30 Budget-Friendly, Protein-Packed Recipes Using Canned White Beans

Ever feel like your wallet's a little empty but your belly's craving something filling? Look no further than the pantry staple - canned white beans! These affordable superstars are packed with protein and ready to whip up delicious meals in no time.

From cozy soups and stews to vibrant salads and veggie burgers, this list has 30 budget-friendly recipes that'll tantalize your taste buds. Try these recipes and explore a world of flavor with the humble can of white beans!

Marinated White Bean Salad

Marinated White Bean Salad. This white bean salad recipe is perfect for simple plant-based meals. Get the recipe.

Cozy White Bean Stew

No time for a complex meal? This vegan White Bean Tomato Stew is a simple and quick dish that doesn't compromise on flavor. It's healthy, hearty and satisfying. Get the recipe.

Italian Cannellini Salad

This Italian Cannellini Bean Salad is healthy, flavorful, and satisfying. Made with white beans, juicy roasted bell peppers, olives, marinated red onions, and dollops of vegan cashew cheese, it's the perfect cold side dish or easy lunch. A good option for picnics, potluck, or work lunches too. Get the recipe.

Green Minestrone Soup

It's a Green Minestrone Soup. Easy, one pot vegetable soup from Italy that's bursting with flavor. While Sicilian Minestrone is usually a tomato based soup, this Green Minestrone doesn't contain tomatoes. Get the recipe.

White Bean Mushroom Soup

This White Bean Mushroom Soup is so easy to make, and it's one of my favorite Cannellini Beans recipes. It's very comforting and satisfying. Made with aromatics like garlic, onions and thyme, and simple pantry staples, this white bean soup smells just as good as it tastes! This easy vegan soup is packed with plant-based protein and lots of flavors. Get the recipe.

Borscht with Cauliflower and White Beans

Borscht is quintessentially a Ukrainian Soup and it became so popular for a reason. While traditional Borscht has a lot of sautéing, this version of Vegetarian Borscht is made on a whim. Get the recipe.

Habichuelas Blancas Guisadas

Are you looking to add some variation to your lunch menu? How about some Habichuelas blancas guisadas, the classic Dominican lunch dish, but made with small white beans? I have added some new great touches that you'll appreciate while retaining all our criollo flavors. Get the recipe.

White Bean Hummus Recipe

f you love hummus but enjoy the occasional twist in flavor, give this version a try. Made with navy beans and cannellini beans instead of chickpeas, the slight difference in flavor is delicious and pairs will with just about anything you care to dip in it. Get the recipe.

Cannellini Bean Meatballs

Walnut and White Bean Meatballs with Mojo Sauce! Meaty, plant-based meatballs with a citrusy, garlicky mojo sauce. Get the recipe.

Lemony White Bean Soup

Looking for a refreshing and zesty vegan soup? Try our vegan white bean soup, made with a creamy roux base and packed with veggies. With a lemony taste and freshly chopped parsley, this soup is the perfect comfort food. Trust us; this is not your average bean soup recipe! Get the recipe.

Salad with Beans, Bell Pepper and Blue Cheese

A delicious and simple salad of juicy Roasted Bell Peppers, White Beans, a touch of garlic and a sprinkling of blue cheese. Inspired by Bulgarian cuisine, this side dish comes together quickly and easily. Can be served warm or cold. Get the recipe.

White Bean Chicken Chili

This delicious White Chili with ground chicken and sour cream is ready to be served in just 40 minutes. This easy and hearty soup recipe will keep you full and satisfied for hours. It's perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Get the recipe.

This delicious White Chili with ground chicken and sour cream is ready to be served in just 40 minutes. This easy and hearty soup recipe will keep you full and satisfied for hours. It's perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Get the recipe.

White Bean & Basil Hummus

White bean hummus with basil oil drizzle! This low-fat hummus is bursting with fresh flavor, perfect as a dip or spread on sandwiches. Get the recipe.

Rustic White Bean and Ham Soup

This white bean and ham soup is so flavorful and comforting, and yet somehow tastes light at the same time. Maybe it's the white beans and the kale that balance out the richness of the ham. Whatever the reason, I just know that I feel so nourished after I finish eating this soup. Get the recipe.

Ham and Cannellini Bean Soup

This hearty ham and cannellini bean soup can be prepared with leftover ham. In fact it’s an amazing dish to make with ham! It’s so s comforting and packed with flavor. Want to know what to do with leftover white beans? Well, here’s the perfect answer. Get the recipe.

Smoked Butternut Squash White Bean Dip

Smoked Butternut Squash and White Bean Dip. Perfect as a dip, tossed with hot pasta or smeared on sandwiches. Get the recipe.

Arugula, White Bean and Roasted Potato Salad

This arugula, white bean and roasted potato salad does double duty. A hearty, plant-based main for us and a delicious side-dish for everyone else. Simple to put together and packed with protein and fiber, it’s the perfect dish for any type of gathering. Get the recipe.

Hungarian Bean Goulash

If you would like to eat a vegetarian goulash soup exactly how Hungarians eat it, you should try this recipe. Our family has been making bean goulash this way for generations. It is a 30-min simple, one-pot soup using only veggies and beans. Get the recipe.

Italian Tuna White Bean Salad

This tasty Italian tuna bean salad, or insalata di tonno e fagioli as it’s known in Italy, features fresh tuna fish steaks and cannellini beans as the main ingredients. Italian fresh tuna salad makes a satisfying lunch, or you can enjoy the Mediterranean flavors by enjoying it as a side dish with a main course or a snack. Get the recipe.

30 Minute Pesto Chicken, Kale + White Bean Soup

This 30 Minute Pesto Chicken, Kale + White Bean Soup is the perfect cozy recipe to whip up on a cold night when you want something healthy and easy. Get the recipe.

Tuscan Mussels

For a taste of Italy try my mussels with broccoli rabe and cannellini beans. It's a perfect blend of flavors!  Just make sure to have enough crusty bread to dip into the sauce. Get the recipe.

Italian Farro Bean Soup

This farro soup is a must save for cold months! Beans, farro, tomatoes and vegetables in an aromatic broth. Simple, healthy and easy– this Italian farro soup recipe is delicious. Get the recipe.

Mediterranean Bean Salad

With fresh produce and simple ingredients, this Mediterranean bean salad is a satisfying and filling salad that should definitely be served at your next outdoor bbq and picnic. Serve with grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp, or simply enjoy as a quick and easy go-to lunch! Get the recipe.

Sausage and Bean Soup

This delicious soup is easy to prepare and perfect for a chilly day. It's also a great way to use up leftover sausage and beans. Get the recipe.

White Bean and Kale Quesadillas

These smashed white bean and kale quesadillas served with a creamy BBQ dip are the perfect meatless meal for a light dinner. Get the recipe.

Escarole and Beans

Escarole and beans is a classic, comforting and simple Italian dish. Leafy escarole and cannellini beans are cooked with garlic, onions and broth to create a wonderfully hearty vegetarian stew-like dish. Get the recipe.

Baked Beans

These easy vegan baked beans are packed full of smoky flavor without any added bacon or ham. Perfect for any summer picnic or barbecue. Get the recipe.

Vegetarian White Bean Chili Recipe

If you’re looking for a vegetarian white bean chili recipe that checks all of the boxes, this one is it! It’s loaded with flavor (lime, cilantro, spices!). It’s loaded with protein and fiber (beans, corn!). And it’s loaded with simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry (broth, onion, garlic). Serve this vegetarian white chili with a ton of toppings and you’ve got a delicious, filling, and nutritious meal. Get the recipe.

Creamy White Bean Pasta

Fusilli chickpea pasta is coated in a luscious & creamy vegan white bean sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach. A comforting plant based meal! Get the recipe.

Simple Ribollita Italian Bean Soup

Ribollita Italian bean soup combines a variety of vegetables with beans, broth, wine, garlic, and seasonings. The resulting white bean kale soup is hearty, healthy and delicious. You can get creative with it, adding in any veggies in the salad drawer you wish to use up or anything approaching the end of its prime. This simple Italian soup recipe is sometimes known as Tuscan bean soup or Italian bread and vegetable soup. Get the recipe.

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