We all have that odd tin of cannellini beans lurking in the pantry that we aren’t quite sure what to do with. Perhaps You purchased it in error, or after feeling inspired by a cooking show and now the fun has worn off, you just stare at it in despair.

Well, despair no more! The affordable and healthy cannellini bean is soon to become a staple in your diet and weekly food shop!

We have compiled the best and easy cannellini bean recipes to enhance your cooking and provide you with plenty of fantastic meals that your whole family is sure to enjoy!

These recipes are quick to make, too, and packed full of these delicious beans. These fluffy beans are full of flavor and feature a fluffy texture that works well with various recipes. The versatile bean is perfect for a quick midweek meal when you want to eat quickly or as part of a weekend feast.

Without further ado, let’s get into these fantastic recipes!

Easy Cannellini Bean Recipes

1. White Bean and Kale Soup

Let’s kick start this list off with a delicious and warming meal! The cannellini and kale soup is full of veggies and will leave you feeling full for hours! It’s the kind of soup that warms your soul and is full of tasty flavors.

It’s an easy soup to make, which is why we love it and is perfect with some crusty bread or focaccia!

It’s the perfect recipe for a warming lunch or a hearty dinner; the choice is yours. You can batch cook this recipe easily, too, for plenty of meals or a big pot of soup for the whole family.

What’s great about this soup is it’s low in calories and incredibly healthy! You can even add more vegetables if you want. It’s ideal for using up any vegetables that are going out of date for a hearty and tasty meal.

See Also: White Bean Soup Recipe

2. Sundried Tomato Cannellini Bean Salad

This sundried tomato salad is an excellent option for those after a fantastic salad to pair with BBQs or to serve in the summer sun.

It’s super quick too, in less than 15 minutes, you can be tucking into this beautiful dish. Serve the salad as a side, a starter, or a light lunch or dinner.

You can make the dish vegan easily, too, by omitting the feta or selecting a vegan alternative. Check that the red wine vinegar you are using is also vegan, but most times, the vinegar is vegan!

You can also customize the vegetables in the salad if you wish. You can enjoy the salad as soon as it’s made or leave it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for the flavors to marinate and be soaked up.

We like to leave the salad in the fridge for a little longer to get the most out of the flavors, but this isn’t essential!

Why not use up some vegetables that are going out of date and enjoy a tasty and nutritious salad?

3. Pasta E Fagioli

This dish is perfect for pasta lovers everywhere! The dish features lots of flavors, crushed tomatoes, kale, and pasta that turns the humble cannellini bean into a hearty bowl of goodness.

It’s a dish that you can batch cook and eat for days; we think it even tastes nicer the next day!

The recipe is fairly easy to follow and can be done in one pot, saving on washing up! You can blend the sauce if you wish or leave it as a slightly chunkier dish; the choice is yours!

You can choose the beans you add to if you want to mix it up and not include cannellini beans.

You can also add additional vegetables if you want; why not chuck in all your veg and enjoy a hearty pasta and bean dish? The meal is entirely vegan too, but you could add meat too if you wish.

See Also: Garlic And Olive Oil Spaghetti

4. Veggie Burgers with Zucchini and Corn

These burgers are perfect for when you want to wow your friends and family with a tasty veggie meal!

What’s more, the dish is naturally gluten-free, too, making it a fantastic midweek or weekend treat. It takes a little longer than the other recipes today, but trust us; it’s worth it!

Swap the mayo for a vegan mayo or a vegan sauce, and you can enjoy a vegan dish too! The burgers are pretty easy to make and are delicious, thanks to the grilling.

What’s great about this recipe is that you can make the burgers and freeze them for up to 3 months! Why not spend an afternoon batch cooking and have tasty burgers in your freezer for evenings when you don’t want to cook?

5. Lemony Chicken Soup with Farro, White Beans, and Kale

That’s right; we’ve got another tasty soup for you to enjoy! You can substitute the chicken for a vegetarian or vegan option if you wish to!

What’s great about this dish is that you can use leftover chicken from another dish! Perfect for the nights when you don’t want to roast another chicken!

You can, of course, use breast or thighs if you wish; simply use whatever you have in! The cannellini beans add a creamy texture and taste to the ideal dish on those chilly evenings when you need warming up!

It takes just over an hour but is the perfect pot to leave on the stovetop and dip in and out of as you please. It’s a sure winner with your friends, family, and even fussy eaters! Why not give it a go?

6. Creamy Lemon Ziti with Roasted Asparagus

This pasta dish is dairy-free and features a rich white sauce that is the perfect accompaniment for roasted asparagus. There’s a garlicky flavor that makes it a firm favorite in our house!

You could substitute the asparagus for tender stem broccoli or another veg of your choice if you wanted.

It’s a super quick dish too, and is ready in under 30 minutes! Ideal for the nights when you don’t want to spend hours cooking. You don’t need many ingredients either to create this tasty vegan dish.

Feel free to swap the pasta out for one that suits your taste too! Linguine works well with the dish, especially if you mix the asparagus through the sauce too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get your last-minute questions answered here!

Should I use canned or dried beans?

While canned cannellini beans work well in all these recipes, dried beans are always worth pursuing, especially if you have the time! Making your beans at home is cheaper; they tend to freeze better and taste better.

You can also use the cooking water from the beans as a broth for your meals. The broth is an excellent substitute for chicken broth for those on a vegan diet.

That being said, dried beans take longer and aren’t appealing to everyone. Canned beans will still taste lovely and work in the dishes.

How long do cannellini beans take to cook?

Before cooking your cannellini beans, soak them for at least 6 hours or overnight. Soaking them will speed the cooking process up, although it can be a little time-consuming. Once soaked, drain and rinse the beans.

Then place them in a large pan, cover with water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat. You want them to simmer until they are tender. Usually, this takes between 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the amount of beans used.

Do I have to cook canned cannellini beans?

No, you don’t need to cook canned cannellini beans! These beans have already been cooked for you, so you can eat as they are! Most recipes will call for you to drain and rinse the beans before adding them to any mixture.

See Also: Easy Salmon Nigiri Recipe

Conclusion: What To Do With Cannellini Beans

And just like that, we have reached the end today! As you have seen, there are plenty of fantastic recipes where you can use cannellini beans to create delicious and tasty meals without spending a fortune! Why not try a recipe today?

Cannellini Bean Recipes

Recipe by Matt Roberts

Cannellini bean recipes are quick to make and are full of flavor and feature a fluffy texture that works well with various recipes. The versatile bean is perfect for a quick midweek meal when you want to eat quickly or as part of a weekend feast.

Ingredients

Directions

Choose your favourite recipe.
Gather all the required ingredients.
Make your own cannellini bean recipe in 30 minutes or less.