This Tuscan kale and white bean soup is a staple in my house! It’s one of my favorite ways to warm up on a cold winter day. However, if I’m being honest, I serve it all year long, and I always make sure to have a batch in the freezer for busy nights!

tuscan white bean and kale soup
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Feature Comment: “Insanely good and easy enough for a beginner cook like me to not mess up! It’s even better the next day! Thank you!!” ~ Karolina

Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

When the weather starts to cool down, I always crave this creamy white bean soup. It’s rich, flavorful, and the kind of cozy dinner that instantly makes the house feel warm.

My secret to the perfect texture is blending some of the beans before letting the soup simmer. It creates a creamy consistency while the flavors come together naturally.

This soup is the definition of comfort food, and with a 5-star ratings, it’s safe to say that readers agree. I love to pair it with Sourdough Garlic Bread or Bread Crisps for a filling meal, but it’s perfect on its own!

Reasons to Love this Tuscan Kale Soup

  • Easy ingredients! Made with simple, easy-to-find vegetables and pantry ingredients.
  • Creamy without cream. This tuscan bean soup has the best texture. It’s thick with the right amount of broth. The trick is to blend up some of the beans with little broth before adding to the soup. It thickens the soup without any cream.
  • It’s freezer friendly. Make some soup now and freeze some to enjoy later. It defrosts well too.

Kale White Bean Soup Ingredients

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

ingredients for tuscan white bean kale soup
  • Cannellini beans: These beans are so creamy and soft. Feel free to swap with great northern beans.
  • Bacon: Adds smoky depth and richness. Do not leave out.
  • Rosemary: Use fresh if possible. Dried works too but fresh will be more flavorful.
  • Kale: I love using Lacinato kale, but curly works too.

Best Type of Beans for this Soup

Cannellini beans are the best type of beans for this soup. They retain their shape and texture well when cooked. Not to mention they have an earthy flavor and tender flesh.

Another great option is Great Northern beans. They are smaller than Cannellini beans but very similar in taste. Plus they take on the flavors of the foods they’re cooked with, making them very flavorful.

How to Make White Bean and Kale Soup

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has more detailed instructions.

blended up beans in a food processor

Step 1: Combine one can of drained and rinsed beans in a blender or food-processor with 1 cup of chicken broth. Blend until smooth.

cooked bacon in a dutch oven

Step 2: Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until bacon renders fat and crisps up. Add onions, carrots, and celery to the bacon. Stir and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and rosemary.

tuscan kale soup in a pot

Step 3: Add blended beans, drained beans, potatoes, and the remaining chicken broth. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in kale and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

tuscan white bean soup recipe

Step 4: Add chopped parsley. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serving Suggestions for White Bean Kale Soup

This Tuscan bean soup is delicious topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and something crunchy like Cheese Popovers, Parmesan Cheese Crisps, Sourdough Croutons, or Easy Salad Pizza.

If you want to turn the soup into a more filling meal, try pairing it with one of these salads: Chopped Autumn Salad or Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad. Toast is always a winner with soup too. Try Avocado Toast or Tuna Avocado Melt.

tuscan bean soup with kale

How to Store Kale and White Bean Soup

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or, freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. 

Thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat in a pot over medium heat or in 30-second increments in the microwave until your desired temperature is reached.

Video: How to Make Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

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tuscan bean soup with kale

Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 31 reviews
  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 40 min
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: Tuscan
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Description

Cozy up to this Tuscan white bean and kale soup with bacon, cannellini beans, fresh rosemary, and lacinato kale. It’s hearty, thick, and crazy flavorful.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 (15 oz.) cans cannellini beans, divided
  • 4 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil or avocado oil
  • 3 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped, about 1 cup
  • 1 medium carrot, chopped, about ½ cup
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped, about ½ cup
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh minced rosemary
  • 1 medium russet potato, peeled and ½-inch diced, about 1 ½ cups
  • 2 cups chopped lacinato kale or curly kale, lightly packed
  • ¼ cup chopped parsley
  • Kosher salt and fresh black pepper
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

Instructions

  1. Drain and rinse one can of cannellini beans. Add to a blender or food processor with 1 cup of chicken broth. Blend until smooth. Drain and rinse the other two cans of beans and set them aside.
  2. Heat oil in a large dutch-oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until bacon renders fat and crisps up. 
  3. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in garlic and rosemary. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds, while stirring constantly.
  5. Add blended beans, drained beans, potatoes, and the remaining chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer over medium or medium-low heat, for 20-25 minutes, uncovered, or until vegetables are tender and broth slightly reduced.
  6. Stir in kale and simmer for a few minutes or until wilted. Taste the soup and add more salt if needed. Stir in chopped parsley. Serve soup with grated Parmesan cheese. It’s also really good with crusty bread for dipping.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Store leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Beans: Great Northern beans are a great substitute for cannellini beans.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 445
  • Sugar: 3.8 g
  • Sodium: 1638.1 mg
  • Fat: 9.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 68.7 g
  • Protein: 23.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 13.2 mg