Bean Baked Casserole (Printable)

Tender beans baked in rich tomato sauce topped with melted cheddar and breadcrumbs.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beans

01 - 2 cans (15 oz each) cannellini or navy beans, drained and rinsed

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

04 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
05 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
06 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Topping

12 - ½ cup grated cheddar cheese (optional)
13 - ½ cup breadcrumbs (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 4–5 minutes until translucent.
03 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, smoked paprika, dried thyme, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
05 - Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - Add drained beans and stir to combine. Simmer an additional 5 minutes.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish.
08 - If desired, sprinkle grated cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs evenly over the surface.
09 - Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
10 - Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms humble pantry staples into something warm and complete that feels like a real dinner.
  • The whole thing comes together in about an hour, and your kitchen smells incredible the whole time.
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing the canned beans; that starchy liquid will cloud your sauce and make it taste tinny rather than clean.
  • The smoked paprika is what makes this taste like more than just beans in tomato sauce—don't substitute it with regular paprika unless you have no choice.
03 -
  • If your beans start to look dry while baking, add a splash of vegetable broth rather than water—it keeps the flavor consistent.
  • The breadcrumb-cheese topping browns faster than you'd think; check at the 30-minute mark to avoid burning.

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