Better Than Campbell's Bean with Bacon Soup

How to make a bean soup that is similar to the soup with the red label but better. Can me made in the Instant Pot, dutch oven, or slow cooker.

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Keyword beans, Instant Pot, soup

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Coming to Pressure & Natural Release Time 25

Total Time 1 15

Author Eric Samuelson

Ingredients

1 pound dried Great Northern or Navy beans
6 slices bacon cut in half
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
4 ounces tomato paste
½ tsp Burlap & Barrel Smoked Pimenton Paprika
8 cups water
2-3 carrots chopped
kosher salt to taste

Instructions

Rinse and sort your beans. Add them to the Instant Pot. If using a slow cooker or dutch oven see recipes notes for cooking times.
Cover the beans with 8 cups of water. Add in the tomato paste, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
Set the Instant Pot for 35 minutes. Seal. Allow for natural release.
While the beans cook, put the bacon into a non-stick pan and cook over medium heat until crispy. Once cooled, cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
Cut the carrots into small, bite sized cubes. Add oil to a pan or use some of the bacon fat from cooking the bacon. Cook the carrots over medium heat until they are soft and have taken on some color. Set aside.
Remove the lid from the Instant Pot, slow cooker, or dutch oven. Ladle out 2 cups of the soup. Include both beans and the liquid. Puree til smooth with a food processor or stick blender. Add back to the soup. Stir to combine.
Add the carrots and bacon to the soup. Salt to taste and enjoy.

Notes

Making the Soup in a Slow Cooker

For most slow cookers, it's going to take 4-5 hours on the high setting or 7-8 hours on the low setting. You can get away without soaking the beans if you cook them for a long time.

Making the Soup in a Dutch Oven/Pot

I pre-soak the beans before cooking the soup to help it cook faster. Just put the beans in a container and fill with water. Make sure there is enough water for the beans to expand and still be covered. Soak for about 8 hours or overnight.

It will take about 2 ½ to 3 hours to cook in a pot. You bring the beans to a boil and reduce to simmer with the lid on for that time.