White bean soup is delicious and easy to make. Try this super easy recipe and make it a favorite for your family in no time at all!
I created this recipe because I was tired of trying other soups that didn’t quite hit the spot. I wanted a hearty and flavorful soup where the pasta isn’t mushy and the beans still have a bit of bite to them. After many experiments in the kitchen, I finally found the perfect combination of herbs and cooking times!
I’m so excited to share exactly how you can make the perfect bowl of white bean soup in your own kitchen every time. It’s so easy, packed with flavor, has the perfect texture, doesn’t need any special equipment, and is the best midweek meal for those busy days. Your family will be asking for seconds and thirds, trust me! Make this soup once and never look back; it’ll become a staple in your dinner rotation, guaranteed.
Why you’ll love this White Bean Pasta Soup
This delicious white bean soup will taste like you slaved away in the kitchen for hours, but it can actually be brought together in under an hour. In about 30 minutes you could have an incredible white bean soup that everyone will enjoy.
The flavors and textures are so on-point that everyone will want to finish their bowl or ask for more. Thankfully this dish is incredibly filling and makes a great amount of finished soup to feed the family or else you may have had to double the recipe.
While this white bean soup is already incredible, you can add in some fresh kale for a more nutritious dish packed with flavor. White bean and kale soup are sure to be just as big of a hit with the family.
Ingredients for Pasta and White Bean Soup
- Butter
- Onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Garlic
- Basil
- Parsley
- Oregano
- Chicken broth
- Pasta
- White beans
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
How to make White Bean Soup with Pasta
- In a pot or dutch oven, heat the butter over medium heat.
- Add in the diced onions, carrots, celery, and herbs. Cook until the onions are translucent.
- Add in the garlic and cook until it’s fragrant (about 30 seconds).
- Add chicken broth.
- Add in the pasta and the white beans.
- Bring the soup to a simmer for 10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.
White Bean Soup Recipe Tips
This recipe couldn’t be easier to make, but here are a few tips to ensure your white bean soup is delicious every time:
- Use Canned or Rehydrated White Beans: I always use canned white beans because it’s so much quicker than soaking dried beans. You can just add them straight to the soup, and they’ll cook perfectly. But this recipe works well with each type! So use whatever you have on hand.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Pasta can become mushy if overcooked, which is why I add it to the soup near the end of the cooking time. This way, it’ll still have some bite to it when served.
- Cook the Garlic Until Fragrant: Those 30 seconds of cooking the garlic are an important step! Cooking the garlic until fragrant helps to mellow out its sharpness and bring out its delicious flavor.
- Use Homemade Chicken Broth: If you have time, I highly recommend using homemade chicken bone broth in this soup. It will add a rich, deep flavor to the broth that can’t be replicated with store-bought options.
- Use Vegetable Broth: Want to make this soup vegetarian or vegan? Ditch the chicken broth for vegetable broth. You’ll still get a yummy soup without any meat!
- Add in Some Leafy Greens: Kale or chopped spinach will add some extra nutrients and texture to this soup. Just add them in during the last few minutes of cooking.
What to serve with Italian White Bean Soup
As this recipe includes white beans and pasta, it’s pretty filling on its own. I really like adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh herbs on top to give it an extra kick of flavor. But if you want to make it a more complete meal, here are some serving suggestions:
- Italian Subway bread
- Potato bread
- No-knead easy dinner rolls
- Slow cooker Italian beef sandwich
- Kale apple salad with orange vinaigrette
- Easy Dutch Oven bread
- 60 minute Italian herb bread
- Grilled chicken Caesar salad
- Italian herb and cheese bread
- Chopped steak salad
- One pan chicken bacon sandwich
How to store White Bean and Pasta Soup
This soup is best enjoyed fresh because the pasta will continue soaking up broth as it sits in the fridge. If you’re making the soup in advance and want to store it for later, I recommend cooking the pasta separately and adding it in right before serving. Store the pasta and white bean soup in separate containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Mix them together and reheat them on the stove or in the microwave when ready to serve!
How to freeze Italian White Bean Soup
This soup would be a great one to freeze if it wasn’t for the pasta. When the soup thaws and gets recooked, the pasta will become incredibly mushy and practically dissolve in the soup, I do not recommend it.
That being said, you can remove the pasta, freeze the soup, and then add in new pasta when its time to eat it again, but that is a lot of extra work.
White Bean and Pasta Soup FAQs
Is this white bean soup vegetarian?
The chicken stock makes the soup non-vegetarian, but if you switched it out for vegetable stock, this recipe could be modified to become vegetarian.
Can I use any beans in this soup?
Using white beans in this recipe not only gives you the pretty colors in your bowl but also gives you that perfect flavor and texture. Other beans may not taste as great, but you’re welcome to try it. You can use canned beans or rehydrated dry beans.
White Bean Soup with Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup onion diced
- 1/2 cup carrot diced
- 1/2 cup celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup pasta see note
- 14 ounces white beans 1 can
Instructions
- In a pot or dutch oven, heat butter over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, celery and herbs and cook until translucent.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add chicken broth.
- Add pasta and white beans.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Looking for more great recipes?
- Beef Tenderloin
- Hawaiian Haystacks
- Frozen Peas
- How to Make Gravy from Scratch
- Roast Beef Recipe
- Homemade Chili
- Baked BBQ Chicken
- Cheap Dinner Ideas
- Prime Rib Recipes
- Smoked Turkey Breast
- White Rice
- Steak Salad
- Slow Cooker Short Ribs
- Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
- Potato Soup
- Pressure Cooker Recipes
- Vegetable Side Dishes
- Oven Roasted Turkey
Alli says
Great flavors!