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Creamy White Bean Pesto Bake: Best Easy Cozy Dinner

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This creamy white bean pesto bake is the ultimate comfort food for cozy nights. It’s rich, cheesy, and comes together in under 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup prepared pesto
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil or drizzle with olive oil.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained and rinsed cannellini beans, olive oil, minced garlic, pesto, heavy cream, and broth. Stir until the beans are well coated. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
  3. Gently fold in the fresh spinach and halved cherry tomatoes until evenly distributed.
  4. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
  5. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly over the top, followed by the grated Parmesan. Scatter the pine nuts or walnuts over the cheese.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown. For extra browning, switch to broil for the last 2 minutes.
  7. Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, swap heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and use dairy-free mozzarella. Toast the nuts first for better flavor. The bake can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance (without nuts) and refrigerated; add 5 extra minutes to baking time. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: white bean pesto bake, creamy pesto bake, easy dinner, cozy dinner, vegetarian, gluten-free, 30-minute meal

Find it online: https://chloeplate.com/creamy-white-bean-pesto-bake-best-easy-cozy-dinner/