Easy Cheesy Bean Skillet (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
02 -
2 pints cherry tomatoes, cut in half
03 -
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
04 -
3 tablespoons tomato paste
05 -
1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 -
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (leave out if you prefer mild)
07 -
½ teaspoon salt, plus extra to taste
08 -
Black pepper to taste
09 -
2 cans cannellini beans (15 oz each), drained and rinsed well
10 -
1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
→ Cheese & Toppings
11 -
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or one 8 oz ball of fresh mozzarella, torn into pieces)
12 -
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
13 -
A handful of fresh basil leaves
14 -
4 slices of crusty bread, toasted until golden
# Instructions:
01 -
Warm up your olive oil in a big oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Toss in the halved cherry tomatoes and let them sizzle for about 5 minutes until their skins start to blister and pop. Add the grated garlic, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Stir everything together and cook for another minute until it smells absolutely amazing.
02 -
Add your drained cannellini beans and pour in the broth. Give it a good stir to combine everything, then bring it up to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. You'll notice the tomatoes breaking down and the sauce getting thicker and more luscious.
03 -
Switch on your oven's broiler. Scatter the mozzarella evenly over the top of your beans (if you're using fresh mozzarella, just tear it into chunks and dot it around). Sprinkle the parmesan over everything. Slide the skillet under the broiler for about 5 minutes, keeping an eye on it, until the cheese melts and gets those irresistible golden-brown spots.
04 -
Carefully take the skillet out of the oven (it's hot!). Tear up some fresh basil and scatter it over the top. Serve this beauty straight from the skillet with toasted crusty bread on the side for scooping up all that cheesy, saucy goodness.
# Notes:
01 -
This dish tastes even better the next day once the flavors have had time to mingle together.
02 -
If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer everything to a baking dish before adding the cheese and broiling.
03 -
Fresh mozzarella gives a creamier texture, while shredded mozzarella creates more of that classic melted cheese pull.