeno powder . That really kicked up the spiciness which I love. This will be in my cooking rotation! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing that substitution, Gay!
what can I use in place of the aleppo pepper? since I've never had that before I don't know the flavor profile to be able to choose a substitution.
Hi, Jennifer. You could just use red pepper flakes in a pinch. Aleppo is a milder pepper with a slight sweetness. You can order it from our shop here if you're interested :).
Can I substitute canned diced tomatoes for the cherry tomatoes? I have everything else and I want to make this today without a trip to the store.
It looks so delicious. My husband is not a bean fan but this might make him a believer.
Hi, Janis. I have not tested this recipe with canned tomatoes, but I don't see why it would not work. If you give it a try, please stop back and share your feedback. Would love to hear how it turned out!
I ended up going to the grocery store to get more beans. I only had one can do I got the tomatoes while I was there. I’m thinking of putting this on top of elbow macaroni. I think my hubby might be happier that way.
I broke down and went to the store to get the cherry tomatoes. OMG this is SO delicious. I made it around lunchtime because I was supposed to be busy around dinner time. I taste tested it and it was so good I had small bowl right then and there for my lunch, as my Mom used to say, it was so good I could have taken a bath in it.
We also had it for dinner as is. It was filling and delicious and even my bean “hating” husband said it was good.
Who knew that Aleppo pepper added such a great flavor. It has just the right amount of heat and brightness too it, unlike regular crushed red pepper flakes! This recipe is a keeper!
Wonderful! Thanks, Janis!