Description
Creamy white bean and pesto bake brings comfort straight from an Italian kitchen to your dinner table. Melted cheese, herby pesto, and tender beans create a simple yet satisfying meal that connects your family around warm, delicious flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans (15 ounces / 425 grams) white beans (such as cannellini or great northern beans), drained and rinsed
- 1 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
Flavor Enhancers:
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Preparation Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to a precise 375°F (190°C). Lightly coat a 9×9-inch ceramic baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, ensuring complete coverage.
- Open 2 cans of white beans and thoroughly drain each 15-oz container. Rinse beans under cool running water until water runs clear.
- Transfer drained beans into a spacious mixing bowl. Pour 1 cup of basil pesto directly over the beans, coating every single bean completely.
- Sprinkle ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes across the beans. Gently fold ingredients together until beans are uniformly seasoned.
- Carefully spread bean mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a smooth, even surface. Dust the top with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven. Bake precisely 22 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and beans reach a steaming temperature.
- Remove from oven and let rest 3 minutes. Tear 3-4 fresh basil leaves and scatter across the top as a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Canned white beans work best, but home-cooked beans can add a more authentic texture to your dish.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure your pesto is made without breadcrumbs and check that all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Fresh basil makes a huge difference, so skip dried herbs if you can’t find fresh leaves for garnishing.
- To make this dish vegan, use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan and a dairy-free pesto made with nuts and herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 278 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg