Slow Cooker Cajun 15-Bean Soup with Andouille, Ham and Bacon is hearty comfort food that’s easy and perfect for a winter night!
I am really getting into using my slow cooker! Because it’s just the two of us, I don’t bring them out too often because the size of slow cookers I own are too large for two servings. Therefore, I often wait to use them until we have a party.
However, that’s all changing the more I use my slow cookers--the ease and convenience can’t be beaten!
Here's the perfect soup for your slow cooker! Hot, spicy, hearty and delicious Slow Cooker Cajun 15-Bean Soup with Andouille, Ham and Bacon
The inspiration behind this recipe:
I don’t find myself with a bag of 15-bean mix in my pantry very often--especially one where I had no idea where it came from! Actually, I think my mother-in-law was the culprit during her Easter visit, possibly intending to make soup with the bone from our Easter ham.
Every so often I go through our pantry and look for things that don’t get used in our normal meal rotation the way rice or canned tomatoes do. Some things tend to get overlooked or pushed back. By the time you get to them, they’re out-of-date and have to be thrown out.
I found the bag of 15-bean mix and this Slow Cooker Cajun 15-Bean Soup with Andouille, Ham and Bacon was born!
Tips for cooking dried beans:
- When cooking with dried beans, you have to be careful so they don’t come into contact with salt or acid. They will not soften up and hard beans are simply awful!
- If you have the time, soak the beans in cold water overnight in the refrigerator.
- If you’re like me and sometimes poor at planning, you can do a “quick soak.” Simply bring a small pot of water to a boil, add the beans, turn off the heat, cover and let stand for an hour. Drain and you’re ready to roll!
- Because I don’t want salt or acid to come in contact with the beans, I use water or an unsalted chicken broth and add roasted chicken base later for flavor and depth.
- Likewise, I add the Cajun seasoning (most blends contain salt), tomatoes and meats (because they’re salty, too) after the beans have softened up. There’s still plenty of time for the flavor to develop. And, if you make this a day ahead of time, the flavor will develop from sitting.
Delish! Enjoy!
Don't miss these other amazing hearty soups:
- Sausage and Lentil Soup with Kale
- Farmhouse Cabbage Soup with Cannellini Beans and Kielbasa
- Italian Vegetable Stew
- Smoky Spanish Vegetable and White Bean Soup with Kale
- Old-Fashioned Potato Cabbage and Kielbasa Soup
- Spicy Kale, Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup with Bacon
- Italian Sausage Soup
- Roasted Poblano Corn and Potato Chowder with Bacon and Gouda Cheese
Slow Cooker Cajun 15-Bean Soup with Andouille, Ham and Bacon
Ingredients
- Water - for soaking beans
- 1 bag (20-ounce) 15-bean mix - (discard any seasoning packet or reserve for another use, if desired)
- 1 large onion - chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper - chopped
- 2 stalks celery - chopped
- 6 cloves garlic - finely chopped
- 7 cups unsalted chicken broth - or water
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning - or to taste
- 1 can (15-ounce) diced fire-roasted tomatoes - undrained
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons roasted chicken base
- 1 package (14-ounce) Andouille sausage - halved and sliced
- 1 package (8-ounce) diced ham
- 4 slices bacon - cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Cayenne pepper - to taste
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Instructions
- Approximately 1 hour before starting the slow cooker, bring a saucepan full of water (large enough to hold all the beans when they expand) to a boil. Add the beans, turn off the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain.
- Combine beans, onion, green bell pepper, celery, garlic, water (or unsalted chicken broth) and bay leaves in a slow cooker. Cook 4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.
- When the beans have approximately 1 hour to go on high or 2 hours to go on low, add Cajun seasoning, tomatoes, tomato paste, roasted chicken base, sausage, ham and bacon. Cover and complete slow cooker cycle.
- Remove and discard bay leaf. Add parsley, cayenne and salt and black pepper to taste and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Anonymous says
Alexis M Quandt says
Omg! Um, trying this. Looks delicious.
Carol says
Thanks, Alexis! Hope you enjoy!
Sherry says
I have cooked dry beans my entire life and I use salt never had an issue in 45 yrs -- 3 generations before me have also used salt no problem.
Carol says
That's fantastic, Sherry! You're one of the lucky ones. However, other people do have problems. https://www.chowhound.com/post/beans-cook-887506
I've had the problem in the past myself, even using an electric pressure cooker to try and get them softened. They were not old beans. I would much rather post a recipe that everyone can have success with than tell my readers to add salt or acid and have them waste a lot of ingredients like the andouille, ham and bacon. So, definitely keep doing what you're doing if it works! Thank you for your comment.
Jennifer says
It's not the salt, it's the acid from the tomatoes. Salt the beans all you need, that's what I do to. But if you were to add the tomatoes in, then it becomes a problem with the beans not wanting to cook because of the acid.
Sara says
This would be perfect for a chilly day dinner! Beans are one of those things I can make and the whole family likes!
Amanda Mason says
This looks and sounds so AMAZING! I'm printing this one out now so I can make this for this winter! YUM YUM YUM!!
Carol says
Thanks, Amanda! Hope you enjoy!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
I never knew the importance of avoiding any contact with salt when cooking with dried beans - so glad to know for the future! I completely hear you about needing to go through the pantry every so often to find those "hidden gems." We are going to be moving next year and I'm already thinking I need to start really making an effort to use what we have tucked away!
Carol says
Thanks, Monica! ...Also avoid anything acidic. Going through your pantry simply is important from a not-wasting-food standpoint. Too many people have too little. If nothing else, donate it.
Elena says
Oh my! This soup look so comforting and delicious! I bet you can easily make it vegetarian too! I guess I have to dust off my slow cooker 🙂
Carol says
Hi, Elena, Yes, I didn't use my slow cooker nearly enough. Now I'm getting addicted to it!
Lois. O says
Normally I get a bit skeptical of bean soups because sometimes they look so much better than they taste but when I saw yours included ham, bacon and sausage (the trinity of flavor), I was convinced! Lovely pictures too!
Carol says
Thanks, Lois!
Donna says
Ok this is happening this week!! I haven't been able to stop thinking about this since seeing the photos the other day, and it is on our menu plan for the week. There is nothing I love more than soup except soup in a slow cooker, and this one ticks all the boxes ingredients-wise! yum
Carol says
Thanks, Donna! Hope you enjoy!
Carrie Ditton says
What a perfect winter soup! Soul warming soup as my family would say. Pinned!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago says
This looks like a wonderful winter soup! Comfort food in a bowl!!
prasanna hede says
This looks so comforting! Beans and meat all-together in a bowl! Yumm!
Helene says
Cool, thanks for the app suggestion! Sounds like it's a useful tool for the shopping season. 🙂
Your bean soup by the way makes me want to dig in instantly! I wish I could get Andouille sausages here! For now I will need to make your soup without the sausage.
Veena Azmanov says
This looks like total comfort food. I love making mixed beans and this one with Cajun seasoning and sausages might just be perfect for our weeknight meals. Saving for later. Yum!
Carol says
Thanks, Veena! You're right, it is total comfort food! Hope you enjoy!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
This looks like such a tasty hearty soup! It has all of my favorite things in one spot and I can't wait to try it!
Carol says
Thanks, Dominique! Hope you enjoy!