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Warm, nourishing, and perfect for busy weeknights, this Tuscan White Bean Skillet is the ultimate one-pan comfort meal. Serve with crusty bread and you have a high protein (and high fiber) dinner worth savoring any night of the week.

Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Skillet Dinner
- One Pan Winner. Everything cooks in the same pan in right around 30 minutes for easy prep and cleanup. (The same goes for this One Pan Pasta recipe!)
- Nutritious + Filling. This meal is brimming with protein, fiber, and immune-supportive nutrients like lycopene and vitamin C. It’s also super filling with served with a chunk of crusty bread.
- Big Flavor + Simple Ingredients. This Tuscan white bean skillet leans heavily on pantry ingredients such as canned tomatoes, white beans, tomato paste, and dried herbs. The fire-roasted tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan create a Tuscan-inspired broth that is incredibly aromatic.
- Meal Prep Friendly. This meal reheats beautifully, making it the perfect contender for make-ahead lunches or comforting weeknight dinners.
This is one of those meals I could eat on REPEAT and never tire of.
It’s incredibly cozy, simple, and tastes like a meal that has been simmering on the stovetop all day long.
Once the weather cools down and you’re looking for more soul-soothing dinners to add to your repertoire, this one is an absolute must!
And for more hearty one pan dinner inspiration, also check out my Turmeric Chicken and Rice, Moroccan Chicken and Chickpeas, and Chicken and Wild Rice.
The Ingredients

- Ground Turkey: A fabulous lean source of protein that is also quick-cooking. Alternatively, you can use ground chicken, sausage, or beef.
- Onion: I prefer using shallots, which are milder and slightly sweeter than other onions. However, yellow onion also works great.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds aromatic warmth and that classic Tuscan flavor.
- Spices: I love using a mix of fennel seed, dried oregano, chili flakes, salt and black pepper. Dried fennel seed lends a distinct anise-like flavor that is intensely aromatic.
- Tomato Paste: A little goes a long way in terms of adding brightness and umami. Just be sure to let the tomato paste fully caramelize in the pan, which really unlocks its full flavor potential.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Adds smoky depth as well as brightness. (Fun fact: canned tomatoes are even higher in the powerful antioxidant, lycopene, than fresh!)
- White Beans: Creamy, fiber-rich, and a great source of plant protein. I love using butter beans, however any canned white bean will work (navy beans, chickpeas, or cannellini beans). Just be sure not to drain the beans. The starchy bean liquid acts as a natural thickener for the broth. (Side note: if you’re a butter bean lover like me, add this Butter Bean Stew to your menu next!)
- Broth: Feel free to use chicken, vegetable, or bone broth.
- Heavy Cream: A splash of heavy cream adds body and richness to the broth. If making the dish dairy free, use full-fat coconut milk instead.
- Parmesan: For salty richness and extra umami goodness.
For a complete list of recipe ingredients and quantities, see the recipe card below.
The Directions
Step 1: Sauté onion in a large pan over medium heat until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir in garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
Step 2: Add ground turkey and, using a wooden spoon or spatula, spread the meat to the edges in an even layer. Let cook until the bottom of the meat is browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Then stir the turkey, breaking up the meat into small pieces.

Step 3: Create a well in the center of the pan and add tomato paste and spices; cook until aromatic, about 2 minutes, stirring to incorporate the other ingredients.
Step 4: Add broth, white beans, tomatoes, and kale; bring mixture to a simmer.

Step 5: Simmer, uncovered, for about 12 minutes.
Step 6: Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan; simmer 3 more minutes.

Step 7: Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese. Lastly, ladle into bowls and serve.
Serving Tip
This white bean skillet is best served with crusty sourdough or baguette for soaking up that Tuscan-inspired broth. For extra richness and crunch, drizzle the bread with a little olive oil and toast it either in the oven or a skillet.

Recipe Variations
- Swap the protein. Instead of ground turkey, you can use ground chicken, Italian sausage, lean ground beef, or meatless grounds (vegetarian option).
- Switch up the greens. In place of kale, spinach, escarole, or Swiss chard will also work well.
- Try different beans. Butter beans can sometimes be hard to find, however ANY white bean will work in this recipe. For example, cannellini or Great Northern beans, navy beans, or even chickpeas for something a little heartier. (For the white bean lover, my White Bean Soup is also a must-try!)
- Make dairy free. Swap the heavy cream for coconut milk and the Parmesan for 2 to 3 Tablespoons of nutritional yeast.
- Add grains. For a heartier meal, serve the Tuscan white bean skillet over farro, quinoa, or orzo.
Storage Tips
- To Store: Let leftovers slightly cool before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to help loosen the sauce. You can also microwave individual portions in 30 second increments until heated through.
- If serving with crusty bread, toast it fresh at mealtime for the best texture.
- To Freeze: Cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

More Weeknight Skillet Recipes
Mediterranean Salmon Skillet
Creamy Garlic-Paprika Shrimp Skillet
Skillet Eggplant Parmesan
Ginger-Basil Beef and Zucchini Skillet
If you try this Tuscan White Bean Skillet, be sure to leave a review and rating below! Also, be sure to tag me in your photos–I love seeing your creations! Lastly, follow dishingouthealth on Pinterest and Facebook for the latest recipes.

Tuscan Turkey and White Bean Skillet
Equipment
- Large sauté pan (or skillet)
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup minced shallots (or yellow onion)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb. ground turkey (or ground chicken, sausage, lean ground beef or meatless grounds)
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 tsp. fennel seeds
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (depending on desired level of spice)
- 1/2 tsp. each kosher salt and cracked black pepper
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- 1 (14.5-oz.) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes do not drain
- 1 (15-oz.) can butter beans (or any white bean – cannellini beans also work great) do not drain
- 4 packed cups chopped kale, stems and ribs removed
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
- Crusty bread for serving (sourdough or baguette)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add shallots (or yellow onion) and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute.Add ground turkey and, using a wooden spoon or spatula, spread the meat to the edges in an even layer. Let cook until the bottom of the meat is browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Then stir the turkey, breaking up the meat into small pieces.
- Create a well in the center of the pan and add tomato paste, oregano, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes; cook 1 minute, until the tomato paste starts to caramelize. Stir to incorporate into meat mixture and cook 2 more minutes, until aromatic. Season with salt and black pepper.Add broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, beans, and kale. Increase heat to bring mixture to a simmer. Gently simmer, uncovered, for 12 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Continue simmering, uncovered, for about 3 more minutes, until the mixture is thick and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.Ladle into bowls and garnish with extra grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with crusty bread.
Notes
- To Store: Let leftovers slightly cool before transferring to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to help loosen the sauce. You can also microwave individual portions in 30 second increments until heated through.
- If serving with crusty bread, toast it fresh at mealtime for the best texture.
- To Freeze: Cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.








Wanted to try something new today and followed the recipe as written. It’s delicious! I also really appreciate the nutrition facts included, makes my life easier!
Thank you Jamie!
This was so good! It was super easy to make and the family loved it. And thank you so, so much for including the nutritional information! I’m tracking my food and this makes it so much easier.
Delicious and fast! Followed the recipe exactly and the whole family loved it. Will be a regular here!
I made this for dinner last night using ground chicken and it was FAB! Didn’t have fennel seeds and we still loved it so much. I never buy butter beans but def will going forward. Can’t wait to make it again!
I just made this and it will definitely become a kitchen staple! Per usual, your recipes are nutrient dense and very flavorful. I used fire roasted tomatoes that had green chiles and it added some more heat. I omitted the Parmesan because I didn’t have any on hand and used full fat coconut milk for the cream. Easy to whisk up and truly was a 30 minute meal.
Made this for a hearty lunch today and it was so good! I was dubious about the fennel seed but it really made the dish. This was great and quick to make. This will be on rotation.
Delish! I forgot the heavy cream so I added a little of the veggie broth to some ricotta I had left and it was perfect. My sourdough did not cooperate either, so I had orzo on the side. This will be a repeat weeknight meal.
Delish! I forgot the heavy cream, but I did have a small amount of ricotta left over from another meal so I added a little of the veggie broth to that and it added the perfect creaminess. My sourdough didn’t cooperate either, so I did a little orzo on the side. This will be on repeat for weeknight meals.
Could we use almond milk in place of heavy cream?
That should be OK, however it won’t lend the same thickness and body as heavy cream. I suggest canned coconut milk as a dairy free alternative.
I made this on Saturday August 30, 2025 and it was fabulous. My son reheated it for breakfast the next day with an egg on top, and oh my gosh, a gooey egg dripping into all this luciousness was heavenly.
I can’t wait to try your other recipes.
This looks amazing! Can’t wait to make. What type of kale is best for this?
Hi Lindy – either lacinato or green curly kale works great!