Pizza Beans
on Sep 03, 2026
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Because we’re FIBRE MAXXING, welcome to my Only Cans series 😉- where I 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 🥰.
Pizza Beans
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Top with fresh basil. Serve warm.
Nonna’s Notes
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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).
- Nonna’s flavor building tip: toast the spices before adding wet ingredients. It takes seconds and noticeably deepens the flavor.
Why You’ll Love Pizza Beans
⏱️ Quick and easy: 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.
👩🍳 Easy to customize: Make it vegetarian, add more protein, or spice it up – make this recipe exactly how you like it.
Nonna’s Tip 🌶️
Toast the spices for a few seconds before adding the wet ingredients to bring out the aroma and flavors.
Variations and Substitutions for Pizza Beans
- Swap butter beans 🫘 for cannellini beans, Great Northern beans, or navy beans.
- Use store-bought pizza sauce or make your own with this Italian Tomato Sauce recipe.
- For a vegetarian version, swap pepperoni for mushrooms 🍄.
- Use veggie broth instead of water for a richer sauce.
- In addition to pepperoni, toss in more protein 💪, like Italian sausage or ground meat – or all three!
Best Served 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.
More Pizza-Inspired Recipes
Pizza Stuffed Mushrooms
28 mins
Pizza Bites Recipe
20 mins
Cottage Cheese Pizza Toast
15 mins
Pizza Crouton Salad (Viral)
15 mins
Common Questions
Can I 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 I make this vegetarian?
Absolutely! Eliminate the pepperoni and use mushrooms instead.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
Of course! Swap the cheeses for your favorite dairy-free or vegan cheese, or eliminate it altogether.
