All the flavors of pizza come together in this cozy Pizza Beans recipe. Tender butter beans simmer in a rich, flavorful pizza sauce then get topped with a delicious blend of cheeses. Everything cooks in one pan in under 30 minutes. Grab some warm, crusty bread and scoop up every saucy, cheese bite!
Why we love this dish
- All the flavors of pizza without the crust. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE pizza with crust (I even have a whole article devoted to getting pizza shop-style results with store-bought pizza dough). But sometimes you're craving a saucier dish with crusty bread, and this hits the spot.
- Lots of plant protein and fiber here!
- It's a very light meal if you go lighter on the cheese and don't overdo it with the bread.
- The recipe is gluten-free, if you serve it over grilled polenta or with gluten-free bread for soaking up the sauce.
- Butter beans are so creamy and delicious. They've become my favorite bean in the last few years!
- Easy to make with mostly pantry ingredients, so it can be easily made on a weeknight when you forgot to thaw the chicken (lol amirite?) but don't want to spend money on takeout.
- Speaking of $$... this is budget-friendly and filling! Makes 3-4 servings for about $6-7, depending on grocery prices around you.
- This pizza beans recipe makes a fun appetizer, too! You can all dig in as a family, or be civilized and spoon some onto everyone's plates.
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into semi circles or diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or use 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning instead of the 3 herbs)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes (about 3.5 cups)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 2 cans butter beans, drained (about 4 cups cooked butter beans), or use any white beans
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan (use freshly grated)
- fresh basil, for garnish
- For serving: crusty or toasted bread, or polenta, or use this as a topping for pasta!
Equipment
- Large oven-safe skillet (note: you can use a cast iron skillet with an acidic tomato sauce IF it is well-seasoned. If it is not really well seasoned, use any other type of skillet)
- Garlic press
Instructions
Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and the sliced onions and cook until just beginning to go soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant.
Add the crushed tomatoes and salt, then continue to cook for about 5 minutes, or until bubbling. Careful! It will splash out a little, so lower the heat if needed.
Add the butter beans and stir. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F. If needed, transfer the beans and the sauce to an oven-safe dish.
Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan in an even layer over the beans and the sauce. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown on top. If you want more browning, turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes.
Remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, and garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot, scooping onto toasted or grilled bread, or serve over polenta or pasta.
Kate's cooking tips
- For a slight shortcut, use a jar of marinara sauce and skip the spices. But I do like simmering my own sauce and adjusting the flavors.
- Try adding ¼ cup dry red wine with the crushed tomatoes.
- Try stirring in a little harissa paste for some spice, or ground cumin and cardamom for a slight middle Eastern kick.
- Add more protein: cook crumbled sausage meat or ground turkey with the onion before adding the garlic and sauce.
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Pizza Beans
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion sliced into semi circles or diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley or use 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning instead of the 3 herbs
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes about 3.5 cups
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 2 cans butter beans drained (about 4 cups cooked butter beans), or use any white beans
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- fresh basil for garnish
- for serving: crusty or toasted bread or polenta, or use this as a topping for pasta!
Special equipment
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and the sliced onions and cook until just beginning to go soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Add the garlic, thyme, oregano, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and salt, then continue to cook for about 5 minutes, or until bubbling. Careful! It will splash out a little, so lower the heat if needed.
- Add the butter beans and stir. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400F. If needed, transfer the beans and the sauce to an oven-safe dish.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan in an even layer over the beans and the sauce. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown on top. If you want more browning, turn on the broiler for the last 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from oven, allow to cool for a few minutes, and garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot, scooping onto toasted or grilled bread, or serve over polenta or pasta.
Notes
- For a slight shortcut, use a jar of marinara sauce and skip the spices.
- Try adding ¼ cup dry red wine with the crushed tomatoes.
- Try stirring in a little harissa paste for some spice, or ground cumin and cardamom for a slight middle Eastern kick.
- Add more protein: cook crumbled sausage meat or ground turkey with the onion before adding the garlic and sauce.
- Nutrition facts are estimated without the bread or polenta, and will depend on actual ingredients and amounts used.
Kate
Wednesday 15th of April 2026
Current status: obsessed with butter beans, and I love how easy this butter bean dinner is. The cheesy sauce is just SO good when scooped up with crusty bread!