This Tuscan white bean soup is a hearty blend of Italian sausage, vegetables and beans, all simmered together in a savory tomato broth. A quick and easy dinner option that is a complete meal in one pot!
When I need an easy meal to warm up with on a cold day, I turn to soups such as chicken and wild rice soup, taco soup and this simple, yet totally satisfying white bean soup.
I always keep an assortment of canned beans in the pantry for times when I need to put together a quick meal. This white bean soup pairs cannellini beans with flavorful sausage, fresh vegetables and tomatoes for a meal that’s a hit with both kids and adults.
How do you make white bean soup?
Start by cooking Italian sausage in a pot until it is browned and cooked through. Add onions, carrots and celery to the pot, then cook until the veggies are softened. Stir in garlic, along with herbs and seasonings. Pour in chicken broth, then add the white beans. Let the soup simmer until the flavors have combined and the vegetables are tender. Add some fresh spinach and cook until the greens have wilted. Finish the soup with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for the perfect soup
- I typically use mild Italian sausage in this dish since I make it for my kids, but if you prefer a little heat, feel free to use hot sausage.
- Be sure to rinse and drain the beans before you add them to the soup to remove excess sodium.
- This soup stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and lasts in the freezer for 2 months. Thaw the frozen soup overnight in the fridge, then reheat it on the stove top over medium heat.
- I like to serve this soup with freshly grated parmesan cheese, as well as some sliced bread such as a baguette.
What is the best white bean?
I prefer to use cannellini beans in this recipe, which are white kidney beans. These beans are tender with a creamy texture, and hold their shape nicely when cooked. You can use other varieties of white beans if you prefer such as Great Northern beans.
Is white bean soup good for you?
This soup is loaded with beans, tomatoes, greens and vegetables which are all elements of a healthy diet. The sausage does add some calories to the dish, but you can use turkey sausage to keep it on the lighter side.
Flavor variations
This soup is delicious as-is, but you can absolutely use other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Protein: Swap out the Italian sausage for sliced smoked sausage such as kielbasa, ground turkey, ground beef or diced cooked chicken.
- Greens: Instead of spinach, try using kale, escarole or Swiss chard.
- Beans: This is a white bean soup, but if you don’t have any white beans on hand you could make it with other varieties such as red kidney beans.
- Flavorings: Amp up the flavor with some crushed red pepper flakes, kalamata olives, sauteed mushrooms, or finish each bowl of soup with a drizzle of high quality olive oil.
Slow cooker white bean soup
This recipe can easily be adapted to make in the slow cooker. Cook the sausage and vegetables on the stove top as directed, then add them to a crock pot along with the rest of the ingredients, except for the parsley. Cover and cook on low for 2-4 hours. Uncover, add the parsley, then serve.
This white bean soup is on my regular meal rotation during the colder weather months. It’s a great way to enjoy your veggies!
More soups to savor
White Bean Soup Video
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 16 ounces Italian sausage casings removed
- 3/4 cup white onion diced
- 2 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 2 medium carrots peeled, halved and sliced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes do not drain
- 2 15 ounce cans white beans drained and rinsed
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage to the pan; cook for 5 minutes, using a spoon to break up the sausage into smaller pieces.
- Add the onion, celery and carrots to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes or until just softened. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the Italian seasoning, diced tomatoes, chicken broth and white beans. Bring the pot to a simmer.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes or until wilted.
- Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Heather says
I’ve made this a couple of times subbing out the Italian Sausage with bacon or kielbasa instead. Great for leftovers and a favorite in my family now!
Steph says
This is a complete meal in a bowl! I double the recipe and freeze half.
Philippa says
I made this with Chorizo since I didn’t have any Italian sausage on hand. So amazing!!
Kristie says
Thank you! Making this tonight!
Kristie says
Can you use frozen spinach?
Sara says
Yes that’s fine!
SUZY says
Delicious! I eat vegan and had some leftover Impossible Spicey Italian sausage, so I used that and vegetable broth as a substitute. SO good!
Elaina says
This is my new favorite soup 😍 I have made it three times in the last month. Perfect just as written, I like using spicy sausage though. I love that it’s super affordable and easy to throw together! Thank you for this!
Sharon Hill says
Made this the other night meatless because I didn’t want to go to the store, and I had the rest of the ingredients already on hand. It needed a touch of onion powder. I also topped servings with Feta and finely shredded Parmesan; as per Gordon Rasmey. Loved the addition of the wilted spinach. Thanks for sharing!
RJ says
This soup is absolutely amazing and so easy to make. I gave some to a friend and was asked what restaurant I got it from. Thank you for this recipe!
krystal zavala says
This is a great healthy & easy recipe! I just added 4 minced mushrooms, used ground turkey and added just a pinch of red paper flakes to my bowl… so good.
Mahy says
The bean soup to fight for! Fantastic mix of the ingredients, and all of them are my favorite. What else to wish for?!
Genevieve says
This Tuscan White Bean Soup looks incredible and full of fiber!
Jenn says
I love your soups! They’re always so hearty and satisfying, and this one is no exceptions! The kids even ate the veggies in it – a double win!
Nathan says
I’ve been really into soup recently and this looks absolutely delicious! I love the option to make it in the slow cooker too, so convenient!
Beth Sachs says
Such a hearty and comforting soup. Great with toasted ciabatta and best of all the kids LOVED it!
Jacque Hooper says
Gave this a try for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! So hearty and flavorful; easily, my new favorite soup!
veenaazmanov says
A Bowl of all the yummy goodness for Dinner. Healthy and a total filler meal I love it.
Lisa says
The Italian Sausage with the creamy white beans and spinach makes this soup so flavorful! I could literally eat this all week long.
Nicole Durham says
This soup looks incredible (of course, so do all of your recipes) but I actually have most of the ingredients for this one on hand already. Can’t wait to try it!
Dionne says
If there was one soup type that I could call my favorite, it would be this one. Fantastic bean soup to make at this time of the year!