Pizza Beans

Because we’re FIBRE MAXXING welcome to our Only Cans series - where we take cans of beans and transform them into fiber-packed meals that taste AH-mazing and help you hit your macros! This pizza dupe swaps the crust for creamy butter beans to create a healthy, protein and fiber packed one skillet meal that tastes just like a supreme pizza. Add Italian sausage for more protein or swap mushrooms for meat to make a vegetarian version. This recipe is quick and customizable, so you can enjoy all the cozy pizza vibes while still looking and feeling your best.

Ingredients

Makes 3 bowls

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 15 pepperoni slices, nitrate-free
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Chili flakes, to taste
• 2 small cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
• 300 milliliters pizza sauce, one jar, I love Rao's
• ½ cup water, or broth, plus more to thin the sauce as needed
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup ⁠shredded mozzarella
• ⁠¼ cup grated Parmesan
• 1 Parmigiano rind, optional
• fresh basil, for serving

Equipment

• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Large Sauté Pan
• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pepperoni and cook until slightly crispy. Remove a few pieces for topping, if desired.
2. Add the onion and bell pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Cook for 30 seconds.
3. Add the butter beans, pizza sauce, water and Parmigiano rind. Stir and simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. When thickened, remove the rind.
4. Sprinkle the mozzarella, parmigiano cheese and place the pepperoni on top. Place it in the oven and broil for 3-5 minutes making sure you use an oven-safe skillet.
5. ⁠Top with fresh basil. Serve warm.

Kitchen notes

Bean substitutions:

Swap butter beans for cannellini beans, Great Northern beans, or navy beans. They’re all creamy and mild and go well with the rest of the ingredients. Make it Vegetarian: For a vegetarian version, swap pepperoni for mushrooms or tempeh. Protein: Toss in Italian sausage or ground meat to give this dish a protein boost!

Before you start

1. Pizza Beans swaps the crust for creamy butter beans, giving you all the flavors of a supreme pizza in a 30-minute, one-skillet meal.
2. The recipe is fully customizable: go vegetarian with mushrooms, bulk up the protein with Italian sausage, and use any white bean variety (cannellini, navy, or Great Northern).
3. The family's flavor building tip: toast the spices before adding wet ingredients. It takes seconds and noticeably deepens the flavor.

What stands out

Quick and straightforward: Goes from prep to plate in 30 minutes.

One skillet meal: Saucy butter beans, crispy pepperoni, and melty mozzarella give you all the flavors of pizza in one cozy skillet.

Fiber forward: This pizza-inspired dish swaps the crust for fiber-packed butter beans to help you hit your macros – plus it’s loaded with veggies.

straightforward to customize: Make it vegetarian, add more protein, or spice it up – make this recipe exactly how you like it.

Kitchen tip

Toast the spices for a few seconds before adding the wet ingredients to bring out the aroma and flavors.

Swaps

1. Swap butter beans for cannellini beans, Great Northern beans, or navy beans.
2. Use store-bought pizza sauce or make your own with this Italian Tomato Sauce recipe.
3. For a vegetarian version, swap pepperoni for mushrooms.
4. Use veggie broth instead of water for a richer sauce.
5. In addition to pepperoni, toss in more protein like Italian sausage or ground meat – or all three!

Serve it with

• A crisp Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad) or Simple Green Salad
• Transform a fresh baked Baguette or crusty rustic No Knead Garlic Bread into garlic toast.
• Serve alongside Roasted Baby Eggplant for a veggie-forward meal.

Questions

Can we use other kinds of beans for this recipe?

Yes! Swap butter beans for Great Northern beans, navy beans, or cannellini beans – these white bean varieties all have a similar creamy texture and buttery flavor that goes well with the pizza sauce and toppings.

Can we make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! Eliminate the pepperoni and use mushrooms instead.

Can we make this recipe dairy-free?

Of course! Swap the cheeses for your favorite dairy-free or vegan cheese, or eliminate it altogether.