Easy Cannellini Beans

These easy cannellini beans come together in just 5 minutes with a handful of pantry staples! It’s the quick, protein-packed side dish you’ll make on repeat for lunches and weeknight dinners.

Here’s a trick that I think all home cooks should know: my 5 minute cannellini beans recipe! It’s a lifesaver for weeknight cooking, or the perfect solution for adding plant-based protein to a meal.

You’ll be amazed at the flavor you can get out of one can of beans in just a few minutes. Throw it together in a skillet with a few spices and it tastes like it’s been simmering all day. The first time Alex whipped these up for me, I could not believe that it tastes so delicious in such a short timeframe. I love adding these to simple dinners to make them more filling!

5 Star Reader Reviews

“With the cupboard almost bare, I was looking for a recipe for beans and came across yours…it’s a simple delight! Thank you.” -Laura B.

“This was so good! I did the beans over linguine… with Parmesan… it’s a keeper! Thanks!” -Jeannie F.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Truly 5 minutes, start to finish. Drain, season, heat: and you’re done!
Pantry-friendly. A can of cannellini beans, olive oil, and a seasoning blend you may already own. Of course, you can add chives like the photos too!
Packed with plant-based protein. Each serving has a good amount of protein and fiber, making this a satisfying and filling side dish.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this cannelini beans recipe comes from infusing flavor into a can of beans. Of course, you can cook your own on the stovetop. (Follow the instructions in White Beans on Toast.) But this recipe is designed to be a quick and simple fix for weeknights: where you barely have to think. Here’s what you need for this recipe:

1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans: Drain and rinse before using. You can actually use any canned white beans with this recipe
Olive oil: A heart-healthy oil used for cooking
Herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning: Both work well: more on this below!
Fresh chives: Adds brightness and a pop of green; use a pinch of onion powder if you don’t have them on hand
Kosher salt and black pepper: To season to taste

Choosing Your Seasoning Blend

There are two different seasoning blends that perfectly compliment the buttery, creamy flavor of cannellini beans. One is used in French cuisine, and one in Italian. Both are easy to find at most grocery stores.

Herbes de Provence: This blend is a group of herbs that grow in the Provence region in France, like savory, marjoram, rosemary, lavender, and thyme. It adds a herby flavor with a subtle floral nuance that’s incredibly unique. If you can’t find it, use Italian seasoning or try homemade herbes de Provence.
Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning has a similar vibe but it’s made with common Italian herbs. It’s a blend of oregano, basil, thyme, sage and rosemary. It’s easy to find at grocery stores, but you can also make homemade Italian seasoning.

Spotlight on Cannellini Beans

Cannellini beans (pronounced Can-a-leen-ee) are an Italian white bean that’s oval shaped, with a creamy texture and mild flavor. They’re one of the easiest white beans to find canned at the grocery, along with Great Northern beans.

What’s the difference between cannellini and Great Northern beans? Cannellini are larger, with a creamier color; Great Northern are smaller and whiter.

How to Make Cannellini Beans

There’s really no technique required to this cannellini beans recipe: it’s all about the flavorings! Here’s what you’ll do:

Drain and rinse the canned beans. This is standard for using canned beans in recipes.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet.
Add the beans and seasonings, and cook about 2 minutes until heated. Fresh chives add big fresh flavor to this recipe and a beautiful bright green color. If you don’t have them on hand, use a pinch of onion powder.

Take one taste and you’ll be amazed by the amount of flavor that can be coaxed out of a simple can of beans and 5 minutes. Take this concept and use it when you’re hangry and need a healthy, protein packed snack or side dish.

Ways to Serve Them

Another thing I love about this cannellini beans recipe is that it’s incredibly versatile. It works as a side dish, hearty snack or even a healthy plant-based dinner. Here are a few ways to serve it:

Perfect with pasta. It’s hard to find a filling vegetarian or vegan side dish for pasta. This one goes perfectly with Baked Rigatoni Pasta, White Sauce Pasta, Roasted Cauliflower Pasta, Pasta Primavera, Roasted Eggplant Pasta, and Pasta with White Wine Sauce.
Great with seafood. It’s also great with fish or shellfish, like Pesto Salmon or Perfect Grilled Salmon, Grilled Salmon in Foil, Grilled Tilapia, Pan Fried Cod, Baked Cod, or Broiled Shrimp.
Make a fast bowl meal. This is what we do for quick weeknight dinners. Throw it in a bowl with other raw or cooked veggies, scrambled tofu, leftover rice or quinoa, etc.

Why You Should Eat More Beans

Beans are one of the best foods you can eat: especially if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet! They’re full of plant-based protein, very shelf stable, and easy to make in delicious recipes. Here’s why to eat more beans:

They’re the cheapest source of protein in the world. They’re the only food that’s both categorized as a protein and vegetable by the USDA.
They’ve may help you live longer: the list of health benefits if beans is long: they’re nutrient-dense, rich in cancer fighting antioxidants and hearty-healthy fiber. Guess the common element in Blue Zone diet countries where people live the longest in the world? They all eat 1 cup of beans per day.
They’re planet-friendly. Beans may be key to feeding the Earth’s growing population: they take less of a toll on the climate than animal proteins.

Storage Tips

Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in a small skillet over medium-low heat with a drizzle of olive oil, for about 2 minutes.

I don’t recommend freezing this recipe, since canned beans can become mushy after freezing and thawing.

Dietary Notes

This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cannellini beans?

Cannellini beans are a large Italian white bean with a creamy texture and mild, slightly nutty flavor. They’re one of the easiest white beans to find canned and are used in Italian and Mediterranean cooking.

What’s the difference between cannellini beans and Great Northern beans?

They’re closely related and can be swapped 1:1 in most recipes. The main differences are size and color: cannellini beans are larger with a slightly creamier hue, while Great Northern beans are smaller and a brighter white.

Can I use dried cannellini beans instead of canned?

Yes! Dried beans have a delicious flavor and a slightly firmer texture. You’ll need to cook them first before using them in this skillet recipe. Substitute about 1½ cups of cooked beans for the 15-ounce can. Go to How to Cook Beans.