If one of your New Year’s resolution was to start eliminating processed foods in your house, then bravo to you! I know that it can be kind of daunting when you are just getting started. You really have to plan ahead in order to eat real food. That can be tough if you are a parent and have a full time job. If you’re struggling to get going or stick to your resolution, then maybe some baby steps towards a real food diet would be helpful. I know I do occasionally take a shortcut here and there if it’s getting late or I just don’t feel like cooking. Using a store-bought sauce sure is definitely better for you than going through the drive-thru.
This 7-Ingredient Easy Chicken and White Bean Soup is super easy to make. Using pre-made marinara sauce and canned beans really helps get dinner on the table fast. The store-bought sauce adds a ton of flavor with hardly any work. You do want to make sure that you get a good organic brand of marinara sauce, preferably one that has no added sugar. It doesn’t have to be a marinara sauce. Any type of pasta sauce would work in this recipe. If you happen to have some of your own homemade pasta sauce on hand, you need about three cups for this recipe.
Some store-bought pasta sauces that I recommend:
Cucina Antica – This is actually what I used to make this recipe. It happened to be on clearance at Tom Thumb recently, so I picked up a jar. It’s not organic, but it’s certified non-gmo.
Ingredients: Imported Italian San Marzano tomatoes, tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt, basil, white pepper, & black pepper
That’s what you want an ingredient list to look like if you’re buying a store-bought pasta sauce. You are able to recognize and know what every ingredient is, and the list isn’t a mile long. It might take you a little longer in the grocery store, but reading the ingredient list of products is so important!
Cadia – I used to be able to find this at my local Natural Grocers, but sadly they’ve stopped carrying it. 🙁 The Roasted Garlic sauce is delicious! If I’d been able to get the Cadia brand of roasted garlic sauce, I probably would’ve used that in this soup instead.
Muir Glen: Not my top pick, but this is a whole lot better than most supermarket brands. It’s also widely available, which means makes it easier to find.
Brand of canned beans I recommend:
Eden Organic: These are certified organic beans that are soaked overnight then cooked with Kombu seaweed, which helps to tenderize the beans. The cans are BPA free and have been since 1999; way before other companies started making the switch. Yes, they are a little pricey, so keep an eye out for sales.
Pictures updated October 30, 2016
7-Ingredient Easy Chicken and White Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil or ghee
- 1 lb . ground chicken
- 1 medium yellow onion , diced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp whole fennel seed , crushed
- 1 (14.5 oz) can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (25 oz) marinara sauce (or 3 cups homemade)
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground chicken and cook, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns. Add the onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the oregano and fennel seed and cook for a minute more. Stir in the marinara sauce and beans. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, check seasonings, adding salt and pepper if necessary, top with parmesan cheese, then serve.