White Bean Soup

By Maria Lichty

View RecipePin Recipe4.64112
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Quick Summary

White Bean Soup- this creamy and comforting white bean soup is made in one pot and is freezer friendly too! Serve with crusty bread and a salad for an easy and delicious meal.

white bean soup in bowl with spoon with soup in pot and crusty bread and Parmesan cheese.

Soup is the ultimate comfort food. I love making a big pot of soup when the weather is cold, or whenever I am feeling sick, or whenever I just want GOOD food.

A few of our favorites include: minestrone soup, creamy chicken noodle soup, potato soup, chicken and rice soup, and this classic White Bean Soup.

This white bean soup recipe is easy to make, you only need one pot, and is perfect for lunch or dinner. The soup creamy, comforting, and nourishing. The soup is made with fresh vegetables and the beans add plenty of protein and fiber.

A bowl of this white bean soup will fill you up and warm you up! It also freezes beautifully so feel free to double the recipe. Put some soup in the freezer for a rainy day!

white bean soup ingredients in bowls.

Soup Ingredients

  • White Beans– the star of the soup. I use canned cannellini beans, which you can find at any grocery store. Great Northern or Navy beans will also work. Make sure you rinse and drain the beans before using.
  • Vegetable broth– use your favorite brand.
  • Olive oil– for sautéing the veggies.
  • Veggies– onion, carrots, and celery! The classic start to any good soup.
  • Garlic– it adds lots of flavor.
  • Vegetable broth– use your favorite brand.
  • Herbs– rosemary, thyme, and parsley for garnish.
  • Crushed red pepper flakes– for a little heat.
  • Spinach– you can also use kale.
  • Fresh lemon juice– to brighten up the soup.
  • Parmesan cheese– use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If you need the soup to be vegan or dairy-free, you can leave out the cheese.

How to Make White Bean Soup

white beans in strainer, white beans in food processor, and vegetable broth in measuring cup.
  • Rinse and drain 1 can of beans. Place the beans in a blender or food processor with 1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth and set aside. You don’t want to blend all of the beans, just some to thicken up the soup. The pureed beans make the soup extra creamy and give it the best texture.
  • Rinse and drain the remaining beans and set aside.
  • In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
white beans with vegetable broth and spices in large white pot with wooden spoon.
  • Add the pureed bean mixture, whole beans, remaining broth, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Add the spinach (or kale) and simmer for 10 more minutes.
  • Stir in the fresh lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
white bean soup in white pot with wooden spoon.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with a little fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.
  • Serve warm and enjoy every bite!

Serving Suggestions

How to Store & Freeze

Let the soup cool completely. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove top.

Bean soups freeze well and are great protein-packed meals to have in the freezer. To freeze, let the soup cool completely. Place in a freezer safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat!

white bean soup with Parmesan cheese in bowl with spoon.

More Soup Recipes

Find all of our SOUP RECIPES HERE!

Email Yourself This Recipe
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus, you’ll get NEW recipes from us every week!

White Bean Soup

This creamy and comforting white bean soup is made in one pot and is freezer friendly too! Serve with crusty bread and a salad for an easy and delicious meal.
4.64 from 399 votes

Equipment

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Rinse and drain 1 can of beans. Place the beans in a blender or food processor with 1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth and set aside. You don't want to blend all of the beans, just 1 can. The pureed beans will make the soup extra creamy. Rinse and drain the remaining beans and set aside.
  • In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add the pureed bean mixture, whole beans, remaining broth, rosemary, thyme, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Add the spinach or kale and simmer for 10 more minutes. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with a little fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese, if desired. I recommend serving with crusty bread or biscuits.

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal, Carbohydrates: 41g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 1576mg, Potassium: 224mg, Fiber: 12g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 6060IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 257mg, Iron: 5mg
Keywords soup, white bean

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod

Get the best of the best!
4 Recipes Guaranteed to be New Favorites

Maria

I'm Maria and my husband is Josh. We share a love of cooking, baking, and entertaining. We enjoy creating recipes that are simple, fresh, and family friendly. We love sitting around the table with good food, good conversation, and good friends and family! Our kitchen is always open!
Read More

Vegetarian Fall Spring Winter Kid Friendly

4.64 from 399 votes (354 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments

Leave a comment

  1. Wow the bean soup sounds wonderful!
    I plan on making this over the weekend in my instant pot.
    First I will make the beans from dry beans. Then saute the veggies . Then add everything except the the cheese and spinach?
    Any tips on what to do next. 5 minutes and then release? Then add the spinach.?
    Since my purchase of my instant pot, it is my kitchen appliance of preference.
    I love your site and look forward to reading This and That each Thursday.
    Thanks, Jeanne

    1. I was thinking the same thing. Wondering the IP timing. Did you try it? And how did it turn out.

  2. A little bland. Added a little season salt, lemon pepper, garlic salt and a little extra salt and pepper. Added ½ tsp of vegetable paste. Wouldn’t hurt to blend an additional can of beans to make it a bit thicker. Great with crackers or croutons.

    1. I chop it finely with a sharp knife. Dried rosemary will work too, I would use 1/2 teaspoon.

  3. Sounds delicious!!! I would love it just like that but my husband thinks he needs some meat! Could you add some pre-cooked chicken to this soup?

    1. I just made this for the first time and only used 2 total cans of beans (blended one up and just rinsed/added the other) and added 1 LB of chicken I cooked in the slow cooker. Soup turned out great!

  4. 5 stars
    So good! I paired it with grilled cheese and ham sandwiches. Thank you for another wonderful dinner recipe to add to my cold weather rotation

  5. 5 stars
    This was a super delicious soup. Love parma cheese in my soups. I added a cheese rind while it was cooking. Thank you!

  6. 5 stars
    This was a delicious and easy soup! I added a parmesan cheese rind while it was cooking. The puréed beans make it so creamy; don’t skip this step.

  7. Maria,

    We live your recipes. Twice I have looked at your old recipes and Apple has locked me out. Did you know there is a problem with opening some of the recipes? Or maybe it is just my computer. Virginia

    1. Hmmm, I haven’t had any trouble. Sorry you are having issues. Maybe try restarting your computer?

  8. 5 stars
    Just made this for dinner, and it is easy and delicious! I am planning to take it to work for lunch this week, so will see how it reheats, but I have a feeling it will be just as good!

  9. Am looking forward to making this but would like to use a slow cooker.
    Are there any pre steps I should take before I put this in a slow cooker?
    Thank you Maria, love your recipes!
    Liz

    1. It should be fine to add everything and just use an immersion blender to puree at the end to whatever thickness you want.

  10. 5 stars
    My friend and I really liked this soup. It is going to be added to our rotation for meals we want over and over. I did not make any changes to the recipe.

  11. 5 stars
    This was so good!! Made it today and will definitely be making it again and again. Left out the parm and used veggie broth to share with my vegan friends, they loved it ❤️. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!

  12. 5 stars
    Made this for dinner last night and the entire family agreed it should become part of our regular soup rotation. Flavor is just outstanding. Soup is hearty. Wish I had doubled it the first go around as competition for the leftovers will be fierce!

  13. 5 stars
    This came together really really well! It didn’t take long at all. I didn’t have any vegetable broth but substituted two bullion cubes in 4 cups of boiling water, and the soup turned out great!

  14. 5 stars
    This was delicious! Perfect for a snowy winter dinner – I garnished it with your homemade croutons, so good ! I really enjoy your recipes & look forward to Thursdays for “ This and That “. Thanx Maria… hope you are feeling better after your surgery! Sue

  15. 3 stars
    Sorry, this soup was pretty bland for me. Definitely needs some bacon or other kind of flavor aid. Nice and filling though. I would add more broth too since it got really thick.

    1. You can add bacon, see the post for recipe variations. I left it out for a vegetarian recipe.

    2. 5 stars
      Delish – I chopped up a tomato I needed to use and added after the garlic. Great recipe that you can spice up if you want to or not!

  16. 5 stars
    Another really successful recipe. I used two cans of beans in total (reduced stock to just over 3 cups), lime juice (what I had) instead of lemon, and frozen chopped kale. Finished each bowl with a spoon of herby creme fraiche and it was so delicious. It definitely needs the black pepper and some chill flakes, though. Thank you for the inspiration!

  17. 4 stars
    This tasted so great! It wasn’t as creamy as I thought it would be, but still amazing flavor. Thanks for the recipe. Will definitely make again.

  18. 5 stars
    This soup has quickly become my favorite! It’s creamy, easy to modify with different veggies and spices, and quick to prep.

  19. 5 stars
    Made this last night and it was a hit! I add a couple of potatoes but that’s the only change. Great soup recipe for this fall.

  20. 4 stars
    This was easy and delicious. I had all the ingredients in my pantry or garden. Goes great with a glass of white wine and French bread right out of the oven.

  21. 5 stars
    Made this yesterday. So easy and delicious! I added a bay leaf and let it simmer for a couple of hours before eating. It was a hit! I didn’t see an answer to the question on how much is one serving ? Is it one cup?

  22. 4 stars
    We liked it quite a bit. The only things I would change are a little less garlic. We love garlic — I grow my own — but we found it a little too strong. I pureed the one can of beans, but in the end decided to use an immersion blender to get it a bit smoother.

  23. 5 stars
    Fantastic recipe! No need to alter or add anything. Made it with garlic chive rolls. Delicious and homey meal. Fitting for Christmas Eve Eve.

  24. 5 stars
    Great soup for a cold day! Lots of flavor and super easy to make. I topped with mozzarella instead of Parmesan.

  25. 5 stars
    This was great! Added some Italian sausage which we like but I’m sure would have been just as good without. I loved how nice and thick it was, the purred beans were key!

  26. 5 stars
    Really good!! Used 2 cans of white beans and 1 can of red kidney beans & 1/2 tsp of dried rosemary instead. Added the juice of 2 lemons total and it was perfect!

  27. 5 stars
    Made this soup last night and it was wonderful!! Came together quickly and for a late night dinner on a cold winters night it was perfection! So flavorful and comforting, perfect soup.

  28. Good evening was going to make the beans tonight but wondering the beans we don’t purée do we rinse them as well or do we add the can of beans not rinsed and with the fluid in beans?

  29. 5 stars
    This wonderful soup has become a staple in my house. I make it using dried beans and it always turns out great. Thank you for a great base recipe.

  30. 5 stars
    This is excellent, so quick and easy. I did 3 TBLS of lemon juice and a bit more salt. Really good, will make again!

  31. 5 stars
    Wow – the flavor in this soup is amazing!!!! We loved it as is, but the kids actually pureed theirs to avoid seeing the “icky” spinach leaves. (hey whatever it takes!) It was perfect pureed too! Next time might add some rotisserie chicken for more protein. Served up with rustic grilled cheeses and everyone already asked for it again. Thanks for adding a staple to our cooler evenings! Loved it.

  32. 5 stars
    This soup is absolutely delicious! I did liberally add the seasonings and garlic as I’m comfortable enough to know how we would enjoy it. I loved it on its own and I’m obsessed with it but my carnivore husband couldn’t get past the fact there was no meat in it. Next time I will sauté up some turkey sausage for his soup and have the salad and French bread. This will be in my regular rotation! Thank you for the recipe!

  33. 5 stars
    We loved the addition of lemon juice, it really brings a bright flavor to the soup. We didn’t add the parmesan, but grated some onto the soup as it was served and got plenty of flavor that way. Great recipe!

  34. Hi Maria and Josh, your recipe is delicious and so easy to make . Thank you for sharing it with us.

  35. I can’t wait to try this – so many positive comments – Do you think adding a little zucchini would be ok? Not sure whether to cook with carrots and celery or add later – just have one I wanted to use up.

  36. 5 stars
    Love this recipe make it often!

    Typing first instruction. I think you meant “soup” not “souper”.
    . The pureed beans will make the super extra creamy. Rinse and drain the remaining beans and set aside.