White Bean Soup
White bean soup is one of the easiest homemade soups to customize. Great Northern, navy, or cannellini beans create a creamy texture without adding cream, making this soup both hearty and budget friendly. Add vegetables for a meatless meal or include ham, sausage, chicken, or ground beef for extra protein.
Prep Time: 15 minutes (+ overnight soaking if using dried beans)
Cook Time: About 2 hours
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups dried white beans, or about 6 cups cooked or canned beans
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 bay leaves
- 1-2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: chopped ham, smoked sausage, cooked chicken, or browned ground beef
Directions
- If using dried beans, place them in a large bowl, cover with water, and soak overnight.
- Drain and rinse the beans.
- Place the beans in a soup pot and cover with fresh water. Add the quartered onion and bay leaves.
- Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the beans begin to soften.
- If using canned beans, skip the soaking and precooking steps and begin here.
- Add the potatoes, carrots, and any optional meat. Pour in additional water or broth if needed to keep everything covered.
- Continue simmering until the potatoes, carrots, and beans are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves, season with salt and pepper, and serve hot.
Kid Chef Tip: Mash a small spoonful of the cooked beans into the broth before serving. This naturally thickens the soup without adding flour or cream.
Customize Your White Bean Soup
- Ham: Add leftover diced ham for a classic family favorite.
- Sausage: Stir in sliced smoked sausage or kielbasa.
- Chicken: Add cooked shredded chicken during the last 10 minutes.
- Vegetarian: Replace the water with homemade vegetable broth and add celery, spinach, kale, zucchini, or green beans.
- Creamier soup: Blend 1-2 cups of the finished soup with an immersion blender, then stir it back into the pot.