This White Bean and Chorizo Stew is a hearty, comforting dish that’s a tasty lunch or dinner option for any season of the year, but especially comfort food season! It’s super easy to whip up too!
Updated: This post was first published here in March 2015. I wanted to reshare it because it’s one of my favorites for comfort food season. I’ve tweaked the content and the recipe a bit and added some additional notes to the post below, as well as all new photos.
I know that stews are considered a comfort food and are primarily served during the colder months, but I enjoy this delicious White Bean and Chorizo Stew all year round. I found this recipe in an issue of Bon Appetit magazine from 2013 and it’s always been one of my favorite stew recipes.
Even my husband Tom, who we all know is a pretty picky eater, loves this one. I thought he may have raised an eyebrow that there was spinach in it, because anything green AND good for you usually sets up a red flag for him, but he ate every bite and even went back for seconds. Shocker!
I can usually tell when he is not liking something because he just keeps chewing and chewing before he finally gets up the nerve to swallow it. Surprisingly, there was none of that going on.
White Bean & Chorizo Stew Ingredients
- olive oil
- Mexican chorizo links
- onion
- garlic cloves
- fresh thyme sprigs
- canned cannellini beans
- low-sodium chicken broth
- smoked paprika
- kosher salt and pepper
- baby spinach leaves
This stew is tasty, super hearty AND extremely healthy. It’s a win-win-win! It’s packed with beans, spinach, onions and garlic, and we all know how important it is to get your daily dose of veggies. And the chorizo gives it a little kick along with the smoked Spanish paprika.
This dish is inexpensive and so quick and easy to prepare. I love to make it on a night when I know I will be running late and need a quick fix for dinner. I also love that you only need to use one pot. No major cleanup needed. It’s a piece of cake….ok, no it’s a pot of stew. It’s delicious, it’s hearty, it’s easy and it’s on your table in less than 45 minutes! Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for White Bean & Chorizo Stew
When I first made this recipe, I cooked the chorizo links in a skillet and then added it to the stew in slices. This time I decided to remove the chorizo from the casings, crumble and cook it in a skillet until cooked through and then add it to the stew. I thought it was easier to eat this way. No need for a knife and fork to cut individual pieces of chorizo. Plus there’s more in every spoonful.
As the stew sits it will soak up more of the liquid, so you can just add more broth or water to get it to the consistency you desire.
More Delicious Comfort Food Recipes to Enjoy
White Bean and Chorizo Stew
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. Mexican chorizo links, meat removed from the casings
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced, then roughly chopped
- 3-4 large garlic cloves minced
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 15 ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 14.5-oz. cans low-sodium chicken broth, fat free
- 3/4 tsp. Spanish smoked paprika
- kosher salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 5-oz. bag baby spinach leaves, stems trimmed
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven heat 1Tbsp. olive oil over medium heat. Add chorizo, crumbling with a wooden spoon as it cooks for about 7-8 minutes until cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon to a plate. Set aside.
- In the same pot heat the remaining olive oil with the onions, garlic and thyme sprigs for about 7 minutes, stirring often. Next, add the beans and the broth. Cook for 8-10 minutes. To thicken the broth, crush some of the beans with the back of a spoon. Add the paprika and season with salt and pepper. Add the spinach a handful at a time and cook for about 2 minutes until wilted. Add the chorizo to the stew. If you want to thin out the stew add a little water or more broth. Serve in bowls. I like to serve mine with a nice crusty bread.
Notes
- When I first made this recipe, I cooked the chorizo links in a skillet and then added it to the stew in slices. This time I decided to remove the chorizo from the casings, crumble and cook it in a skillet until cooked through and then add it to the stew. I thought it was easier to eat this way. No need for a knife and fork to cut individual pieces of chorizo. Plus there's more in every spoonful.
Michael @ Michael's Woodcraft
Oh yea, that looks delicious!! Do you have a problem finding chorizo in your area?
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen
Thanks Michael! No, my little local market sells it. Next time I make this stew though I am going to get a friend to go with me to a special litle Mexican market she gets her chorizo from because she said theirs is unbelievable!
Michael @ Michael's Woodcraft
That’s nice, it is hard to find in our area, we don’t have a Mexican market and Wholefoods has it on and off. I never know if they will have it or not and we have a Sam’s but they normally don’t have it either.
I just noticed in the upper right of your site you have the “Stay Connected”, is that a widget or is that in Woodpress too?
Enjoy your weekend!
Mary Ann @ thebeachhousekitchen
Thanks Michael! I hope you can find the chorizo, but if you can’t you can also use Italian sausage. My social icons are through WordPress in a text widget. Enjoy the weekend.
Michael @ Michael's Woodcraft
thank you Mary Ann!
Bridget
Amazing! I made this yesterday (Sunday) with the intention of eating it throughout the week for lunch (at work). I also added some left over mushrooms to the mix and then basically I couldn’t stop eating it. Its only Monday – I’m at work eating the remaining last serve. Whoops!
Mary Ann
Thanks so much Bridget! This is actually one of my favorite recipes on the blog. Great idea to add the mushrooms. Thanks for following! Enjoy your week!
Patty V
I have made this soup so many times since seeing your recipe and everyone loves it. It’s so easy and delicious. I have even substituted chicken for the chorizo and the kids love it. You cannot go wrong with this soup on a cold winter’s day!
Mary Ann
That’s awesome! So glad everyone loves it! It’s a favorite at our house too!
GottaEat
Are these sausages those cured, dried ones? That’s all my supermarket carries.
Mary Ann
No, sorry. They are fresh. I have never used dried sausages in this stew.
Katherine | Love In My Oven
We’re big fans of chorizo sausage, especially in a warm and comforting dish like this! Looks amazing and perfect for this chilly weather we’re having.
Mary Ann
Then you’ll love this one Katherine! Hope you give it a go!
Cathy
I just found your blog and so happy I did. This was the first recipe that caught my eye, out of several that I am looking forward to trying. I wish I had seen this earlier since I had some chorizo I wanted to do something with, and what I did was a disaster, not knowing how hot my combo airfryer cooked. I stock up on chorizo when I find it since it’s not always available where we are in the Caribbean. I will be making this within the week. I love everything you have in this recipe, so it will become a regular on our dinner table.
Mary Ann
So happy you found the blog too Cathy! Enjoy!
Robert Pnakovich
Very nice, made it in a half batch just in case, but wish I could have made a full batch. Only had 8oz. Chorizo… Swapped the spinach with Swiss chard and added celery, slice the onions on the bias, added a pinch of Mexican oregano, white pepper, coriander, and a dash of spices chili powder.
Mary Ann
So happy you enjoyed it Robert! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and rate the recipe. Happy Holidays!
Marilyn Stevens
I just got a batch of fresh white beans from my bean guy, and loose Mexican chorizo from my sausage guy, and found this recipe. It is outstanding! I didn’t have any spinach, but I roasted some peppers and added them. I will go back to this recipe often. Thanks!
Mary Ann
So happy you enjoyed it!
Shelley M Hull
We made it using Trader Joe’s soy chorizo. It came out great!
Mary Ann
That’s awesome. Thanks so much for trying the recipe!