Pizza Beans
What are pizza beans? They’re robust white beans that resemble pizza, naturally, stewed in a marinara-like sauce and adorned with melted mozzarella cheese. Deb invented this idea, and I’m a massive admirer.
Today, I’m showcasing my variation using canned beans, optional spinach, and a luxurious tomato paste base that tastes as if it’s been cooking on the stove for ages. It’s cheesy and delightful like baked ziti, but healthier and simpler to prepare.
These pizza beans are so delicious and effortless that this recipe almost feels like cheating. It’s a fantastic weeknight dinner for chilly evenings. I bet you probably have the ingredients in your cupboards!
Your Pizza Bean Choices
You’ll discover the complete recipe a bit further down. Here’s what to think about before diving into this quick and easy meal.
Select your beans: Chickpeas provide a soft yet more noticeable bite. Cannellini or Great Northern beans are slightly gentler and disintegrate more. You can’t go wrong; I enjoy all of them.
Crush your beans: If you have a moment, mash about 1/2 cup of the beans with a fork in a bowl, which releases their starches and results in a thicker sauce. I highly recommend it.
Add spinach (or skip it): You can incorporate up to an entire tub of baby spinach to enhance this dish with additional nutrients and plant-based protein. Despite the spinach, it doesn’t significantly alter the dish’s flavor or texture.
Add extra toppings: Treat this meal like pizza and include any toppings you desire atop the cheese.
Watch How to Prepare Pizza Beans
Serving Recommendations
This filling skillet-based meal is self-sufficient, particularly if you add spinach for some greens. You might appreciate toasted slices of crusty sourdough on the side or crostini for dipping. Elevate it further with my Roasted Garlic Bread. For extra protein, consider including a fried egg or two.
I always like to commence my meal with a salad. Here are a few that would pair nicely with this dish.
Please share how your recipe turns out in the comments! I love hearing from you.
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Pizza Beans
This simple weeknight dish showcases tasty white beans simmered in a homemade red sauce, topped with bubbling mozzarella! It’s a pantry-friendly recipe that’s even more enjoyable than takeout. Recipe serves 4 generous portions.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Roughly mash about ½ cup of the drained beans with a fork in a bowl, then set it aside (this step is optional but produces a nicer, thicker texture).
- Warm the olive oil over medium-high in a medium (10-inch) stainless steel or oven-safe skillet. Incorporate the onion and ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender, around 3 to 5 minutes.
- Introduce the garlic and red pepper flakes (if desired). Sauté until the garlic edges turn golden, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds.
- Mix in the tomato paste (be careful of oil splatters), scraping any browned bits and cook for 30 seconds, reducing the heat as required to prevent the garlic from burning.
- If incorporating the spinach, add about half of it first, then stir until it’s bright green and wilted, around 20 seconds. Repeat with the remaining spinach.
- Add the beans (including the mashed ones), water, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Stir to combine, and utilize your spatula to scrape any browned bits in the pan into the mixture. Bring the blend to a simmer on the stovetop. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top, then bake until the cheese is wonderfully melted, about 7 to 9 minutes.
- Allow the skillet to cool for at least 5 minutes, then top with basil, if desired, and serve warm. (Remember that the skillet handle remains very hot!) Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
The details provided are an estimate generated by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be regarded as a replacement for a professional nutritionist’s guidance. See our full nutrition disclaimer here.
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