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This easy white bean soup recipe is hearty, creamy, and full of flavor. Made with white beans, bacon, and rosemary, it’s a quick 30-minute soup that’s comforting and satisfying.
Featured Comment
“Perfect recipe! Quick, easy, and delicious and it was the perfect amount for one person. Thank you!”
– Rose
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Pantry Ingredients: Made with canned white beans, broth, and a few basic seasonings for a quick and easy meal.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: This hearty, creamy white bean soup comes together fast – perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Easy to Customize: Skip the bacon and use vegetable broth for a vegetarian version, or double the recipe to make two servings.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with affordable ingredients for a hearty, flavorful soup that’s easy on your wallet.
- Healthy and Nourishing: Packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients for a wholesome, satisfying bowl.
What I love most about this white bean soup is how it fills the kitchen with the most incredible aroma as it simmers. It’s simple, hearty, and full of flavor, the kind of soup that always makes me look forward to every spoonful.
If you enjoy this white bean soup, you might also like our other single serving soup recipes, like our single serving lasagna soup, rich tomato soup for one, cheesy broccoli cheddar soup, or single serve creamy clam chowder. Each recipe is flavorful, satisfying, and perfectly portioned for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch white bean soup recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder,
- Bacon: Use 1 strip of bacon, cut into 1/4-inch pieces. It adds smoky flavor to the soup. Freeze bacon for future use by coiling individual strips on a baking sheet, freezing for 30 minutes, then transferring to a freezer bag. Use leftover bacon in recipes like easy bacon, egg and cheese cup, a small broccoli salad, and our simple carbonara recipe.
- Olive Oil: Optional. If the bacon releases enough drippings, skip it. Otherwise, use 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil for added flavor.
- Vegetables: Finely chop onions and garlic for the soup base. For extra texture and flavor, add 1/4 cup diced carrots or celery.
- White Beans: Use 1 (15.5-ounce) can of white beans, such as cannellini or white kidney beans. Rinse and drain to remove excess sodium. Try leftover beans in our slow cooker white chicken chili recipe or a mini coronation quiche.
- Seasonings: Dried rosemary and black pepper add classic flavor. For a little spice, use 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes instead of black pepper. Salt may not be needed since bacon and broth provide plenty of seasoning, taste and adjust.
- Chicken Broth: Use quality chicken broth with minimal additives. Low-sodium or regular both work; adjust salt as needed. Extra broth can be used in easy Spanish rice or small hashbrown casserole recipe.
Recipe Variations
This easy white bean soup is simple to customize. Try one of these popular variations to change up the flavor or make it heartier:
- Tuscan White Bean Soup: Add chopped kale or spinach and stir in a spoonful of tomato paste after sautéing the vegetables for a rich, Italian-inspired flavor.
- Creamy White Bean Soup: Purée or mash half of the beans before serving for a naturally creamy texture without using cream.
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked chicken, sausage, or bacon for a hearty, filling soup.
- Spicy White Bean Soup: Sprinkle in red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne for gentle heat.
- Mediterranean White Bean Soup: Add a squeeze of lemon juice, a dash of oregano or basil, and a handful of spinach or chopped kale.
How To Make White Bean Soup For One
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make creamy white bean soup for one person. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- In a 2-quart saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside for garnish.
- If the pan has little bacon fat, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add chopped onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic, rosemary, and black pepper; cook 1 minute more.
- Add drained white beans and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Gently mash some beans against the side of the pot to thicken the soup. Ladle into a bowl and top with the reserved bacon.
Expert Tips
- Read First: Review the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before starting so you understand each step.
- Taste and Adjust: After cooking, taste the soup and add salt or seasonings as needed.
- Add Vegetables: Use up leftovers like zucchini, carrots, or celery for extra flavor and texture.
- Bacon Substitute: Diced ham works well if you don’t have bacon. Sauté it with the onions and garlic for a similar flavor base.
- Control Thickness: If the soup is too thick, stir in a splash of broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
Pair your white bean soup with simple sides that make the meal feel complete:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, soak them overnight (or quick-soak), cook until tender, then use in place of canned beans (about 3/4 cups dried = one 15.5 oz can).
Stored in an airtight container, it stays fresh for up to 4 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
Mash part of the beans (either with a spoon or immersion blender). Simmering uncovered also helps concentrate the flavors and naturally thicken the soup.
Cannellini beans are preferred for their creamy texture, but Great Northern or white kidney beans also work well.
Yes, stir in spinach, kale, zucchini, or diced carrots in the last 5 minutes of cooking so they remain bright and tender.
RELATED: Simple Canned Bean Recipes
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy white bean soup recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
White Bean Soup For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 slice bacon -cut into ¼-inch strips
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional) use if bacon drippings aren’t sufficient for sautéing the onions and garlic.
- ¼ cup chopped onions
- 1 clove garlic -minced
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 (15.5-ounce can) white beans (cannellini beans) -rinsed and drained
- ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
Instructions
- In a 2-quart saucepan, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside for garnish.
- If the pan has little bacon fat, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add chopped onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic, rosemary, and black pepper; cook 1 minute more.
- Add drained white beans and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Gently mash some beans against the side of the pot to thicken the soup. Ladle into a bowl and top with the reserved bacon.
Notes
- Read First: Review the full recipe and Ingredient Notes before starting so you understand each step.
- Taste and Adjust: After cooking, taste the soup and add salt or seasonings as needed.
- Add Vegetables: Use up leftovers like zucchini, carrots, or celery for extra flavor and texture.
- Bacon Substitute: Diced ham works well if you don’t have bacon. Sauté it with the onions and garlic for a similar flavor base.
- Control Thickness: If the soup is too thick, stir in a splash of broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I don’t always have bacon but do have ham. Can ham be substituted for bacon?
Thank you for your question! Yes, you can absolutely use ham instead of bacon in this recipe. Since the vegetables are sautéed in the bacon drippings, I recommend adding about 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan to cook the onions and garlic. For the ham, simply stir it in when you add the beans in step 3 of the recipe card. It’s a great substitution, and I’m sure the soup will be delicious!
So good! I made the vegetarian version…the rosemary added just the right touch.
This was a fairly quick and easy recipe. It was tasty and filling. I would recommend “no salt added” beans to cut down on salt.
Made this. Love this.
I made this tonight for my bean loving hubby! I quadrupled the recipe, skipped the rosemary, added the chopped, and cooked bacon before I smashed the beans, and served with cornbread. It was a hit with the hubby!! Thanks for a quick one!
I substituted a tablespoon of diced pancetta for bacon. Yum.
Even though I am not a big fan of rosemary, this was delicious, simple and quick to make. I will definitely be making this again and either cutting back on the rosemary or using thyme instead. Thanks!
Can I cook this is a 2 qt crockpot.?
I have your cookbook, and love your recipes
Thank you, Linda. A 2-quart crockpot will work fine.