Easy Italian Beans in the Crockpot
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Italian Beans are tender and flavorful, and so easy to make in the slow cooker! Nothing beats a one pot recipe, especially one that’s so budget-friendly. Learn how to cook beans in a crock pot from scratch, plus ideas to transform this easy side dish into a hearty meal!
Italian Beans
Once you learn how to cook beans in a crock pot, a whole new world of home-cooked dishes is open to you.
Plus, you can make a huge batch to use throughout the week for the cost of 2 or 3 cans. Talk about savings!!
The flavors in this recipe are simply divine — savory and earthy, with plenty of Italian herbs. Serve it as a side dish or toss in some protein for a main meal.
You can also make beans in the crock pot without the added veggies and seasonings.
Use plain white beans in my Tuscan chicken shepherd’s pie or white chicken chili, or toss them in the food processor to make white bean hummus!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Dried White Beans – These can be navy, cannellini, or Great Northern, as long as they are dried and uncooked (not canned).
- Garlic – Fresh cloves have the best flavor, and you’ll need a lot of them — basically a whole head!
It’s up to you whether you want to use a garlic press or just chop them up super fine. - Roma Tomatoes – These have a lower water content than other varieties, though you can feel free to substitute plum tomatoes instead.
You can also use a can of diced tomatoes to save some prep time! - Chicken Base – I love Better Than Bouillon! It lasts forever in the fridge, and you can use it to make broth or simply add flavor to dishes.
And it dissolves so much easier than granules.
I prefer the chicken base when making beans in the crock pot. You can swap in vegetable base instead, especially for a vegetarian recipe. - Onion – A yellow or white onion would be best for this Italian beans recipe.
- Seasonings – Grab all the classics — dried basil and parsley, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and pepper — plus some red pepper flakes and a couple of bay leaves.
How to Cook Beans in a Crock Pot
- Pick through the beans, then soak them first.
Don’t just dump the bag in! You’ll need to pick out any funky or shriveled beans, plus any tiny stones that might have made their way in.
Then, cover beans in a crock pot with water and let them soak overnight — or at least 4 hours if you’re in a hurry.
- Scale this recipe down as needed.
Easily halve the amounts if you won’t be able to get through a whole batch yourself — though, freezing is an option!
- Cook them low and slow for hours.
You’ll want to stir occasionally, just to make sure they cook evenly and nothing is sticking to the sides.
Otherwise, it’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” recipe! Start checking after 5 hours to see if the beans are tender, though it may take up to 8 hours for them to be done.
Prep Ahead
- Rinse and pick through dried beans
- Dice onion and tomatoes
- Mince garlic
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Slow Cooker – Great for soups, roasts, shredded chicken, and more! I love it in the cooler months, but it’s also great in the summer when you don’t want to heat up the whole house with the oven.
- Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
- Garlic Press – This is a necessary tool in any kitchen to add fresh minced garlic flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Italian beans make an excellent side dish to smoked salmon, chicken pesto sliders, and even a juicy steak!
I especially love them with a rack of lamb for special occasions.
For a vegetarian meal, toss spaghetti squash noodles in homemade pesto or pair beans with Italian green beans or your choice of roasted vegetables.
You can even spoon these over homemade crostini for a hearty snack or light dinner!
Storing and Reheating Italian White Beans
Once cool, transfer Italian beans to an airtight container and refrigerate for 4-5 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 3 months!
Reheat Italian white beans in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through. If they seem dry, add a splash of water or broth.
Beans in Crock Pot FAQ
Cannellini beans are a type of white bean, along with navy beans, Great Northern beans, and lima beans.
All are grown from the same plant — with the exception of lima beans — and vary slightly in size and texture, though they taste essentially the same.
Pork is always a winner! You can cook ham hocks with Italian white beans at the same time, or stir in some diced leftover ham or crispy bacon just before serving.
If you’re not a huge fan of tomatoes, try roasted red peppers instead. These typically come packed in oil, so be sure to drain them really well and chop into smaller pieces if needed.
You bet! After cooking beans in crock pot, add 2-3 cups of broth (or water and chicken base) for a soupy consistency.
Toss in some cooked chicken or sausage, spinach, and other favorite veggies for an easy Tuscan bean soup!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Other Easy Bean Recipes
Easy Italian Beans in the Crockpot
Ingredients
- 32 ounce bag dried white (navy) beans
- 10 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 4 roma/plum tomatoes, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, fresh ground
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 10 cups water
- 3 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base, low sodium
Instructions
- Check beans for stones/bad beans. Rinse and place in a large crock pot (about 6 quart). Fill with water. Soak overnight.
- Drain and rinse beans well. Place back in crock pot. Add all ingredients into crock pot and cook on low about 5-8 hours until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaves.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published January 2013, updated and republished April 2024
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All these recipes look terrific. Love the bean soup – putting it on my list!
Great recipes for healthy protein – just love those crockpot beans!!
mary x
Those veggie burgers look amazing!!
I adore bean soups. They're so hearty and freeze well for work day meals.
i love white beans… so this is right up my alley!
Wow… and I mean that.
Could canned beans be used ?
You could use canned beans, but I would not cook it for 5-8 hours, maybe just until warmed through. Enjoy and let us know how it goes.
This sounds delicious. Definitely will make this 🙂
Could this be adapted to cook on top of the stove?
This was just what I needed! Such a great recipe and the flavor was not lacking at all!