THE BEST WHITE BEAN SOUP

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more details.

If you ever thought that beans are boring, this thick flavor-packed white bean soup will blow your mind! This is a simple, vegan, and budget-friendly recipe that tastes and smells amazing.

Plus, it’s ready in 20 minutes and it only costs about $1 per serving!

All it takes is humble canned white beans, a few vegetables, and two of my favorite secret-weapon ingredients: rosemary and a dash of white wine. And when you add these aromatic ingredients to the pot, something magical happens and takes this simple soup to the next level!

A top view of a white bowl full of white bean soup over a wooden background.

Make it right and this white bean soup gets it all: flavor, texture, color, and amazing nutritional benefits.
It’s thick, comforting, and perfect for dunking crusty whole-grain bread in.

Once you try it, you’ll want more!

What ingredients you need

  • White beans (such as cannellini or navy beans)
  • Onion, carrot, celery
  • Garlic
  • Potato
  • Spinach (optional)
  • Tomato paste
  • White wine
  • Rosemary
  • Olive oil
  • Paprika (optional)
  • Salt & pepper

The ingredients for this white bean soup are arranged over a white table.

How to make it

  • Saute’ onion, carrot, celery in olive oil for 5 minutes
  • Add beans, garlic, tomato paste, potatoes, rosemary and a pinch of salt and pepper
  • Stir in the wine, toss well and simmer until it has evaporated

Diced vegetables, beans and a sprig of rosemary in a black cast iron casserole.

  • Add vegetable broth, frozen spinach and cook until the potatoes are soft
  • Taste and adjust the seasoning

White bean soup with spinach in a black cast iron casserole.

  • Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, black pepper, and crusty bread. Enjoy!

A ladle pouring some thick white bean soup into a white bowl, a sprig of rosemary in the background.

This easy and budget-friendly white bean soup delivers a healthy and delicious midweek family meal in 20 minutes.

It’s vegan, gluten-free and packed with protein. Always keep a few cans of these handy and inexpensive pulses in your pantry, they are perfect for a last-minute meal.

ARE WHITE BEANS GOOD FOR YOU?

If you’re wondering if white beans are healthy and good for you, the answer is yes!
Cannellini beans are low on calories but loaded with minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
Plus, these white beans are a terrific source of vegetarian protein and they’re highly filling, making them a very weight loss-friendly food.

Plus, if you enjoy this cannellini soup with some whole grain bread, you’ll get plenty of fiber!

A white bowl full of white bean soup with grated parmesan cheese over a wooden table.

RECIPE NOTES & TIPS

WHITE BEANS

I love cannellini beans, but you can use white beans such as navy beans or Great Northern beans, they work just fine.

WHY DOES THIS WHITE BEAN SOUP TASTE SO GOOD?

Start cooking slowly a mix of diced carrots, celery, onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil. In Italy, this is called “soffritto” and creates a flavorsome base for basically any savory dish.

Then add white beans, potatoes, rosemary and a dash of white wine to this aromatic base. When you add white wine to the pot, you add a that of acidity which brings out the other flavors. And it smells so good!

Serve with freshly ground black pepper and a drizzle of good olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, the best options when it comes to flavor and health benefits.
If you don’t keep it vegan, enjoy it with freshly grated parmesan cheese which adds extra flavor and creaminess!

WHITE WINE

Cooking with white wine adds richness and a new dimension of flavor.
Any leftover of drinkable white wine is suitable for cooking, don’t waste it. And you know what? You can also freeze it in small portions, perfect for home cooking.

A close-up of the white bean soup over a wooden table.

TEXTURE

Both starchy potatoes and soft cannellini beans make this soup thick, creamy and yummy. Plus, if you slightly mash the soft potato cubes and beans with a wooden spoon, that makes this white bean soup even thicker.

HOW LONG DOES IT KEEP?

This easy vegan white bean soup keeps well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3-4 days.
It’s also freezable: divide among airtight containers (leaving 1-inch space at the top), and freeze up to 2 months.

MORE CANNELLINI BEAN RECIPES?

If you try this delicious soup, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram.
I would love to hear from you!

A top view of a white bowl full of white bean soup over a wooden background.
Print Recipe
4.98 from 115 votes

THE BEST WHITE BEAN SOUP

If you ever thought that beans are boring, this creamy flavor-packed white bean soup will blow your mind! This is a simple, vegan and budget-friendly recipe that tastes and smells amazing. Added bonus? It will be on the table in 25 minutes!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: gluten free, Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian
Keyword: white bean soup
Servings: 4
Calories: 350kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (28oz - 800 grams) cannellini beans or white beans, drained 
  • 1 medium-size onion, diced
  • 1 celery stalk, diced
  • 1 large carrot, diced
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, diced or pressed
  • 1 cup (7 oz - 200 grams), frozen spinach * (optional)
  • 2 medium-size potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for serving
  • 1 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/3 cup (80 ml) white wine
  • 1 sprig rosemary (or 1 Tbsp of chopped fresh leaves/1/2 tsp of dried)
  • 2 cups (500 ml) vegetable broth or hot water
  • 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste

Instructions

  • Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, beans, tomato paste, potatoes, rosemary (whole sprig, chopped, or dried, whatever it's easier for you) and paprika (if you use it). Cook stirring frequently, about 1 minute. 
  • Add the wine, stir well and let it simmer until it has evaporated, cooking for another minute.
  • Then add the frozen spinach, the vegetable broth and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot, reduce heat and cook gently for 15 minutes.
  • When the potatoes are soft and the soup is thick and creamy, remove the pot from heat, then remove the sprig rosemary*. Taste and season with salt and pepper. (I usually add a pinch of salt at the beginning + 1/2 tsp later. You might need more salt, depending on your vegetable broth and on your personal preferences.)*
  • Divide into bowls, drizzle with olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, and more freshly ground black pepper if you like. Serve with crusty whole grain bread and, if you don't keep it vegan, add freshly grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Enjoy!

Notes

    • I usually make my own vegetable broth cooking for about 5-10 minutes vegetable scraps and herbs. However, when I'm short on time I go for hot water and vegan low salt vegetable broth cubes.
    • Seasoning: If you use a broth that tastes quite salty on its own, it's important to adjust the seasoning at the end and not at the beginning as you never really know how strong the salt from the broth is.
      I would start only with a good pinch of salt, no more than that.
    • Leftover: it keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. t’s also freezable: divide among airtight containers (leaving 1-inch space at the top), and freeze up to 2 months.
    • Rosemary: I've got a massive bush of rosemary in my garden, and I always use a fresh sprig. If you use a fresh rosemary sprig, keep in mind it will lose its leaves into the soup. They don't bother me, but you might want to take them off before serving, or to chop them before cooking : )
    • Vegetables: I usually go for frozen spinach, it really comes in handy.
      If you prefer, you could swap the spinach for greens such as chopped kale or chard. However, if you use fresh spinach, add them to the pot in the last 5 minutes of cooking. Chard or kale might take a bit longer, between 5 and 10 minutes.
    • Frozen spinach: the weight is from frozen, but you can swap frozen spinach for a 10-oz bag of fresh spinach if you prefer. 
 
NOTE: Nutritional values are estimates only.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 1593mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 14400IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 238mg | Iron: 9mg

370 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I made as written with spinach and Sauvignon Blanc. I really think the wine added such great flavor! Thank you for a delicious recipe

    1. That’s awesome, I’m so pleased it was delicious. Thanks for sharing, Debbie!

  2. Judy Kuehner says:

    5 stars
    I made this soup exactly the way it is printed. I did omit the spinach, as it was an option. I’m on a low salt diet, so I added it a little at a time and it was perfect for me. I did cook it an additional 20 minutes on minimum heat and the texture was very good for us. Thank you for the recipe, as it is difficult to find soup recipes that don’t have lots of tomatoes, which is something else I can’t have.

    1. Wonderful! I’m very glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. x

  3. This is one of my favorite soups!
    I make it for everyone.
    Today I’m making it again and found out I didn’t have potatoes so I added some small pasta to the soup. This will be a first. I’m sure it will be as delicious as usual I also added a little turmeric for color & it’s wonderful health benefits..
    I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful recipe. Bravo

    1. You’re so welcome, Gigi!
      What a lovely feedback, thank you for taking the time to share. x

  4. 5 stars
    We enjoyed this soup so much! Soup made from scratch is always the best, but sometimes is time consuming. This one, however, came together so quickly, and is comfort food at its best!
    Thank you!

    1. That’s great! I’m very glad it turned out so good, thanks for taking the time to share, Marge. x

  5. 5 stars
    Oh my gosh thank you for this! I didn’t have wine, celery, or rosemary.. but I did cook up white radish with the garlic onion and carrot and seasoned everything with Old Bay, turmeric, and a bit of coriander and basil… so good!!

    1. You’re so welcome, Francie! I’m so pleased it turned so good. : )

Leave a Reply

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

Recipe Rating