Quick One Pot White Beans with Tomatoes & Greens

These Quick One Pot White Beans are made for cooler evenings when you want an easy weeknight dinner.

Made with simple ingredients, this recipe will keep you cozy and nourished.

It’s a simple recipe and easy meal for any day of the week!

There is something so comforting about this one pot white bean dish. I’m a huge fan one pot meals and soups during the cooler months like this chicken pot pie soup and this other recipe. If you like quick dinner recipes with lots of flavour, you’ll definitely want to add this recipe to your easy weeknight meals rotation!

Tender white beans are simmered in an easy to make tomato sauce with a few key herbs. Canned cannellini beans are tender and the best shortcut to making this recipe (no soaking or boiling the beans ahead of time!) Cooking beans this way provides delicious flavour and while it’s a basic method it’s my favourite way to make a quick meal.

Why you’ll love these quick one pot white beans

• Using canned beans and diced tomatoes cuts the cooking time down.
• Everything is cooked in one pot which makes for a quick dinner and easy cleanup!
• Serve these as an easy weeknight dinner or even enjoy it with family and friends for a weekend gathering.
• These quick brothy beans are a great way to add a plant-based meal to your weeknight dinner rotation too if that’s something you’re looking to do.

Ingredients needed for this quick white beans recipe

Olive oil: what you need to start sauteeing the onion at the beginning of the recipe.

Onions & Garlic: Yellow onion and minced garlic are sautéed together to start building flavour at the beginning of cooking this hearty dish.

White beans: Cans of beans like cannellini or navy are delicious and nutritious, giving the dish it’s protein boost and helps to cook up this recipe in no time. I used navy beans but use your favourite white bean or whatever type you can find.

Diced tomatoes: A versatile staple, I like to use diced tomatoes for more texture to this brothy dish.

Kale: Adding in kales gives a boost of greens to this recipe and rounds out the dish. Kale also softens really quickly in the broth while still holding its texture.

Parmesan Cheese: Adds flavour to this dish and is the perfect topper before serving!

Spices: Oregano and thyme go beautifully with the tomatoes and beans while the red pepper flakes bring just a little bit of heat.

Broth or Water: This recipe uses a few cups water but you can definitely use chicken broth or vegtable broth instead as the main cooking liquid.

Step by step process for these one pot beans

Step 1: In a large skillet or large pot over medium heat, add the onions and cook for 6-8 minutes until softened.

Step 2: Add the minced garlic and cook 1-2 more minutes until fragrant.

Step 3: Add in the diced tomatoes with their juices, water (or broth), dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, a couple grinds of pepper and chili flakes. Stir and turn the heat up to high to bring to a boil. Then, turn the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with just a little space for the steam to escape and keep at a simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Add in the beans (drained & rinsed) and use a potato-masher or back of a spoon to crush them up a bit; this will give the dish a bit creamier texture but it’s totally optional. Then, add in the chopped kale and 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese. Stir and cook at a low simmer for 5 minutes or untio the kale is wilted.

Step 5: Serve topped with parmesan and add more salt and pepper (to your liking).

Expert tips for making these quick beans

• Keep some of these basic ingredients in your pantry so you can cook this up anytime you need a quick dish.
• Enjoy this one pot white bean recipe with some good crusty bread like a toasted sourdough to dip into the beans. Or you could even try serving them with some quinoa or rice for a more substantial dish.
• Cannellini beans, navy beans, great northern beans or even butter beans are absolutely scrumptious in this delicious recipe.
• If you want to meal prep this recipe, make the beans but leave the greens out. Store in an airtight container. Take the greens on the side and add them after you’ve reheated the brothy white beans.

FAQ for this one pot meal

Can I use other types of greens in this recipe?
Don’t have kale on hand? You can totally skip it! This dish is great without the kale too. OR, try it with other leafy greens like chopped swiss chard or even a handful of fresh spinach.

Would dry beans work in this recipe?
This recipe uses canned beans to ensure everything cooks quickly! I would not recommend using dried beans for this delicious dish.

Which types of beans can I use in this recipe?
Cannellini beans (also called white kidney beans), navy beans, great northern beans or even butter beans (also known as lime beans) are all perfectly suitable for this recipe. It really depends on your preference OR even what you have on hand in the pantry at the time.

Does this recipe work in a slow cooker? 
I haven’t tested this recipe in a slow cooker or instant pot. But I’ll be sure to update this post if I do!

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

More one pot meals to love from the blog

One Pot Spicy Sausage Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Roasted Tomato Soup

One Pot Creamy Tortellini Soup