Creamy White Bean Soup (Printable)

A velvety blend of white beans, smoky bacon, and rosemary creating a warm, comforting bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 5 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Beans

06 - 2 cans (14 ounces each) cannellini or navy beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

07 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream

→ Herbs & Seasonings

09 - 2 sprigs fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling
14 - Fresh chopped parsley, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pot.
02 - Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes until vegetables are softened and beginning to caramelize.
03 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the drained beans, broth, rosemary sprigs, bay leaf, pepper, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.
05 - Remove the rosemary sprigs and bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, purée the soup until creamy and velvety. Alternatively, transfer in batches to a standard blender, blend carefully, and return to the pot.
06 - Stir in the heavy cream and most of the cooked bacon, reserving some for serving. Simmer for 5 additional minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Serve hot, garnished with reserved bacon pieces, a drizzle of olive oil, and chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you simmered it for hours, but your stove time is honestly under an hour.
  • The bacon and rosemary combination is understated but sneaks up on you with every spoonful.
  • Heavy cream makes it silky without feeling heavy, which still surprises me every time.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans—that cloudy liquid will muddy your final soup's appearance and texture.
  • Remove the rosemary and bay leaf before blending, or you'll end up fishing out tiny pieces from the pureed soup like you're searching for treasure.
03 -
  • Cook the bacon until it's truly crisp so it stays crunchy on top of the soup instead of getting soggy and sad in the heat.
  • Don't oversalt during cooking—taste it at the end when all the flavors have settled, because the bacon brings its own seasoning to the party.
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