Cracking cannellini bean recipes

Beans are the underrated little wonders of the food world, and with so much nutrition jam-packed into every tin, we should all be getting more of them into our diets when we can.

The humble cannellini bean is nutty, smooth and full of the good stuff – like fibre, protein, and vitamins E and K, which are essential for our immune system and muscle and bone health. Plus, they taste amazing! Whether making your own version of the baked bean, or cooking them down until creamy, there’s so much you can do with these tasty powerhouses.

We’ve rounded up our favourite cannellini bean recipes to get your taste buds tingling and give you all the inspo you need for your next meal.

Creamy cannellini beans are the ideal base for this delicious seafood dish! Beautifully chargrilled squid is topped with a fresh salsa that perfectly peps up the rich beans. And it’s on the table in 25 minutes – win-win!

Simple, classic, tasty – you really can’t beat a jacket spud loaded with cheesy beans! This homemade version really takes things to the next level – smoky and savoury with a hit of spice, plus broccoli florets for an extra veg-boost!

This soup recipe is a great one to have up your sleeve. Jam-packed with the good stuff, with the ability to be flexed to suit whatever veg you have in the fridge, it deserves a spot in everyone’s repertoire. Beans are the hearty foundation, giving it a comforting creaminess. Just add crusty bread!

The clue is in the title with this 5-ingredient marvel! Up your sausage and bean game with this comforting traybake that can be switched up with whatever cupboard staples you have to hand.

Garlicky beans and simple frozen white fish get the rockstar treatment in this air-fryer recipe! This vitamin-packed combo is loaded with flavours of The Med – umami sun-dried tomatoes, salty prosciutto and rosemary.

This recipe is all about the beans! Gennaro’s Tuscan celebration really gives the modest cannellini bean the time and love it deserves: slow-cooking until tender in a delicious garlic and sage tomato sauce. Bellissimo!

Spicy harissa amps up these cannellini beans to pair beautifully with juicy prawns in this big-flavour dish! Simply served with crusty sourdough for mopping up those gorgeous juices, this show-stopping dinner is on the table in just 20 minutes.

An easy midweek dinner that’s a proper treat! Beans are a classic pairing with duck, plus they add an extra hit of protein to your meal. Served up alongside lightly charred broccoli, this is truly a thing of joy.

Beans on toast like you’ve never tasted before! These garlicky beans are dressed up with herby heroes rosemary and parsley, before being loaded onto beautifully toasted sourdough. Delicious!

This is a winner from Jamie’s show Jamie: What To Eat This Week, celebrating the best of summer ingredients. Here he heroes fennel in a creamy, oozy bean gratin, and the cannellini beans make the perfect base for all those exciting seasonal flavours.