Tuscan White Bean Pasta

This Tuscan white bean pasta is deliciously comforting while also being quite good for you. Made with white beans, sundried tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and baby spinach, this is the very definition of a fuss-free weeknight dinner.

I love a quick and easy veggie pasta made with pantry staples, and this Tuscan white bean pasta is one of my favorites.

It's a budget-friendly recipe that's easy to adapt and quick to make. I also love it because it's quite good for you as far as pasta goes.

It has protein from the white beans and vitamins from the veggies and spinach, and you can make it even healthier by using wholewheat pasta.

Why you'll love this Tuscan white bean pasta

• It's super easy to make for a fuss-free weeknight dinner.
• It's filling and nutritious from the beans and veggies.
• The flavors are on point and the pasta is anything but bland.

What goes into cannellini pasta

Olive oil - You'll need a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to saute the onion and garlic in. If you don't cook with oil, you can substitute it with a bit of vegetable broth.

Onion - Red and yellow onions are both good choices. You can also use shallots if you want a milder flavor.

Garlic - Freshly chopped or minced garlic is always best in this type of sauce, but you can also use frozen garlic if that's what you have on hand.

Red chili flakes - Feel free to increase the quantity of red pepper flakes if you want the white bean pasta to be a bit fiery.

Italian herbs - If you don't have an Italian seasoning mix on hand, you can use a blend of dried oregano and dried basil.

Cannellini beans - I always have a couple of cans of cannellini beans in the pantry because they're a budget-friendly protein source. Drain and rinse canned beans before adding them to the pan.

Baby spinach - You can also use kale here but keep in mind it will take longer to wilt.

Sundried tomatoes - If using sundried tomatoes packed in oil, make sure you drain them well before adding them to the pasta. Fresh cherry tomatoes are a good substitute.

Mozzarella balls - Mini mozzarella balls are just perfect in this pasta with beans, but you can also shred a ball of mozzarella.

Fresh basil - A handful of fresh basil leaves give extra brightness and flavor to this vegetarian Tuscan pasta. Some fresh parsley is another good idea.

Pasta - I used fusilli to make this white bean pasta, but you can also use penne, bow-tie pasta or even a long type of pasta such as tagliatelle. Use whole wheat pasta for a healthier meal.

How to make pasta with white beans and spinach

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the pasta al dente following the instructions on the package. Reserve 2 cups of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan or Dutch oven and saute the onion for 2-3 minutes until softened.

Add the garlic and red chili flakes and cook for another minute.

Stir in the tomato paste, then add 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and bring to a simmer. Stir in the Italian herbs mix and cannellini beans and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes until wilted.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and toss to combine.

Stir in the sundried tomatoes, mozzarella balls and fresh basil and season to taste.

Leftovers and storage

• This white bean pasta dish tastes best served immediately.
• Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. It tastes great served at room temperature.
• Reheat the cannellini pasta in the microwave, keeping in mind that the mozzarella will melt.

Recipe notes and tips

• This Tuscan white bean pasta is satisfying on its own, but you can serve it with some garlic bread slices if you like.
• Add ⅓ cup (75 ml) dry white wine before adding the beans to the pan. This will give the sauce extra flavor.
• This recipe works with any type of white bean, including haricot beans and butter beans.
• Sprinkle a bit of grated Parmesan cheese on top of individual bowls before serving.
• Boost the protein intake of this pasta dish by adding some rotisserie chicken or Italian sausage.

If you liked this Tuscan white bean pasta, you might also like some of my other easy vegetarian pasta recipes:

• Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta with Walnuts
• Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
• Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta
• Creamy Sweet Potato Pasta Sauce

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