Italian White Bean Soup

If you’ve been craving a meal that feels like a warm hug but doesn’t require you to live in the kitchen all evening, Italian White Bean Soup is about to become your new best friend. It’s cozy, filling, and the kind of dinner that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking, “What smells so good?” (Which is basically the highest compliment.)

This is one of those soups that works for real life: busy weeknights, picky eaters, chilly weather, or the nights when you’re tired and your fridge is giving you attitude. And because we’re using sausage, bacon, and creamy cannellini beans… let’s just say this pot doesn’t stay full for long in my house.

Why You’ll Love This Italian White Bean Soup

• Big comfort, low effort. It tastes like you simmered it all day… but you didn’t.
• Creamy without heavy cream. The mashed beans + coconut milk make it velvety (and honestly, kind of magical).
• Protein + veggies in one bowl. Sausage, beans, carrots, celery, spinach—this soup shows up and does the work.
• Leftovers are even better. It thickens up overnight and reheats like a dream.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’re working with (all easy-to-find, no fancy grocery-store scavenger hunt):

• 1 pound Italian ground sausage (mild or spicy)
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 3 cups carrots, diced (about 3 carrots)
• 1 cup celery, diced (about 2 stalks)
• 3 (14 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup full-fat coconut milk
• Pepper, to taste

Quick note from my kitchen: If you’re thinking, “Coconut milk… in Italian soup?”—I get it. But you won’t taste “coconut.” You’ll taste creamy, silky comfort. Promise.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Italian White Bean Soup

1) Brown the sausage and bacon

Grab a large stock pot and set it over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and chopped bacon. Cook for about 10 minutes, breaking up the sausage as it browns.

You’re aiming for:

• sausage crumbled and browned
• bacon cooked (and ideally getting a little crispy—because bacon has a job to do here)

2) Sauté the veggies

Add the garlic, onion, carrots, and celery right into the pot. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until:

• the onion looks translucent
• the veggies start to soften
• everything smells like you know what you’re doing (even if you’re still in yoga pants)

3) Add beans, broth, and seasonings

Pour in:

• the cannellini beans
• chicken broth
• Italian seasoning, salt, and dried rosemary

Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and let it simmer 15–20 minutes, until the carrots are tender.

4) Mash for that creamy texture

Take a potato masher (or a sturdy fork) and mash the soup 3–4 times. Don’t go wild—we’re not making baby food.

You want:

• some beans mashed to thicken the broth
• plenty of beans still whole for texture

This is the little trick that makes Italian White Bean Soup feel rich and creamy without extra fuss.

5) Stir in coconut milk and spinach

Remove the pot from heat. Stir in:

• coconut milk
• baby spinach

The spinach will wilt fast, like it’s trying to be helpful (for once).

Taste and adjust salt if needed, then finish with fresh cracked pepper.

Serve hot and watch the room get quiet in that “everyone is eating happily” way.

Easy Serving Ideas

This soup is already a full meal, but if you want to make it feel extra “restaurant cozy,” try:

• crusty bread or garlic bread for dunking
• a simple side salad with lemony dressing
• parmesan on top (if you’re not dairy-free—go for it!)
• red pepper flakes if your people like heat

Aneta’s Little Soup Story (Because This One’s Personal)

I started making this Italian White Bean Soup on one of those weeks where everything felt loud—school stuff, work stuff, life stuff. I wanted dinner to be comforting but didn’t have the energy for complicated.

The first time I made it, my family hovered around the stove like it was a campfire. My kids called it “the creamy sausage soup” (not exactly poetic, but heartfelt). Now it’s one of my go-to recipes when I want everyone fed, happy, and not asking for snacks 20 minutes after dinner. A true miracle.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Pot of Soup

• Drain and rinse the beans. It keeps the broth from getting overly starchy or salty.
• Don’t skip the mash step. Those few mashes turn it from “nice soup” to “why is this so good?”
• Want it thicker? Mash a few more times, or let it simmer uncovered for 5 extra minutes.
• Want it brothy? Add an extra splash of chicken broth at the end.
• If your garlic looks like a lot… it is. And we’re not sorry.

And if your soup looks a little rustic? Congratulations. That’s what homemade comfort looks like.

FAQs About Italian White Bean Soup

Let’s Get Cozy With Italian White Bean Soup

If your dinner routine has been feeling a little too “same old,” this Italian White Bean Soup is the reset button. It’s hearty, creamy, and full of those comforting Italian-inspired flavors—without being complicated or fussy. Make a pot, grab some bread, and let your kitchen do that amazing thing where it turns into the coziest place in the house.

And if you try it, I’d love to hear how you made it your own—extra spice, more spinach, or the “I added parmesan and nobody complained” version. That’s the kind of kitchen magic I live for.

Keep the Cozy Soup Vibes Going

• If you loved the creamy, hearty feel of this soup, you’ll probably fall hard for Tuscan sausage and potato soup—it’s the same cozy comfort energy, just with tender potatoes joining the party.
• Want_keep-it-simple weeknight magic_ with that same “one-pot comfort” mood? Try crockpot Italian chicken soup for a hands-off version that basically cooks itself while you live your life.
• If you’re on a bean-and-bacon kick (honestly, relatable), bookmark white bean soup with bacon for another warm, savory bowl that hits the spot when it’s chilly or you’re just over everything.
• And if you want a lighter, lemony bowl that still feels comforting, you’ll love lemon chickpea orzo soup—bright, cozy, and perfect when you want “comfort” without feeling too heavy.

If you make this Italian White Bean Soup, I’d love to hear what you think—please leave a quick review and tap your star rating (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) so other readers know it’s a winner!

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