Discover the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly creamy and flavorful Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish combines tender butter beans, aromatic garlic, rich sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach in a velvety sauce that will transport you straight to the heart of Italy. It’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner or a stunning side dish that tastes like it took hours to prepare.
This simple one-pan meal is not only delicious but also packed with plant-based protein and nutrients. Whether you serve it with a chunk of crusty bread for dipping or over a bed of polenta, this recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Let’s dive into how to create this rustic and satisfying dish.
Why This Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe is a Must-Try
You will absolutely fall in love with this dish. It’s a game-changer for busy weeknights when you’re craving something both comforting and quick. The magic lies in its simplicity and the depth of flavor you can achieve with just a handful of ingredients.
- Quick & Easy: This entire recipe comes together in one pan in less than 30 minutes.
- Incredibly Flavorful: Sautéed garlic, fragrant herbs, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes create a complex and savory sauce.
- Creamy & Satisfying: The combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese makes the sauce luxuriously smooth, while the butter beans provide a hearty, satisfying texture.
- Versatile: It’s a fantastic vegetarian main course but can also be served as a side. For more protein, consider pairing it with a main like this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon.
The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe is its reliance on simple, high-quality pantry staples. You don’t need anything fancy to create this masterpiece.
For the Butter Beans:
- Olive Oil: Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor base.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is essential for that aromatic punch.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Oil-packed tomatoes provide a sweet, tangy, and chewy element.
- Butter Beans: Canned butter beans (or cannellini beans) are perfect. Just be sure to rinse and drain them.
- Vegetable Broth: This creates the liquid base for our sauce.
- Heavy Cream: The secret to the ultra-creamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts beautifully and adds a salty, nutty flavor.
- Fresh Spinach: A few handfuls wilt down perfectly into the sauce.
- Seasoning: Dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
How to Make Tuscan Butter Beans: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor. The process is straightforward and perfect for cooks of all skill levels.
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Start by heating the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30-60 seconds, until it’s fragrant. Be careful not to burn it. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute to release their flavors.
Step 2: Simmer for Flavor
Pour in the vegetable broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the drained and rinsed butter beans, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes, allowing the beans to absorb the delicious flavors.
Step 3: Finish with Creaminess and Herbs
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened slightly. Finally, add the fresh spinach and stir until it has just wilted. Give it a final taste and adjust seasoning if needed before serving hot.
Tips for the Best Creamy Butter Beans
While this Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe is simple, a few tips will ensure it turns out perfectly every time. For a similar flavor profile in a different dish, you might enjoy this Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta.
- Don’t Overcook the Garlic: Burnt garlic will make the entire dish bitter. Cook it just until fragrant.
- Use Quality Ingredients: Since the ingredient list is short, using good quality broth, cheese, and olive oil makes a big difference.
- Mash Some Beans: For an even creamier texture, lightly mash about a quarter of the beans with the back of a spoon against the side of the pan.
What to Serve with Your Tuscan Beans
This dish is wonderfully versatile. Serve it as a main course with a side of crusty bread or garlic bread for soaking up every last drop of the sauce. It’s also delicious served over creamy polenta, orzo, or even as a hearty topping for baked potatoes. For a complete Italian-inspired meal, it pairs beautifully with an Authentic Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe.
Easy Recipe Variations
Feel free to customize this recipe to your liking. Add sautéed mushrooms or cooked Italian sausage for extra heartiness. For a different flavor profile, stir in a spoonful of pesto or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end.
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, gently warm the beans in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of broth or cream to loosen the sauce if needed.
Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can easily adapt this recipe. For a dairy-free version, substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk from a can and use a vegan parmesan alternative or a tablespoon of nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
Absolutely. If you don’t have butter beans, cannellini beans or Great Northern beans are excellent substitutes. They have a similar creamy texture that works perfectly in this dish.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of vegetable broth or cream to loosen the sauce as needed.
Yes, this recipe is 100% vegetarian. It’s a hearty and satisfying meatless meal packed with plant-based protein.
To make it even heartier, you can add cooked Italian sausage, pancetta, or shredded rotisserie chicken. Serving it over creamy polenta, orzo, or rice also makes it a fuller meal.
Share Your Creation!
I hope you love this Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe as much as I do! It’s a true testament to how simple ingredients can create something extraordinary. If you make this recipe, I would love to see it! Please feel free to leave a comment below or share a photo of your dish on Pinterest.
Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe
Tuscan Butter Beans Recipe (Creamy & Garlicky)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute.
- Pour in the vegetable broth, scraping the bottom of the pan. Add the rinsed and drained butter beans, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add the fresh spinach and stir until it has just wilted into the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
This dish is best served immediately with crusty bread for dipping.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
