• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Winter Recipes
Kitchen Skip
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Winter Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Substack
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Winter Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Substack
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Soups, Stews & Chili

    Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup

    Published: Sep 30, 2021 · Modified: Feb 27, 2024 by Jenny Meier

    Jump to Recipe

    Slow cooker 15 bean soup is a flavorful, budget-friendly family meal. This helpful recipe includes both vegetarian and meat options, plus instructions for
    Instant Pot 15 bean soup.

    A bowl of 15 bean soup with sausage.

    Have you seen bags of 15 Bean Soup at the grocery store but never pick it up because you aren't quite sure how to cook the beans?

    I'm here to help, and show you how easy it is to turn that colorful bag of dried beans into delicious, flavorful soup. This recipe includes both meat and vegetarian options so you can customize the soup any way you like.

    The most common blend of dried beans I see at the grocery store is Hurst's HamBeens 15 bean soup, but it's not the only blend. There are also 13 bean soup blends out there. Really, any dried bean soup mix will work with this recipe.

    I love using the slow cooker for bean soup, especially when I'll be out of the house all day.

    If you prefer a pressure cooker, I've got you covered too. Instructions for Instant Pot 15 bean soup are also included below.

    Looking for more pressure cooker bean soup recipes? Try Instant Pot white bean soup or Instant Pot white bean and cabbage soup.

    Looking for a really quick and easy soup recipe? Try 10-Minute refried bean soup.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Photos & Instructions
    • FAQ About Slow Cooker Bean Soup
    • More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Ingredients

    The main ingredient for this recipe is a store-bought 15 bean soup blend. The blend usually includes some combination of Northern, navy, white kidney, pinto, large lima, baby lima, yellow eye, garbanzo, green split pea, yellow split pea, lentil, kidney, cranberry, small white, pink bean, small red, black.

    selection of dried beans

    In addition to dried beans, you'll need

    • Water
    • Onion, celery, carrot, garlic
    • Fresh parsley or thyme
    • Chili powder and smoked paprika
    • Red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar - optional, but a few tablespoons brightens the flavor of the soup

    Optional vegetables:

    • One 15-oz can petite-diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes
    • Frozen spinach
    • Frozen corn

    Optional Meat:

    • Ham hock or ham bone
    • Cooked sausage (try kielbasa)
    • Diced ham
    • Cooked bacon

    Ham hocks - Ham hocks are chunks of cured and smoked pork that include bone, collagen and a little bit of meat. Added at the beginning of the cooking process, a ham hock adds smoky, salty flavor and a little bit of meat to the soup. So good!

    When the soup has finished cooking, remove the ham hock and use a fork or knife to shred the meat off the bone. You can then add the shredded ham back to the soup.

    Ham hocks are usually sold pre-packaged in the butcher section of grocery stores. They often come in packs of two; use one for this soup and freeze the other ham hock for later. You can also use ham hocks to make Crockpot Split Pea Soup.

    Ham bone: The bone that is leftover from a bone-in or spiral ham can also add rich meaty flavor to soup. After serving ham, save the bone and add it to soup at the beginning of the cooking process.

    Step-by-Step Photos & Instructions

    Dried beans soaking in a bowl of water.

    Step 1: For the best slow cooker results, soak the beans overnight in water.

    Step 2: Saute onion, celery, carrot and garlic in a saute pan.

    Dried beans and broth in a slow cooker.

    Step 3: Combine the sautéed veggies, soaked beans, fresh water, salt and parsley or thyme in the slow cooker. Cook for 5 to 6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW.

    Dried beans and water in a pressure cooker.

    Step 4: If using an electric pressure cooker, combine the same ingredients in your pressure cooker. Cook soaked beans for 20 minutes or un-soaked beans for 40 minutes.

    A ham hock in a pressure cooker with ingredients for bean soup.

    Meat Option #1: For both the slow cooker and pressure cooker, add a ham hock or ham bone before the soup cooks.

    Slices of sausage and bean soup in a ladle over a slow cooker.

    Meat Option #2: Add cooked sausage (like sliced kielbasa) after the soup has cooked. You can also add diced ham or cooked bacon.

    Bowl of 15 bean soup with carrots and spinach

    Veggie options: Add canned tomatoes and/or frozen spinach or corn towards the end of the cooking process, after the beans are tender.

    Bean soup with parsley for garnish.

    Herbs and Spices: It's better to add spices and fresh herbs after the soup has cooked. The flavor of herbs and spices can be dulled during the long, slow cooking process.

    For detailed instructions and ingredient amounts, see the recipe card below

    FAQ About Slow Cooker Bean Soup

    Do I Have to Soak the Beans Before Cooking?

    You don't have to, but I really recommend soaking the beans before making slow cooker 15 Bean Soup. Pre-soaking insures that all of the beans will cook evenly within a reasonable amount of time.

    When I use my pressure cooker, I don't always bother pre-soaking the beans. Pressure cookers do a great job of cooking un-soaked beans.

    To soak the beans the night before (or at least 6 hours before), combine the bag of beans and 6 to 8 cups water in a large bowl, making sure the beans are covered by at least an inch or two of water. Add 1 tablespoon salt (or 2 tablespoons kosher salt). Soak overnight (or at least 6 hours). Drain and rinse the beans before cooking.

    Do I Have to Use the Whole Bag of Dried Beans?

    Not necessarily. Cooking the whole bag at once makes a hearty, thick bean soup. However, you can follow this same recipe but add only ½ the bag of beans if you prefer.

    Using less beans will make a soup with more broth. Or you can add more vegetables or more meat to the soup.

    Can I Make This Recipe in a Pressure Cooker?

    Absolutely! Instant Pot instructions are included in the recipe card below.

    Should I Use the Spice Pack Included with the Beans?

    Some brands of 15 bean soup come with a spice packet that you can add to the soup. I like adding a few spices myself and also adding the spice packet included with the soup. This gives the soup the most flavor.

    Do I need to saute the onion/carrot/celery before adding it?

    Sautéing the veggies helps soften the vegetables and adds more flavor to the soup. This is especially important for the onion, which can stay slightly undercooked even if it's in a slow cooker all day. It's less important to saute the carrot and celery.

    As a short-cut, you can lightly coat the diced onion with oil and microwave it for 2 to 3 minutes before adding it to the slow cooker. This will help soften the onion.

    More Slow Cooker Soup Recipes

    • bowl of vegetarian stew
      Vegetarian Stew (slow cooker)
    • A bowl of Slow Cooker White Bean & Tomato Soup with Orzo garnished with parsley
      Slow Cooker White Bean & Tomato Soup with Orzo
    • White bowl filled with crockpot lentil soup garnished with thyme
      Crockpot Lentil Soup
    • bowl of split pea soup
      Crockpot Split Pea Soup
    Print

    📖 Recipe

    Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup

    Bean soup with slices of sausage.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 8 reviews

    Use your slow cooker to turn 15 bean soup mix into a flavorful, budget-friendly family meal.  See the notes below for Instant Pot instructions. 

    For the best results, don't forget to soak the beans for at least 6 hours before making this soup in a slow cooker. Un-soaked beans take longer to cook and don't always get as tender. 

    • Author: Jenny Meier
    • Prep Time: 15
    • Cook Time: 6 hours
    • Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8 servings 1x
    • Category: Soup
    • Method: slow cooker
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 bag (13 to 20 ounces) of dried 15 bean soup
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup finely chopped onion
    • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
    • 2 carrots, chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste after the soup is cooked
    • 4 sprigs of parsley or thyme, plus more to garnish the soup
    • 8 cups water (you can use broth instead of water)
    • ¾ teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • Seasoning packet: some dried bean blends come with a seasoning packet. I like to use the packet to add more flavor.

    Optional Ingredients

    • 2 cups frozen spinach
    • 1 cup frozen corn
    • 1 can (15 oz) crushed or petite tomatoes
    • Ham bone or ham shank
    • Cooked, sliced sausage
    • Diced ham
    • Cooked bacon

    Instructions

    Soak the beans overnight (or at least 6 hours): In a large bowl, cover the dried beans with approximately 6 to 8 cups water (cover by 2-inches).  Add 1 tablespoon salt (or 2 tablespoons kosher salt). Soak overnight (or at least 6 hours). Drain and rinse the beans before cooking. 

    Make the Soup

    1. In a saute pan over medium or medium-low heat, saute the onion, carrot and celery in olive oil until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds more. 
    2. Transfer the sautéed veggies to a slow cooker. Add the beans, water, salt and parsley or thyme.
    3. If you're adding the optional ham bone or ham shank, add it now. 
    4. Cook on HIGH for 5 to 8 hours. After 5 hours the beans will likely be cooked and tender but still have some firmness. Cooking the soup for 6 hours or longer makes the beans softer and creamier.  If cooking the soup on LOW, it will probably take closer to 8 hours. 
    5. When the beans are tender, stir in the chili powder and smoked paprika. If the beans came with a spice packet, add half of the packet and then taste the soup. You can add the whole spice packet if you want.
    6. If adding tomatoes, spinach or corn add them now.
    7. If adding pieces of ham or slices of sausage, add it now (you can saute the sausage first, for more flavor). 
    8. Add the vinegar. Add salt to taste. 
    9. Let the soup simmer in the slow cooker for another 5 minutes or so until the added veggies and/or meat are warmed. 
    10. The soup will have more broth right when it's done and will thicken the longer it sets. 

    Notes

    In a slow cooker, I prefer to cook bean soup on HIGH because it ensures that the beans will become tender within a reasonable amount of time. You can cook this bean soup on LOW, but the cooking time becomes longer and more variable. 

    You can serve 15 bean soup with toppings such as hot sauce, sour cream or grated cheese. 

    Leftovers keep really well for up to 5 days. You can freeze the soup for up to 3 months. 

    Instant Pot Instructions

    This recipe was tested in a 6-quart pressure cooker.

    When using a pressure cooker, pre-soaking the beans is optional. 

    Step 1: In the Instant Pot, saute the onion, celery and carrot in olive oil until soft. Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds more. 

    Step 2: Add the beans, water, salt and parsley or thyme. (8 cups of water will make a brothy soup, 6 cups will make a thicker soup). If adding the optional ham shank or ham bone, add it now. 

    Step 3: Un-soaked beans can be cooked for 40 minutes, natural release. Soaked beans can be cooked for just 20 minutes, natural release. 

    Step 4: After the natural release, open the lid and stir in the spices listed in the ingredient list and add the spice packet that comes with the dried beans. Add the vinegar, and add salt to taste.

    Step 5: If adding the optional frozen spinach and/or canned tomatoes, add now.  If adding diced ham or slices of sausage, add it now (you can saute the sausage first, for more flavor). 

    Step 6: Let the soup simmer for another 5 minute or so until the added veggies and/or meat are warmed. 

    Please rate and review this recipe!

    Your reviews help other readers. They also help me provide the best recipes possible. Thanks!

    More Delicious Recipes

    • A bowl of tiny star pasta with chicken.
      Chicken Pastina Soup
    • A bowl of refried bean soup with toppings.
      10-Minute Refried Bean Soup
    • a bowl of beef stew made in an Instant Pot
      Instant Pot Beef Stew
    • a bowl of tomato soup with basil next to a grilled cheese sandwich
      Easy Tomato Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Stefani

      January 11, 2023 at 7:17 am

      I’ve made this soup recipe a thousand of times, it has such rich flavors and my kids love it!
      The soup tastes even better the next day, perfect for the Florida “cold” weather!
      Thanks ☺️

      Reply
      • Jenny

        January 11, 2023 at 9:46 am

        So glad your family enjoys it! I love it leftover the next day too.

        Reply
    2. Jan Lamothe

      November 06, 2021 at 10:44 am

      I love this soup and have made it for years. I am wondering if I could use beef broth instead of water?

      Reply
      • Jenny

        November 06, 2021 at 5:29 pm

        Yes, beef broth would be wonderful and adds even more flavor. I often use water because it's cheaper and I don't always have broth in my pantry, but if you have broth go for it!

        Reply
    3. Sara Welch

      May 24, 2021 at 10:51 am

      This was such a tasty recipe that was not only easy and flavorful, but great for busy evenings! My whole family loved it!

      Reply
      • Jenny

        May 24, 2021 at 11:10 am

        Yay! Happy to hear your family loved it.

        Reply
    4. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      May 24, 2021 at 10:11 am

      I Made for a gathering and it was a hit, everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again!

      Reply
    5. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      May 24, 2021 at 10:09 am

      I have everything I need for this dish, can’t wait to make it this weekend!

      Reply
    6. Angela

      May 24, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Bean soups are so healthy and filling. I love the combination of beans in this recipe. Delicious!

      Reply
    7. Vicky

      May 24, 2021 at 9:03 am

      So many good things in this soup! We have been trying to incorporate more beans into our diet and this seems like a great way to do that!

      Reply
    8. Emily Flint

      May 24, 2021 at 8:26 am

      This soup was so easy to make and the sour cream was the perfect touch! This will be a winter warmer for us from now on!

      Reply
      • Jenny

        May 24, 2021 at 8:59 am

        Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Kitchen Skip foodblogger and recipe developer Jenny Meier

    Hi, I'm Jenny!

    I'm a food blogger with a culinary degree and a busy Mama of two who now works full-time in education. I create easy dinner recipes for busy parents like you!

    More About Me

    Spring Recipes

    • A piece of cod on a plate with panko baked on top, surrounded by peas
      Panko Crusted Cod with Creme Fraiche Sauce

    • a plate of cooked asparagus
      Oven Roasted Asparagus

    • a bowl of quinoa salad with kale
      Easy & Healthy Quinoa Salad

    • a plate of asparagus drizzled in balsamic glaze
      Balsamic Glazed Instant Pot Asparagus

    • a bowl of chicken salad with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and croutons
      BLT Chicken Salad with Creme Fraiche Dressing

    • a bowl of orzo with canned tuna and herbs
      Tuna and Orzo Pasta Salad

    Popular Recipes

    • bowl of cooked black lentils
      How to Cook Black Lentils (Instant Pot & Stove)

    • bowl of white bean soup
      Instant Pot White Bean Soup

    • sliced kielbasa sausage in a skillet
      How to Cook Kielbasa

    • Cucumber Shrimp Salad

    • bowl of cooked rice noodles
      How to Cook Rice Noodles

    • a bowl of mini shell pasta with cooked frozen vegetables
      Pasta with Frozen Mixed Vegetables

    Footer

    Newsletter

    SIGN UP
    for easy dinner recipes

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    List of online sites that have featured this food blog.

    ^ back to top

    Images and text copyright Jenny Meier in 2024. Do not repost images or recipes without requesting permission

    Copyright © 2024 on the Feast Plugin