Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake

Make this cheesy white bean tomato bake for a super easy dinner for one. It takes just 15 minutes and can be made with pantry ingredients and enjoyed with crusty bread. Or try Refried Bean Tacos, Apple Chicken Salad, or Pesto Pasta for easy pantry meals.

How will these cheesy white beans make your life easier?

If you haven’t planned any meals for the week, easy pantry dinners are your way to easy and delicious dinners. Just slowly or quickly stock your pantry, fridge, and freezer with easy to throw together ingredients.

Recipes like this cheesy white bean tomato bake are perfect when you’re hungry, tired and didn’t plan dinner. It comes together quickly, with one pan and minimal effort. Plus it’s super comforting and delicious. Perfect for a warm night or dark winter evening.

What makes white beans in tomato sauce so good?

How do I make these white beans and tomatoes?

Start making your cheesy white bean tomato bake by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.

In a small oven safe skillet, fry garlic and Italian seasoning in olive oil. Cook until light golden brown. Turn off heat once garlic is golden to avoid burning it.

Add tomato paste and tomatoes to make tomato sauce.

Smash with a potato masher if you like smaller chunks.

Add a handful of spinach (optional) and beans. Stir. The consistency will be the same after baking, add water if desired. Season with salt, pepper, and/or red pepper flakes.

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over your cheesy white bean tomato bake.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, broil for 1-2 minutes if desired. Transfer to a serving dish or enjoy your cheesy white bean tomato bake straight from the skillet. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Substitutions/Tips

• If you don’t have an oven safe skillet, start cooking garlic and seasonings in a skillet, then transfer to an oven safe dish for remaining steps.
• You can use 1-2 sliced garlic cloves instead of minced garlic.
• Swap the spinach for another hearty green like kale, or even arugula in the spring. Omit if you don’t want or have any.
• You can cook down the tomatoes if you’d like before adding cheese. The consistency of the sauce is about the same before baking as after. 
• Celery sticks, peppers, and chips are great to dip into this cheesy white bean tomato bake as well.
• Other great add-ins: Parmesan cheese, onions, mushrooms, etc.

FAQ

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

• Tomato Paste: Rice and Bean Soup, Chicken Parmesan Pasta
• Diced Tomatoes: Canned Tomato Pasta, Turkey Pumpkin Chili, Black Bean Pasta
• White Beans: Leek and White Bean Bowl
• Spinach: Lentil Curry with Spinach for One, Spinach Orange Salad, Spinach Apple Banana Smoothie, Thai Inspired Beef Bowl, Spinach Strawberry Salad
• Mozzarella Cheese: Buffalo Chicken Flatbread, Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls

Did you make this cheesy white bean tomato bake? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

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Cheesy White Bean Tomato Bake

Make this cheesy white bean tomato bake for a super easy dinner for one. It takes just 15 minutes and can be made with pantry ingredients and enjoyed with crusty bread.

Course dinner, Main Course

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic minced
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning heaping
• 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• ½ can diced tomatoes
• handful fresh spinach leaves
• ½ can white beans (cannellini or great northern) drained
• salt, pepper, to taste
• pinch red pepper flakes optional
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• crusty bread optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

• In a small oven safe skillet over medium-low heat, add 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon of garlic, and heaping ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Pan fry until garlic is golden brown, stir frequently. Turn off heat.

• Add 1 Tablespoon tomato paste, ½ can tomatoes. Smash with potato masher, if desired.

• Add a handful of spinach, ½ can drained white beans, and 1 Tablespoon of water. Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Stir. Add water if you’d like.

• Sprinkle about ½ cup shredded mozzarella over bean and tomato mixture. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tomato sauce is bubbling. Broil for 1-2 minutes if desired.

• Transfer to bowl or enjoy straight from the pan. Serve with crusty bread.

Notes

• Don’t have an oven safe skillet? Just use a small skillet to cook the garlic and seasonings, then transfer to a small oven safe dish for remaining steps. 
• Minced garlic is easiest, especially if you have but if you have fresh garlic, slice 1-2 cloves and use that.
• If you have spinach or other greens you can add them to this dish, but you don’t have to add greens to it.
• Don’t mash tomatoes if you like bigger tomato chunks, mash to desired thickness. You can also mash the beans if desired.
• You can cook down the tomatoes if you’d like before adding cheese. The consistency of the sauce is about the same before baking as after. 
• Add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese after baking, if desired. 

RECIPE

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