Creamy Tuscan White Bean Skillet

A rich, comforting, 20-minute skillet dinner packed with creamy white beans, garlic, Italian herbs, and fresh spinach. It’s budget-friendly, protein-rich, and naturally vegetarian — perfect with crusty bread or pasta!

🥘 Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 (15-oz) cans white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1⁄4 cup vegetable broth or water
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
• Bread or pasta for serving (optional)

🍳 Instructions

1. Sauté aromatics

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft.
Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, and basil. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.

2. Add beans & broth

Stir in the white beans. Pour in vegetable broth/water.
Simmer for 3–4 minutes so the beans absorb the flavors.

3. Add tomatoes & spinach

Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin softening (2 minutes).
Add spinach and let it wilt.

4. Make it creamy

Lower heat. Add heavy cream and Parmesan.
Simmer 2–3 minutes until thickened and creamy.
Taste and adjust salt/pepper.

5. Serve

Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with:

• Warm crusty bread
• Pasta
• Rice
• Or enjoy alone as a protein-packed meal!

📝 Notes

• Use cannellini, great northern, or navy beans — all work well.
• Add more broth if you prefer it saucier.
• Heavy cream can be replaced with half-and-half or coconut cream.
• For vegans: use coconut milk + nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.

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💡 Tips for Best Flavor

• Brown the onions well — this gives a deeper flavor.
• Don’t skip garlic; more garlic = better Tuscan flavor!
• Add spinach at the end to keep it bright green.
• Let the skillet simmer slowly after adding cream so it becomes thick and velvety.

🍽️ Servings

Serves 3–4 as a main
Serves 4–6 as a side dish

🔢 Approx. Nutritional Info (per serving, 4 servings)

• Calories: ~380
• Protein: 17 g
• Carbs: 32 g
• Fat: 20 g
• Fiber: 9–10 g
• Sodium: depends on added salt
• Calcium-rich from Parmesan
• High in plant protein + iron from beans & spinach

🌿 Health Benefits

• High in fiber → great for digestion & satiety
• Plant-based protein from beans
• Rich in antioxidants from tomatoes, garlic & spinach
• Calcium + Vitamin K from Parmesan and greens
• Comforting, filling, but still nutritious

❓ Q & A

Q: Can I make it vegan?

Yes — use coconut milk or cashew cream + nutritional yeast.

Q: Can I add chicken?

Absolutely. Add cooked shredded or grilled chicken when adding the cream.

Q: Can I freeze this?

Cream-based dishes don’t freeze perfectly, but it will stay okay for up to 2 months. Reheat gently.

Q: What can I serve it with?

Crusty bread, pasta, quinoa, rice, or roasted veggies.

Q: Can I make it spicy?

Increase crushed red pepper to 1 tsp.