How long it takes: 50 minutes Equipment you’ll need: soup pan, stove, sharp knife, immersion blender Servings: 6 My mom used to heat up the canned version often for a quick lunch or dinner. It truly was a family favorite. She got the extra large sized can because we ate a lot. She’d say that there’s no reason to pick up expensive fast food when you had a can of bean with bacon soup in the pantry. (My sister and I probably would have preferred McDonald’s once in awhile but we really did love that soup. ) If you love bean soup, you might want to try these recipes: 15 Bean Soup, White Bean Soup with Kale and Pancetta, Ground Turkey Soup with Beans & Spinach which is ready in just 20 minutes, or Frijoles Borrachos (Drunken Beans). Another really popular “bean” soup is this Creamy Queso Chili. I guess chili isn’t really bean soup but the queso chili is loaded with beans and lots of cheesy goodness. It’s super good!
About this Bean soup
Homemade soup is better tasting than canned soup. Homemade bean and bacon soup is very much like the canned but yes, it’s so much better. (Oh, did I say that already?) More bacon flavor, more beans, lots of good veggies, less watery, and just much better tasting. No surprise there, right? Bean with bacon soup is easy to make. It freezes well, too, so you can enjoy homemade soup whenever you want it. Make it with canned beans or with dried beans. The recipe card will show you two different methods for making this soup: quick with canned beans or slower with dried beans. Dry beans are more economical and have a slightly better texture but canned beans are quicker. It’s up to you which one you prefer. The end result is pretty much the same.
How To Make This Soup
Begin this easy soup by browning thick cut bacon slices until crisp. Remove the bacon and most of the grease and in the same pan sauté carrots, onions, and celery until they soften a bit. Add garlic and a couple tablespoons of tomato paste, and cook, stirring a minute more. Add broth, beans, bay leaves, and thyme and simmer the soup. Put half of the bacon back in, too. Reserve some bacon for garnishing the soup, or just put it all in, totally up to you. When the beans are tender and the soup is done, remove about half of it and puree it with a stick blender. Stir the pureed soup back into the pan. This step is optional but it does add a nice creamy texture to the soup. Truthfully, you’ll love it either way! If you don’t want to blend the soup, just mash some of it against the side of the pan with a large spoon. Mission accomplished. Serve bean and bacon soup in a soup bowl or mug, steaming hot, with crackers or bread. It’s pure comfort food, especially on a cold day.
Make It Your Own
Make it in your slow cooker with dry great Northern beans. Rinse the beans well, and brown the bacon, then add everything to your crockpot. Cook on low 8 to 9 hours, or on high four to five hours, or until beans are tender. Use a different type of bean. Red beans, white beans, pinto beans, or black beans all work well. Replace the bacon with diced ham. You won’t need to brown it. Vegetarian: Omit the bacon and sauté the veggies in olive oil instead. Add a teaspoon or two of smoked paprika, if desired. More canned soup classics: Try my beef barley soup , loaded with tender chunks of beef, or broccoli cheese soup (make it in your Instant Pot!).
Make-Ahead Ideas
Head start: To get a start on the soup the night before, soak the beans, and cut up the veggies, storing them in a plastic bag or bowl in the fridge. Food prep: Make a big batch of soup and freeze it in individual sized containers for a handy lunch.
Storage & Reheating Tips
Refrigerate/Freeze: Bean with bacon soup will keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to six months. Reheat: If the soup is frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge for best results. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Interested in a weekly meal plan (it’s free!) that includes this easy soup recipe? Take a look at my Meal Plan #35. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. Let me do the planning for you this week! We’ll be adding a new meal plan weekly. If you’re interested, browse all of our meal plans.
More soup recipes
There’s nothing quite like a bowl of delicious and nutritious soup for dinner or lunch. I have tons of soup recipes for you to try. Here’s just a sampling:
Instant Pot Tomato Soup — creamy & easy to make! Kabocha Squash Soup Chile Relleno Soup with Chicken Lentil Soup Recipe with Pasta Easy Split Pea Soup Recipe Homemade Vegetable Soup Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Instant Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup Thai Chicken Soup with Rice Noodles by Once Upon a Chef
