Make a cozy casserole that’s healthy, delicious, and easy: Pizza Beans! You could also call it Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake because it includes 3 basic ingredients: cheese, white beans, and tomato sauce. They are thrown into a pan and baked together. The result is a wonderfully easy dish that is saucy, stewy, and tastes like pizza. Serve with crusty bread for a simple vegetarian dish and all the flavors of your favorite pizza!
What are Pizza Beans?
Pizza Beans is essentially a casserole dish with creamy white beans baked in a rich tomato sauce and lots of melty mozzarella cheese. All the flavors of pizza rolled into a cozy and comforting dish! Easy, delicious, and highly customizable.
To emphasize the pizza flavor, make a homemade tomato sauce. You could use the jarred kind but making marinara from scratch adds richness and depth of flavor. I’ve purposefully made this recipe extra saucy as the white beans act like sponges to absorb all the good flavor of the sauce.
Also, be sure to add your favorite pizza toppings. Keep it vegetarian with olives and giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables). Or add what you enjoy eating on regular pizza: pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, etc.
But we must not forget the humble star of this simple dish: white beans! A nutritional powerhouse, white beans are mild tasting legumes that are full of fiber, protein, and anti-oxidants. In other words, they are filling, satiating, and good for you. They last a long time in dried or canned form, making them excellent pantry staples. They are also economical; you can feed a lot of people with beans for not much money.
Use any kind of white beans you like, as they range in size from small to large. Bigger beans have a meatier texture and taste mildly sweet. Smaller beans hold their shape well but are still creamy in the center.
The popularity of this somewhat niche dish from Smitten Kitchen became a TikTok viral moment when news outlets reported that Luigi Mangione, the main suspect in the murder case of a healthcare CEO, preferred Pizza Beans over Chicken Parmesan in prison. People scrambled to cook the recipe, inspiring dozens of memes and recipes in the process.
Serve with crusty bread, garlic bread, or homemade Focaccia. They act as a base for the beans, much like pizza crust. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- Canned White Beans. White beans are mild-tasting and creamy. They absorb all the flavors of the tomato sauce well. Recommended white beans: Cannellini beans, Navy beans, Great Northern beans, White Kidney Beans, or Butter beans.
- Canned Tomatoes. To make good homemade tomato sauce, use whole canned tomatoes. Recommended: any good Italian brand like San Marzano or Mutti.
- Mozzarella Cheese. For that gooey cheesy goodness! Be generous.
- Italian Seasoning. A seasoning blend of dried herbs. Includes a combination of oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram. Can be swapped with a mix of dried oregano and dried basil.
- Crushed red chili. For heat. If you don’t like it spicy, add just a pinch (instead of 1 tsp).
- Onion + Garlic. Essential aromatics for the tomato sauce.
- Fresh Basil + Fresh Parsley + Parmesan. Optional but recommended. For garnish. The fresh herbs add aromatic freshness. The parmesan adds a cheesy salty finish.
- Pizza Toppings. Choose any kind you enjoy eating on regular pizza! My favorite combination includes olives and Giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables). Other suggestions: pepperoni, sausage, peperoncino, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and sliced red onion.
How to make Cheesy Tomato White Bean Bake
- Make tomato sauce. In an oven proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook until softened and slightly browned, about 3-4 minutes. Lower the heat if the color darkens too much. Add the canned tomatoes. Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, break up the tomatoes into small pieces. Be careful, as juice from the tomatoes can spurt out. Add the Italian seasoning and crushed chili flakes. Season with salt and black pepper. Give everything a good mix.
- Add white beans. Add the drained, rinsed beans to the tomato sauce. Stir until well combined. When everything is bubbling, lower heat to medium low. Cook, uncovered, until all the flavors have melded together, about 20-25 minutes. The mixture should bubble at a gentle simmer. From time to time, stir to make sure the beans are not sticking to the bottom of the pan. If the sauce reduces too much and looks dry, add a splash of water and cover with the lid.
- Preheat the oven. While the tomato white bean mixture cooks, preheat the oven to 400F/ 204C.
- Bake. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the top. Add olives, chopped Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables), and any other topping. Transfer to the oven and bake until the tomato sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and gooey, about 10-12 minutes.
- Garnish. Remove the Pizza Beans from the oven. Garnish with a generous amount of fresh Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and basil evenly over the top.
- Serve. Serve immediately, preferably with crusty bread or garlic bread. If you like, divide the Pizza Beans into 4 portions. Or, serve the pan directly at the table to be enjoyed family style. Enjoy!
PRO Tips
- Make it vegan. To make plant-based Pizza Beans, swap the mozzarella with dairy-free cheese.
- Make it meaty. For a meaty version, add 1-2 Italian sausage. Remove the casings and brown in the pan before adding the onion. Make sure to top with pepperoni, too.
- Add leafy greens. For more vegetal goodness, add your favorite leafy greens to the tomato sauce. Spinach, kale, and even broccoli rabe are all good additions. They will add color, fiber, flavor, and added nutrition.
- Make ahead for meal prep. Make once and divide into 4 portions for meal prep. To make it easier, divide the portions into 4 individual-sized, oven proof ramekins and cover with plastic wrap. When it’s time to eat, bake one individual portion in the oven (or air fryer) for 10 minutes.
Special Equipment
- Oven-friendly skillet. Makes it easy to transfer from the stovetop to oven. I recommend a 10-inch cast iron skillet with tall sides. If your pan is not oven safe, cook everything and transfer to a casserole dish for baking.
- Potato Masher. My favorite tool for breaking up whole canned tomatoes. Makes it easier to crush the tomatoes while leaving a little texture.
FAQ
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Yes, this cheesy white bean tomato bake casserole freezes well. Cool completely and cover tightly before transferring to the freezer. It should keep for 1 month.
Yes, this dish is easily made ahead of time. Make and store in the fridge 1-2 days in advance. Bake in the oven (400F/ 204C) until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and gooey.
More recipes
Pizza Beans (Cheesy Tomato White Bean Bake) Recipe
Equipment
- Oven proof skillet *cast iron skillet, stainless steel pan, or shallow braiser
- Potato Masher *for smashing the canned tomatoes
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1.5 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning *or 2 tsp dried oregano + 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 28 ounces/ 796 ml canned whole tomatoes *San Marzano or Mutti brands recommended
- 1 19 ounces/ 540 ml canned white beans *navy beans or butter beans preferred (northern beans or cannellini beans also work well)
- 2 1/2 cups/180 grams mozzarella cheese
Toppings (optional)
- 2 Tbsp olives, chopped
- 2 Tbsp giardiniera, chopped *Italian pickled vegetables
Garnish
- 1-2 Tbsp fresh basil + parsley, chopped
- 1 Tbsp parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Make tomato sauce. In an oven proof skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook until softened and slightly browned, about 3-4 minutes. Lower the heat if the color darkens too much. Add the canned tomatoes. Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, break up the tomatoes into small pieces. Be careful, as juice from the tomatoes can spurt out. Add the Italian seasoning and crushed chili flakes. Season with salt and black pepper. Give everything a good mix.
- Add white beans. Add the drained, rinsed beans to the tomato sauce. Stir until well combined. When everything is bubbling, lower heat to medium low. Cook, uncovered, until all the flavors have melded together, about 20-25 minutes. The mixture should bubble at a gentle simmer. From time to time, stir to make sure the beans are not sticking to the bottom of the pan. If the sauce reduces too much and looks dry, add a splash of water and cover with the lid. Preheat the oven. While the tomato white bean mixture cooks, preheat the oven to 400F/ 204C.
- Bake. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the top. Add olives, chopped Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables), and any other topping. Transfer to the oven and bake until the tomato sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and gooey, about 10-12 minutes.
- Garnish. Remove the Pizza Beans from the oven. Garnish with a generous amount of fresh Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and basil evenly over the top.
- Serve. Serve immediately, preferably with crusty bread or garlic bread. If you like, divide the Pizza Beans into 4 portions. Or, serve the pan directly at the table to be enjoyed family style. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Make it vegan. To make plant-based Pizza Beans, swap the mozzarella with dairy-free cheese.
- Make it meaty. For a meaty version, add 1-2 Italian sausage. Remove the casings and brown in the pan before adding the onion. Make sure to top with pepperoni, too.
- Add leafy greens. For more vegetal goodness, add your favorite leafy greens to the tomato sauce. Spinach, kale, and even broccoli rabe are all good additions. They will add color, fiber, flavor, and added nutrition.
- Make ahead for meal prep. Make once and divide into 4 portions for meal prep. To make it easier, divide the portions into 4 individual-sized, oven proof ramekins and cover with plastic wrap. When it’s time to eat, bake one individual portion in the oven (or air fryer) for 10 minutes.
