Print

Cozy Crockpot Sausage and White Bean Soup: Easy Fall Dinner

crockpot sausage and white bean soup - featured image
Print Recipe

A hearty, hands-off slow cooker soup with Italian sausage, creamy white beans, and fresh kale. Perfect for chilly fall days, this pantry-friendly recipe delivers deep, savory flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, casings removed)
  • 1 pound dried white beans (Great Northern or cannellini)
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 to 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes (with juices)
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 cups kale or spinach, roughly chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Parmesan rind (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer sausage to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon, leaving drippings in the pan.
  2. In the same skillet, add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  3. Add the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker with the sausage. Pour in diced tomatoes with juices, then add dried beans. Pour chicken broth over everything. Tuck in fresh thyme sprigs, bay leaves, and Parmesan rind if using. Stir to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, remove thyme stems and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in chopped kale and let wilt for 20 to 30 minutes.
  5. Check consistency: if too thick, add extra broth or water; if too thin, leave lid off for last 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings. Remove bay leaves and thyme stems if not already done.
  6. Ladle into bowls. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan if desired. Serve with crusty bread.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the sausage; it adds deep flavor. Add salt only after beans are tender to avoid toughening them. For a thicker soup, mash some beans against the pot before serving. Leftovers improve overnight.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot soup, sausage and white bean soup, fall dinner, slow cooker soup, easy soup recipe, white bean soup, Italian sausage soup

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/cozy-crockpot-sausage-and-white-bean-soup-easy-fall-dinner/