Description
This Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for a nutritious meal. Packed with a variety of beans, vegetables, and flavorful seasonings, it simmers gently in a slow cooker to develop deep, rich flavors. The addition of diced ham adds a savory touch, making the soup satisfying and ideal for chilly days or easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Beans and Meat
- 1 15-ounce package 15 bean mix (dry, discard the seasoning packet)
- 1 cup diced ham
Vegetables
- 2 carrots (chopped)
- 2 celery stalks (chopped)
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (with juice)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
Liquids
- 6–8 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Prepare the beans: Rinse the 15 bean mix thoroughly under cold water and check carefully for any stones or debris. For best results, soak the beans overnight in water to ensure they cook evenly and become tender within the recommended time frame.
- Soften the vegetables: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the chopped carrots, celery, onion, and minced garlic. Cover the bowl with a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are slightly softened. This step helps to enhance their flavor in the final soup.
- Assemble in slow cooker: Add the rinsed and soaked beans, diced ham, softened vegetables, diced tomatoes including the juice, all the seasonings (Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, chili powder, cumin, black pepper), and the bay leaf into a 6-8 quart slow cooker. Pour in 6 to 8 cups of chicken broth depending on desired consistency.
- Cook the soup: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 8 hours or on high heat for 4 hours. Cook until the beans are tender and the flavors have melded together wonderfully.
- Finish and season: Once cooking is complete, remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt or spices to suit your preference.
- Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and enjoy immediately. This hearty 15 bean soup pairs beautifully with crusty bread for dipping and makes for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight reduces cooking time and improves digestibility.
- Microwaving the vegetables prior to adding them intensifies their natural sweetness and flavor.
- You can substitute vegetable broth to make the recipe vegetarian; omit the ham in that case.
- Adjust the level of chili powder to increase or decrease the spiciness according to taste.
- Leftover soup keeps well refrigerated for 3-4 days and freezes nicely for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus overnight soaking time)
- Cook Time: 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: slow cooker bean soup, 15 bean soup, hearty soup recipe, easy slow cooker meals, bean soup with ham
