Hearty & Easy Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Sausage Bean Soup with Spinach and Tomatoes
Discover the ultimate one-dish dinner with this incredibly flavorful and simple sausage bean soup recipe, featuring fresh spinach (or any green you prefer) and ripe tomatoes. Whether you prefer the set-it-and-forget-it convenience of a slow cooker (Crockpot) or the rapid preparation of a pressure cooker (Instant Pot), this hearty soup delivers warmth, nutrition, and deliciousness straight to your bowl. And the best part? It tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prepping and effortless lunches!
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My slow cooker has become an indispensable kitchen appliance for countless reasons. From tender pulled pork and savory roasts to comforting stews and flavorful soups, slow cooker meals make their way onto our weekly menu almost without fail. While it’s a staple during the crisp autumn and cold winter months, I also find it incredibly useful in warmer weather for preparing no-oven dinners, such as meat for delicious chicken tacos or refreshing lettuce wraps. Its ability to transform simple ingredients into a deeply flavored meal with minimal effort is truly unparalleled, simplifying healthy eating even on the busiest days.
Exciting Update: With the addition of an Instant Pot to my kitchen arsenal, I now have the flexibility to prepare this fantastic soup either slowly for maximum flavor development or quickly for those busy weeknights. Full instructions for both slow cooker and Instant Pot methods are thoughtfully included in the comprehensive recipe below, allowing you to choose the cooking style that best suits your schedule!
Why This Sausage Bean Soup Will Be Your New Favorite
There’s an undeniable allure to a steaming bowl of soup, especially as the days grow shorter and the air turns chilly. For me, soups embody comfort, warmth, and wholesome goodness. This easy sausage bean soup with spinach and tomatoes hits all the right notes, making it a perfect meal for fall and winter. But beyond the sheer comfort it provides, soups offer several practical benefits that make them a consistent win in my kitchen:
- Effortless Meal Prep: Many soups, including this one, can be prepared in advance, making weeknight dinners a breeze.
- Utilize Pantry Staples: Soups are a fantastic way to incorporate preserved foods, like frozen beans or canned tomatoes, ensuring less food waste.
- Flexibility with Leftovers: Bits and pieces of leftover vegetables or even cooked grains can often find a happy home in a bubbling pot of soup.
- Nutrient-Dense: Packed with vegetables, protein, and fiber, a good soup is a complete and balanced meal in a bowl.
- Cost-Effective: Often made with economical ingredients like beans and seasonal vegetables, soups are kind to your budget.
So, it’s no exaggeration to say that I adore this easy slow cooker sausage bean soup for all these wonderful reasons. But if I had to pick just one, the number one reason truly is its irresistible taste. It’s simply, unequivocally delicious. The savory sausage, the tender beans, the vibrant tomatoes, and the subtle freshness of spinach all meld together in a rich, aromatic broth. And for a truly heavenly experience? Don’t forget to serve it with a generous piece of crusty easy artisan bread, perfect for soaking up every last drop of that flavorful liquid. It’s pure bliss!
Even Better the Next Day: The Magic of Leftovers
This soup offers a fantastic bonus: it’s even more delicious on day two! The flavors have more time to meld and deepen, transforming into an even richer, more satisfying meal. This makes it an ideal candidate for meal prepping. Having wonderful leftovers ready for lunch is one of my favorite strategies for navigating busy days. It frees me from the dreaded “what’s for lunch?” decision fatigue, helps me consistently eat healthy, and is a key part of how I maintain weight without feeling deprived. Imagine a warm, hearty, and healthy lunch waiting for you – no cooking required! This simple habit can significantly improve your daily routine and overall well-being.
Making Your Hearty Sausage Bean Soup: Simple Steps to Deliciousness
Creating this flavorful sausage bean soup is wonderfully straightforward, aligning perfectly with my philosophy of easy, healthy eating. Whether you choose the slow cooker or Instant Pot method, the process is designed for maximum flavor with minimal fuss. Here’s a quick overview of the essential steps you’ll follow:
- Gather Your Ingredients: Ensure all your fresh and pantry staples are ready to go.
- Brown the Sausage: This crucial step develops deep, savory flavors. You’ll do this in a skillet for the slow cooker method or directly in your Instant Pot using the sauté function. Don’t forget to break up the sausage as it cooks!
- Combine Main Ingredients: Add all the remaining ingredients, except for the delicate spinach and cheese, into your chosen appliance.
- Cook to Perfection: Let your slow cooker or Instant Pot work its magic, transforming the ingredients into a comforting soup.
- Incorporate Spinach: Stir in the spinach towards the end of the cooking process, allowing the residual heat to perfectly wilt it.
- Serve with Toppings: Ladle into bowls and garnish with shredded cheese (Parmesan is excellent!) and a piece of hearty, crusty bread.
As you can see, making a delicious, homemade soup really is easy and incredibly rewarding. It’s a versatile meal that absolutely deserves a regular spot on everyone’s menu, offering both nourishment and a comforting embrace in every spoonful.
Recommended Kitchen Tools for Your Soup
Having reliable kitchen equipment can make your cooking experience even more enjoyable. For this recipe, I highly recommend:
- My Favorite Slow Cooker: I love the newer version of my slow cooker; its cushioned lid is a game-changer, preventing any hot liquid from spitting out, which can be a common issue with other models. This feature ensures a cleaner countertop and a more pleasant cooking experience.
- My Instant Pot: This multi-functional appliance is fantastic for those times when you need a hearty meal on the table fast. I’m continually finding new ways to utilize its various functions for quick, delicious meals.
Customize Your Soup: Easy Substitutions and Variations
One of the many beauties of soup recipes is their inherent flexibility, allowing for easy substitutions based on what you have on hand or what your dietary preferences dictate. This hearty sausage bean soup is no exception, and it’s ripe for adaptation. Feel free to get creative and make it your own! Here are a few ways you can adapt this recipe:
- Greens Galore: While spinach adds a lovely touch, almost any green can be used. Heartier greens like chard and kale are wonderful choices. If using tougher greens like kale or chard, I recommend adding them earlier in the cooking process (about an hour before the end for slow cooker, or right after pressure release for Instant Pot, then let sit covered) to ensure they become tender. For maximum convenience, frozen chopped spinach or kale works perfectly; these can be added at the very end as they are already tender and only need to wilt in the hot soup.
- Bean Variety: Don’t limit yourself to just white or pinto beans! This soup is incredibly forgiving and delicious with a range of beans. Great Northern, cannellini, kidney beans, or even a mixed bean blend would work well. You can use beans you’ve cooked and frozen yourself for ultimate freshness and cost savings, or simply opt for convenient canned beans (just remember to drain and rinse them thoroughly to reduce sodium).
- Sausage Choices: The recipe calls for bulk Italian sausage, which offers a robust flavor. However, you have many options:
- Fully Cooked Sausage or Kielbasa: If using pre-cooked sausage like kielbasa, simply slice it and brown for less time, just enough to get some color and infuse flavor.
- Chicken or Turkey Sausage: For a lighter option, use ground chicken or turkey sausage. If using this, consider switching to chicken broth instead of beef broth to complement the flavor profile.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Option: You can easily make this soup meat-free by omitting the sausage and using a plant-based Italian sausage alternative or simply adding extra vegetables and using vegetable broth. Sauté mushrooms for an earthy depth in place of meat.
- Broth & Liquid: Beef broth provides a rich base, but chicken or vegetable broth can be used based on preference or dietary needs. If you prefer to omit the dry red wine, simply replace it with an equal amount of water or additional broth. You can also adjust the total liquid amount slightly to achieve your desired soup consistency – more liquid for a thinner broth, less for a stew-like texture.
- Spice It Up (or Down!): The cayenne pepper is optional, allowing you to control the heat level. For more warmth, increase the amount; for less, omit it entirely. Feel free to experiment with other herbs like a bay leaf (remove before serving) or a pinch of red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
- Add More Veggies: This soup is already packed with goodness, but you can always add more! Diced carrots, celery, bell peppers, or zucchini would all be delicious additions, contributing even more nutrients and texture. Add them along with the onion and garlic.
However you choose to prepare and personalize it, my deepest hope is that you find immense enjoyment in this hearty and easy sausage bean soup. It’s a recipe designed to bring comfort and flavor to your table with minimal fuss.
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Slow Cooker Sausage Bean Soup with Spinach & Tomatoes (with Instant Pot directions, too)
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 cups cooked white or pinto beans drained (use beans from your freezer or 1-2 cans)
- 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 12-14oz can tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cups dry red wine or more water
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne optional
- 4 cups fresh chopped spinach or 10-oz pkg. frozen spinach, thawed
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste – will depend on what kind of broth you’re using
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan for topping, optional
Instructions
Slow Cooker Directions:
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Crumble the sausage in a large skillet, and cook until no longer pink over medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic and cook with sausage for a few minutes longer.
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Scrape contents of skillet into the bowl of a 4-qt or larger slow cooker. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, broth, wine, herbs and cayenne, if using.
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Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
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Stir spinach into soup, adding salt and pepper as needed. Cook for another hour on HIGH.
Instant Pot Directions:
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Set Instant Pot setting to sauté and add sausage, breaking it up as you stir. When starting to brown, add the onion and garlic. Stir well, cooking until the sausage is browned through.
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Add the cooked beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, water, basil, oregano, thyme, and cayenne.
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Cancel the sauté function and select manual, high pressure. Set the instant pot to cook for a 5 minute cook time.
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The pot may take up to 10 minutes or so to come to pressure, but since the contents are already hot, it will pressurize quicker. Once the cooking cycle has finished, do a 10 minute natural release and then a quick release.
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Remove lid, stir in the spinach, adding the salt and pepper, and replace the lid for a few minutes to let the spinach wilt – no need to cook – the heat of the soup will wilt the spinach.
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Serve the soup with grated parmesan and a good crusty bread.
Notes
Nutrition
This beloved recipe has been thoughtfully updated with new insights and Instant Pot directions. It was originally published in November 2013, and continues to be a family favorite!
Other Easy & Comforting Soup Recipes You May Enjoy:
Rustic Italian Sausage Soup – ready in just 15 minutes for a quick, flavorful meal.
Homemade Tomato Soup – once you try this, you’ll never go back to canned!
Amazing Cauliflower Cheese Soup – a creamy, comforting, and surprisingly healthy indulgence.
For even more inspiring and easy meal ideas, be sure to follow my Pinterest Slow Cooker Recipes Board and my Instant Pot Recipes & Tips Board. They are packed with delicious options to streamline your kitchen adventures!
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