The Heartiest Bean with Bacon Soup Recipe for Cozy Nights

My grandma’s hearty bean with bacon soup always brings comfort during chilly afternoons.

Memories of her kitchen flood back with each spoonful of this rich, smoky brew.

Crispy bacon pieces dance alongside tender beans in a velvety broth that warms you from the inside out.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a rustic dish that feels like a culinary hug.

Simple yet profound, this recipe connects generations through its unpretentious goodness.

Salt, pepper, and love are the secret ingredients that make this soup extraordinary.

Grab a ladle and let’s transform humble ingredients into something magical that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why Bean With Bacon Soup Is Rich, Savory, And Satisfying

• Savor Smoky Bacon Bliss: Crispy bacon transforms this humble bean soup into a flavor-packed comfort meal, delivering irresistible smoky notes that dance across your taste buds.
• Unleash Creamy Comfort Texture: The optional blending technique creates a luxuriously smooth base while keeping hearty bean chunks, giving the soup a perfect balance between silky and substantial.
• Speed Up Weeknight Dinner Magic: Ready in under 45 minutes, this one-pot wonder simplifies cooking with minimal prep, making it an ideal solution for busy families craving a warm, satisfying meal.
• Boost Nutritious Ingredients Easily: Packed with protein-rich beans, vegetables, and lean bacon, this soup delivers a nutritious punch without sacrificing incredible taste or requiring complicated cooking skills.

What Goes Into Bean With Bacon Soup

• Bacon: Provides rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture; choose thick-cut for best results.
• Navy Beans: Hearty legume that creates soup's creamy base; dried or canned work well.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and savory foundation to the soup.

• Onion, Carrots, Celery: Classic mirepoix that builds soup's flavor profile; fresh vegetables recommended.
• Garlic: Provides intense, sharp flavor and aromatic complexity.

• Smoked Paprika: Enhances smoky undertones and adds warm color.
• Thyme: Earthy herb that complements bacon and bean flavors.
• Bay Leaf: Contributes subtle depth and complexity to the soup.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Fresh Parsley: Optional garnish that adds bright, fresh finish.

• Tomato Sauce: Adds slight acidity and rich color.
• Water: Helps adjust soup's consistency.

How To Make Bean With Bacon Soup From Scratch

Step 1: Crisp Up the Bacon

Grab a large pot or Dutch oven and cook diced bacon over medium heat until it transforms into golden, crunchy pieces. Carefully remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, keeping those delicious drippings in the pot.

Step 2: Sauté Vegetable Medley

• Onions
• Carrots
• Celery

into the bacon fat. Let them dance and soften for 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Step 3: Build the Soup Base

• Navy beans
• Chicken broth
• Water
• Tomato sauce
• Smoked paprika
• Thyme
• Bay leaf

Bring the mixture to a gentle bubbling boil.

Step 4: Let Flavors Mingle

Lower the heat, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer quietly for 20-25 minutes. This is where magic happens as ingredients get to know each other.

Step 5: Create Creamy Texture

For extra smoothness, scoop out two cups of soup and blend until silky. Fold the blended portion back into the pot for a luxurious consistency.

Step 6: Final Seasoning

Stir most of the crispy bacon back into the soup, saving a few pieces for topping. Season with salt and pepper until it tastes just right.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Ladle the steaming soup into bowls. Sprinkle reserved bacon bits on top. Add a handful of chopped fresh parsley if you’re feeling fancy. Grab some crusty bread and dive in!

Tips To Get The Best Flavor In Bean With Bacon Soup

• Bacon Brilliance: Select thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispy texture that holds up well in the soup.
• Bean Preparation Hack: Rinse canned navy beans thoroughly to reduce sodium and remove any metallic taste before adding to the soup.
• Texture Transformation: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot for easier blending and fewer dishes to clean after creating a creamy consistency.
• Low-Sodium Solution: Replace some chicken broth with water to control salt levels, especially if using pre-salted bacon and canned beans.
• Dietary Flexibility: Swap bacon with smoked turkey bacon or tempeh bacon for lighter protein options that still deliver rich, smoky notes.

Best Foods To Serve With Bean With Bacon Soup

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Complement the rich, smoky bacon soup with a light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, cutting through the soup's heaviness and enhancing its savory flavors.
• Serve with Rustic Sourdough Bread: The tangy sourdough perfectly absorbs the soup's broth and provides a delightful textural contrast, while its crusty exterior adds a satisfying crunch to each bite.
• Match with Craft Beer: Choose a malty amber ale or a smooth lager that mirrors the soup's smokiness, creating a harmonious flavor profile that elevates the bacon and bean combination.
• Garnish with Fresh Herb Salad: Add a bright, peppery side salad with arugula, chives, and a light vinaigrette to balance the soup's richness and provide a fresh, zesty counterpoint.

Tasty Twists For Bean With Bacon Soup

• Smoky Ham Hero: Swap bacon for diced ham and add smoked gouda cheese for an extra rich, woodsy flavor profile that transforms the classic soup.
• Spicy Southwest Sprint: Incorporate diced green chiles, cumin, and swap navy beans with black beans for a zesty, southwestern-inspired version that brings bold heat.
• Vegetarian Veggie Victory: Replace bacon with smoked mushrooms or tempeh, use vegetable broth, and add extra roasted vegetables like bell peppers for a hearty plant-based alternative.
• Creamy Potato Power: Mix in diced potatoes during simmering and use cream instead of water to create a thicker, more substantial soup with robust texture.

Bean With Bacon Soup FAQs

• Why use navy beans specifically for this soup?

Navy beans are perfect because they’re small, creamy, and absorb flavors beautifully. They cook quickly and provide a smooth, velvety texture that makes the soup hearty and satisfying.

• Can I make this soup vegetarian?

Yes, you can replace bacon with smoked paprika and use vegetable broth. Add some liquid smoke or sautéed mushrooms to mimic the smoky bacon flavor without meat.

• Is this soup nutritionally balanced?

Absolutely! Navy beans are packed with protein and fiber, bacon adds richness, and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals. It’s a complete, nutritious meal that offers both comfort and health benefits.

• How can I enhance the soup's flavor?

Try adding a splash of apple cider vinegar at the end for brightness, or sprinkle some extra smoked paprika for deeper smokiness. Fresh herbs like thyme or parsley can also elevate the overall taste profile.

How To Store And Reheat Bean With Bacon Soup

• Refrigerate: Store leftover bean with bacon soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Pour cooled soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat on Stovetop: Transfer soup to a pot, add a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Avoid boiling to prevent beans from becoming mushy.
• Microwave Option: Place soup in a microwave-safe bowl, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals. Stir between intervals to ensure even heating. Add extra broth if the soup seems too thick.

Bean With Bacon Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 35 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty bean with bacon soup delivers comfort from the heartland of Midwestern kitchens, blending smoky pork and creamy legumes into a soul-warming classic. Rich layers of flavor invite you to savor each spoonful of this rustic, nourishing meal.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 3 cups cooked navy beans (or 2 cans, drained and rinsed)
• 4 cups chicken broth

Vegetables:

• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced

Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:

• 1 (8 ounces / 227 grams) can tomato sauce
• 1 cup water (or more for desired consistency)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Transform crispy bacon into golden, crackling bits by rendering its fat in a spacious pot over medium-high temperature, creating a flavorful foundation for the soup.
2. Utilize the aromatic bacon drippings to sauté a trio of diced vegetables – onions, carrots, and celery – until they soften and release their earthy essence, then introduce minced garlic for a brief moment to awaken its pungent notes.
3. Integrate navy beans, rich chicken broth, supplemental water, tangy tomato sauce, smoky paprika, fragrant thyme, and a solitary bay leaf into the vegetable-laden pot, escalating the heat to encourage a gentle, bubbling simmer.
4. Reduce the thermal intensity, seal the pot with a snug lid, and allow the ingredients to harmonize their flavors through a leisurely 20-minute dance of culinary alchemy.
5. For those desiring a velvety consistency, extract approximately two cups of the soup and transform it into a silky puree, then reincorporate the smooth mixture back into the original pot.
6. Reunite the previously reserved bacon pieces with the soup, reserving a select few for a dramatic garnish, and calibrate the seasoning with judicious pinches of salt and pepper.
7. Artfully ladle the steaming soup into waiting bowls, crown with crisp bacon fragments and a delicate sprinkle of fresh parsley, accompanied by a robust slice of crusty bread to complete this rustic culinary experience.

Notes

• Choose thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crispiness, ensuring each bite delivers a rich, smoky essence to the soup.
• Drain excess bacon fat if you prefer a lighter version, but keep enough to sauté vegetables and develop deep, robust flavors.
• Experiment with different bean varieties like Great Northern or cannellini for unique textures and subtle taste variations.
• For a vegetarian adaptation, replace bacon with smoked tempeh or mushrooms and use vegetable broth to maintain a similar umami profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 8 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg