This creamy soup is the perfect comfort food you can enjoy without feeling guilty. Thickened with blended cannellini beans, this creamy tomato and white bean soup is healthy and is topped with fresh basil, rich in flavor, and oh so satisfying. And, it's done and ready to eat in 30 minutes!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of KitchenAid. All opinions are my own.
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When you think of cream based soup, you probably think unhealthy and full of fat. And a lot of creamy soups fall into that category. But I have a lot of soups that don't, like this homemade butternut squash soup. And now this one. This white bean soup is a healthy vegetable soup recipe made with tomatoes and cannellini beans. And soups with white beans are healthy, delicious, and provide that silky and cream based texture that everyone enjoys without all the fat.
ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
1. Creamy, rich, and delicious, this white bean soup is super easy to make and the perfect comfort food for these cold months ahead.
2. It's gluten free and dairy free. Deceiving, I know, right? The creaminess comes from blending the white beans and chicken broth. Using a blender really helps when making vegetable based creamy soup recipes.
3. Making this soup is actually really easy and requires only a few ingredients.
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
While white beans, navy beans, great northern white beans, and cannellini beans are all technically white, they are not the same. The good news is you can use any of those beans for this creamy tomato and white bean soup! They all taste amazing.
The ingredients for this soup are simple. The base is made with juicy tomatoes and chicken broth, plus the addition of some amazing herbs and spices. You'll also add white beans and then puree every ingredient together in a blender. Then, you'll simmer it in a large pot and top it with butter. Simple ingredients make the best recipes. Get ready for a deliciously comforting soup!
📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Start by heating the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic and saute for 1 minute, until soft and fragrant.
Dice the fresh tomatoes and add them to a large pan. Add in the sauteed onions and garlic as well as the can of diced tomatoes, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stil until well combined. Cover and bring the contents to a boil, then lower the heat and let simmer for 20 minutes.
Working in batches, transfer tomato mixture to a blender. Add the white beans and chicken broth.
The goal here is to puree. Expert Tip: If you're using a blender, set it to the smoothie setting. This setting works perfect for this white bean soup recipe because it typically cycles through different speeds which contributes to getting at that creamy consistency you're looking for.
When well blended, return the mixture to a large saucepan, cover, and simmer on medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes. Add the butter and simmer for 5-10 minutes, covered. Once done, ladle the soup to a bowl and top with fresh basil.
💭 Expert Tips
- A food processor also works if you don't have a blender.
- Store any leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- This white bean soup freezes really well. When the soup completely cools, store it in a freezer safe container or a gallon size ziplock bag. When you're ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stove top or in the microwave.
- Try adding smoked tomatoes during the blending process. The hint of smoky flavor makes this soup recipe even more delicious!
- I love topping this soup with raw pumpkin seeds, sunflower kernels, fresh basil, or sour cream.
- If your not dairy free, try adding ยฝ cup of fresh Parmesan cheese in the last step of when you add the butter. The cheese makes it even creamier.
- This hearty vegetable soup recipe is so amazing with a grilled cheese sandwich or served with any toasted bread. Especially, toasted cheesy bread like my Quick Peppery Cheese Bread.
🥘 More Creamy Soup Recipes
I love a good tasty and healthy creamy soup. My Roasted Tomato Basil Soup is just that...it's creamy and full of incredible flavor. This is more of a traditional homemade tomato soup that is made with roasted tomatoes and fresh basil. It's so velvety and an easy tomato soup to make.
This Kale and Leek Soup is low in calories and super healthy because it's made with fresh kale, leeks, and chicken broth. So good in fact that my teenager asks me to make this one often! And this Sweet Potato Soup with Butter Beans is also creamy and delicious. This one is made in the Instant Pot and has a hint of nutmeg to add some extra flavor. Blended butter beans makes this white bean soup over the top delicious!
Creamy Tomato and White Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- 3 fresh tomatoes, on vine
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 15 oz can white beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup chicken broth,
- 1 Tablespoon butter, unsalted
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic and saute for 1 minute, until soft.
- Dice the fresh tomatoes and add them to a large pan.
- Add in the sauteed onions and garlic as well as the can of diced tomatoes, dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stil until well combined.
- Cover and bring the contents to a boil, then lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes.
- Working in batches, transfer the tomato mixture to a blender. Add the beans and chicken broth.
- Puree for 2 minutes. Once everything is well blended, return the pureed mixture to the large saucepan and simmer on medium low heat for 5-10 minutes, covered.
- Add in the butter and Parmesan cheese (optional) and stir until melted. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- A food processor also works if you don't have a blender.
- Store any leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- This white bean soup freezes really well. When the soup completely cools, store it in a freezer safe container or a gallon size ziplock bag. When you're ready to eat, thaw it in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stove top or in the microwave.
- I love topping this soup with raw pumpkin seeds, sunflower kernels, fresh basil, or sour cream.
- If your not dairy free, try adding ยฝ cup of fresh Parmesan cheese in the last step of when you add the butter. The cheese makes it even creamier.
- This hearty vegetable soup recipe is so amazing with a grilled cheese sandwich or served with any toasted bread. Especially, toasted cheesy bread like my Quick Peppery Cheese Bread.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in November 2017, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in September 2021.
xeta
Where does the Heavy Cream come in? I don't see it listed in ingredients?
Amanda Mason
There is no heavy cream in this recipe. The creaminess comes from the white beans. I had the wrong ingredients picture listed so I took that down. I'll get a correct one up soon!
Norma
Delicious soup. I just didnโt have a blender so didnโt come out as smooth and creamy. Will definitely get a blender and make this again. My family loved it!
Amanda Mason
OHHH! I'm so glad you all loved it! Do you have a food processor? That will blend it nicely, as well!!
Lisa C.
My husband had dental work that means he has to eat purรฉed foods only for 8 weeks, so Iโve been looking for soups with some protein to give him a break from purรฉed meats (blech, even when seasoned nicely). I donโt like tomato soup at all, but he does, so I tried this. Itโs delicious!! I forgot to buy Parmesan cheese, so Iโm sorry to admit I used 4 oz of reduced fat Velveeta instead. I donโt know that I could taste the cheese, but it was a little more protein, lol. Iโm sure it will be even better next time. We all LOVED it!!! Thank you so much for this great addition to our rotation ๐
Amanda Mason
I am so glad to hear that you all loved it so much! The white beans really do add some additional protein and creaminess. So glad this will now be a part of your rotation!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
I love adding white beans to different dishes - what a great way to bulk this soup up and make it "creamy"! Total comfort food!
Amanda Mason
Yes, it is a GREAT comfort food for sure!!
Amanda
There is nothing like a bowl of homemade soup! I love that you've combined two of my favorites, tomato and white bean, in this recipe. Plus, grilled cheese dippers?! You're speaking to my heart! Will definitely be making this when the weather gets cold here.
Amanda Mason
YEAH! Glad it hits home! Dipping those grilled cheese sandwiches in the soup is SUPER yummy!!!
Kate
Oh my gosh, yum! This sounds so good. I love the addition of white beans to the soup!
Amanda Mason
Thanks! yes - it's simple and yummy!!