🍲 Easy Best White Bean Soup – Hearty, Creamy, and Comforting

Best White Bean Soup ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.9 from soup lovers and home cooks)
🥄 Creamy | 🌿 Savory | 🧡 Family-Approved

There’s nothing like a warm bowl of white bean soup on a chilly day. This recipe is creamy, hearty, and packed with flavor, making it perfect for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. Simple ingredients, long-simmered goodness, and just the right balance of herbs make this a classic comfort food that everyone will love.

Perfect for weeknight dinners, cozy lunches, or a make-ahead meal for busy weeks.

Why You’ll Love This the Best White Bean Soup

⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
⏳ Cook Time: 40 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4–6
💰 Budget-Friendly
✨ Flavor: Savory beans, aromatic herbs, lightly creamy texture
🧡 Perfect For: Cozy dinners, healthy meal prep, vegetarian-friendly meals

Ingredients – Simple, Flavor-Packed

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans, drained and rinsed (cannellini or navy)
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 cup chopped kale or spinach
• Optional garnish: grated Parmesan, fresh parsley, drizzle of olive oil

How to Make the Best White Bean Soup

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook 5–7 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.

Step 2: Add Beans and Broth

Stir in drained white beans, broth, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a simmer.

Step 3: Simmer & Blend

Simmer for 20–25 minutes to let flavors meld. For a creamier texture, mash a portion of the beans with a spoon or use an immersion blender to partially puree the soup.

Step 4: Finish & Serve

Add optional greens if desired and cook for another 2–3 minutes until wilted. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a drizzle of olive oil or a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Delicious Variations

• 🥓 Hearty Meat Version – Add cooked bacon, ham, or sausage for extra flavor.
• 🌶️ Spicy White Bean Soup – Sprinkle in crushed red pepper or smoked paprika.
• 🍋 Bright & Fresh – Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.

What Everyone’s Saying About This the Best White Bean Soup

“So creamy and comforting. This is now my go-to soup recipe!”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Laura K.

“Perfect for lunch prep. Hearty, flavorful, and filling.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Mark T.

“Simple ingredients but amazing taste. Even picky eaters loved it.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Jenna M.

Best White Bean Soup – Hearty, Creamy, and Full of Flavor

This White Bean Soup is a cozy, satisfying meal perfect for chilly evenings. Creamy white beans simmered with savory aromatics, herbs, and a touch of smoky bacon or pancetta make this soup rich, flavorful, and comforting. Easy to make from scratch or using canned beans, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or meal prep for the week.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Dish, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 280

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups dried white beans or 3 cans, 15 oz each, drained and rinsed
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 carrots diced
• 2 celery stalks diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 4 slices bacon or 3 oz pancetta diced (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt & black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Optional: fresh parsley grated Parmesan, or lemon juice for garnish

Equipment

• Large pot or Dutch oven
• Cutting board & knife
• Spoon for stirring
• Immersion blender (optional)

Method

 

1. Prepare Beans (if using dried) – Soak dried beans overnight or use the quick-soak method: cover beans with water, boil 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover, and let sit 1 hour. Drain and rinse.
2. Cook Aromatics – In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook diced bacon/pancetta until crisp, then remove and set aside. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery in the same pot until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 more minute.
3. Simmer Soup – Add soaked or canned beans, broth, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 35–40 minutes (20–25 if using canned beans) until beans are tender.
4. Blend or Mash (Optional) – For a creamier texture, mash some beans with the back of a spoon or blend ½ of the soup with an immersion blender.
5. Finish – Stir in cooked bacon/pancetta if using. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf.
6. Serve – Garnish with parsley, Parmesan, or a squeeze of lemon. Serve with crusty bread.

Notes

Swap bacon/pancetta for smoked sausage or keep vegetarian by skipping meat.

Use any variety of white beans: cannellini, navy, or great northern beans.

Soup can be made a day ahead—flavors improve overnight.

Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.

FAQ – Best White Bean Soup

If you love this Best White Bean Soup, you’ll also enjoy the Chicken Murphy—a hearty, flavorful dish that’s perfect for a cozy dinner and pairs wonderfully with a bowl of comforting soup.