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    Home » Recipes » Soup

    Hearty White Bean Soup

    Published: Dec 15, 2020 Modified: Dec 15, 2020 by Candice This post may contain affiliate links.

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Three bowls of Bowl of red soup with noodles and greens.
    Bowl of red soup with noodles.
    Bowl of red soup with noodles.

    This is a hearty, delicious, feel-good soup perfect for any cold evening. You will want to make this over and over again! It’s family-tested and approved as my sister craves it all year round, but especially as a pick me up when she is sick.

    Three bowls of Bowl of red soup with noodles and greens.
    TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
    1 Why this Recipe Works
    2 Ingredients & Substitutions
    3 How to Make this Recipe
    4 White Bean Soup FAQs
    5 More Cozy Soup
    6 Hearty White Bean Soup

    Why this Recipe Works

    Pasta and beans provide the bulk and the heartiness of this soup, with the tomatoes and stock as the main soup base. It has such a great warm and savory flavor profile, seasoned with sauteed garlic, onion and red pepper flakes.

    Adding the garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes before liquid is added to the recipe allows them to fully develop and shine throughout the soup.

    The fresh and light flavor of the chard is a great addition, balancing the more dense components of the beans and pasta. It is added at the end to keep it light and fresh without letting it get bitter.

    The noodles cook in the soup base, absorbing all the flavors developed in the soup.

    This recipe is vegan, making it a great option for everyone.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    Ingredients for soup with beans.

    cannellini beans - I used canned beans for this recipe, but you can also cook them from dried beans. I've also made this recipe with chickpeas and pinto beans.

    pasta - use a small pasta like shells, rotini, or or orecchiette that fits in a soup spoon.

    chard - I use rainbow or red chard because I love the color and it is more delicate than collard greens. You can substitute with kale.

    stock - this recipe calls for vegetable stock to keep it vegan, but you can also use chicken stock.

    How to Make this Recipe

    Heat the olive oil over medium to medium-high heat. Use a stock pot or large enameled cast-iron dutch oven. Add the onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sautée until the onion is translucent.

    Onions cooking in a pot.

    Add the cannellini beans. Add the tomatoes by pulverizing them in your hand before you drop them in. Careful with splatter!

    A hearty, delicious white bean soup with pasta, cannellini beans and fresh rainbow chard. It's my sister's favorite soup, and she LOVES soup! #whitebeansoup #vegan

    Add the stock and bring to boil.

    Drop in the pasta. It will take longer to cook than if you were cooking them in boiling water. Usually, 15-20 minutes if using dried noodles.

    Turn down to a simmer or off if cooking in enameled cast iron. Add in the greens 5 minutes before serving.

    Pot filled with noodle soup.

    White Bean Soup FAQs

    Are cannellini beans and Great Northern beans the same?

    No, but they are a great substitute for each other.

    Are cannellini beans the same as navy beans?

    No, but they are a great substitute for each other.

    Can I make this in advance?

    Yes, but it is best to add the chard right before serving. Also, if you leave the soup for too long, you will need to add more water or stock to reheat because the noodles will absorb all the liquid.

    Bowl of red soup with noodles.

    More Cozy Soup

    When I moved to the Northwest, I found myself craving soup more and more. Here are some of my favorites, and the first two are also vegan:

    • Bowl of lentils with a spoon.
      Iranian Adasi - Lentil Soup
    • Vegan Pho-Inspired Soup
    • Bowl of yellow egg drop soup with carrots and peas.
      Vegetarian Egg Drop Soup with Veggies
    • Delicious Bone Broth Udon Soup

    I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’m up to.

    Three bowls of Bowl of red soup with noodles and greens.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 15 votes

    Hearty White Bean Soup

    A hearty, delicious white bean soup with pasta, cannellini beans and fresh rainbow chard. It's my sister's favorite soup, and she LOVES soup!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time50 minutes mins
    Course: Main, Soup
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Kosher, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 462kcal
    Author: Candice

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small onion sliced into very thin half-moons​
    • 2 cloves garlic minced (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes I use about 1 tsp, sometimes more if I am in a spicy mood, but use less if you don't like spice
    • 15 oz. canned white cannellini beans washed and drained
    • 28 oz. can San Marzano tomatoes
    • 2 cups vegetable stock
    • ½ lb. pasta shells or orchiette
    • 1 bunch rainbow chard stemmed and ripped up. I prefer it with chard.

    Instructions

    • Heat the olive oil over medium to medium-high heat.
    • Add the onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Sautée until the onion is translucent.
    • Add the canellini beans. Add the tomatoes by pulverizing them in your hand before you drop them in. Carful with splatter!
    • Add the chicken stock and bring to boil.
    • Drop in the pasta. It will take longer to cook than if you were cooking them in boiling water. Usually ~20 minutes.
    • Turn down to a simmer or off if cooking in enameled cast iron. Add in the greens 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    You can substitute the cannellini beans with white kidney beans, Great Northern beans, pinto beans, or even chickpeas.
    If you let the soup sit after cooking, you will need to add a little water or stock because the noodles will absorb the liquid.
    Add the chard right before serving.
    Recipe adapted from the Williams-Sonoma cookbook, Soups & Stews.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 462kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 932mg | Potassium: 1316mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 5218IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 198mg | Iron: 7mg
    Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.

    This post was originally published in November of 2017 but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, FAQs, and tips in December of 2020.

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    1. Helmuth Schertzer

      February 02, 2021 at 11:28 am

      white bean soup is my favorite soup .. Here in Europe it is one of the most famous and delicious soups !! or at least for me ..I like it with green parsley and green onions! into the ..I am very very very happy that you wrote this recipe ..as you know I don't cook ..but I ask this soup twice a week at the restaurant

      Reply
      • Candice

        February 03, 2021 at 8:28 am

        You are so kind, Helmuth. Maybe one day you can ask someone to make this one for you 🙂

        Reply
    2. Cindy

      January 10, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      This soup tasted amazing and I really needed it this week! Tomatoes and white beans make the perfect combo. SO comforting!

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        I'm so glad to hear it, Cindy... thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Veronika

      January 10, 2021 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      I LOVE this white bean soup! It's perfectly filling and delicious! I didn't make it for a while now, so definitely putting it on the menu for the next week.

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear... enjoy! And thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Eva

      January 09, 2021 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      Both me and my husband work at a ski resort and a comforting bowl soup for dinner is the best thing after a day at work. This white bean soup is perfect!

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:09 pm

        I'm so glad you found something new to keep you warm... and such a cool job!! Enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Tracy

      January 09, 2021 at 6:18 am

      5 stars
      I've been looking for a soup like this! We loved it so much - filling but healthy and delicious. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:09 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear, Tracy... enjoy!

        Reply
    6. Tammy

      January 08, 2021 at 11:45 am

      5 stars
      It's a perfect day for a bowl of this soup! So healthy, hearty, and wholesome! Thanks for the easy recipe to enjoy all season long 😀

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Tammy... thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    7. Farrukh Aziz

      January 07, 2021 at 11:45 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I love white beans, and pasta too! I've never thought of putting it together as a soup! I tried this out for some lunch and it was amazing! Definitely gonna be on my lunch list real soon! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 11, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        Thank you so much for your kind words, Farrukh... You just made my day!

        Reply
    8. Dennis

      January 06, 2021 at 12:55 am

      5 stars
      It's still chilling out here and this Hearty White Bean Soup is perfect for this cold season! Delicious. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 07, 2021 at 12:17 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you liked it, Dennis!

        Reply
    9. Lauren Vavala

      January 05, 2021 at 11:16 am

      5 stars
      I could eat soup every day this time of the year and this one is so good. Simple to make, yet so delicious!

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 05, 2021 at 2:04 pm

        I'm so glad to hear you liked it, Lauren... thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    10. Aleta

      January 05, 2021 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      Yum! What a hearty bowl of deliciousness! I just LOVE beans in soup and with the addition of the chard and tomato? SO good.

      Reply
      • Candice

        January 05, 2021 at 2:06 pm

        That makes me so happy to hear, Aleta!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

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    Meet Candice

    On this blog, I get to share the food that I love, and get to enjoy in my own home. My Persian Jewish heritage influences most of my recipes, and my travels inspire them. And I'm sure you'll notice my love for everything matcha. Welcome, and enjoy!

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