• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Yellow Bliss Road

Easy, approachable and family friendly recipes for any home cook.

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact
    • FAQs
    • Disclosure
    • Sharing Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Collaborate
  • Signup >
Display Search Bar
  • Recipes
    • View ALL Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Asian
    • Beverages
      • Smoothies
      • Cocktails
    • Bread
    • Breakfast Recipes
      • Casseroles
      • Egg Recipes
      • Muffins
      • Pancakes
    • Desserts
      • Brownies and Bars
      • Cake and Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Fruit Desserts
      • No Bake Desserts
    • Dinner
      • Casseroles
      • Easy Weeknight Dinners
      • One Pot Meals
      • Pasta
      • Pork
      • Chicken
      • Beef
      • Seafood
    • Lunch
      • Easy Weekday Lunches
      • School Lunches
    • Cooking Method
      • Air Fryer
      • On the Grill
      • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
      • Slow Cooker
    • Dips and Sauces
    • Mexican
    • Sandwiches
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
      • Vegetables
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups and Stews
  • Holiday Recipes
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Halloween
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Seasonal Recipes
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Seasonal Recipes
      • Fall
      • Spring
      • Summer
  • Free Printables
    • Christmas
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • School
    • Birthdays
  • Home/Crafts/DIY
    • Crafts and DIY
    • Gift Ideas
    • Home Decor
    • Photography Tips
  • Family
    • Adoption
      • My Adoption Story
    • Birthdays
    • Travel
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram!

Home » Recipes » Soups / Stews » The Best Smoky Bacon and Bean Soup Recipe

The Best Smoky Bacon and Bean Soup Recipe

Published on August 10, 2019, Updated January 21, 2021 by Julie Espy | 53 Comments

45873shares
  • 690
  • 45142
  • 41
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Bacon and Bean Soup is sure to make it into your fall recipe arsenal. Thick, rich and smoky, this weeknight dinner is easy to make, full of flavor and always a crowd pleaser!

Folks, you need this soup in your life! And if you want some more, be sure to check out our other favorite soups, like Tortellini Soup, White Bean Sausage and Kale Soup and Homemade Chicken Soup.

2 bowls of Bacon & Bean Soup

Bacon and Bean Soup Recipe

Soup is one of my go-to meals in the fall. They are total comfort food and so easy to make. While most soup recipes do require a little time, the flavors are worth every minute! This soup is no exception. I couldn’t stop eating it. I loved it so much I even made my friends try a spoonful of the leftovers when they stopped by…I’m a little crazy like that. They thought is was great and I love the validation.

Why this bean soup is so awesome

  • It’s got a ton of bacon in it, and the bacon adds so much smoky flavor.
  • There are simple, everyday ingredients, and it’s ready in about an hour.
  • Did I mention there’s a bunch of bacon?

2 bowls of bacon and bean soup with chopped bacon garnish.

HOW TO MAKE BACON AND BEAN SOUP

I love how easy and cozy this soup is. It doesn’t take a ton of effort and the flavor results are magical!

I made this recipe using canned beans. If that’s not your thing, grab some dried great Northern beans and cover them with water to soak overnight. Drain the dry beans and then add them to the soup per the recipe. I’m a convenience girl sometimes and the canned beans cut out some serious prep time.

  1. Start by cooking your bacon until it’s crispy. Here’s a great pro tip for you – when a recipe calls for crumbled bacon, just use kitchen shears to cut the raw bacon right into the hot skillet. No need to cut or crumble after it’s cooked!
  2. Save a little bit of the bacon grease and add the garlic, onions, carrots, celery, sauteeing until soft.
  3. Add 2 cans of drained great northern beans, chicken broth and a bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the soup and let it simmer away. Chicken stock works too.
  4. Simmer the bean soup for about an hour so the beans and veggies get nice and soft.
  5. Remove the bay leaf and use an immersion blender (or a regular blender) to blend the soup and make it nice and thick. Add some tomato sauce for a little acidic note, then stir in the cooked bacon. Be sure to save some bacon to garnish your servings!

A spoonful of bacon and bean soup.

How to thicken bean soup

There’s also the matter of how much broth to use. I generally like my bean soups on the thick side, that being said I opted to use 3 cups of broth for this recipe. The soup came out runnier than I normally like, but everything was still delicious! If you like your soup thick too, add 2 cups of broth and proceed as directed. No matter how you like it, this Bacon Bean soup will satisfy even the biggest bacon freaks!

What goes with bean soup?

This soup is seriously smoky and salty so you’ll want to add some mild, lighter sides. I usually serve bean soup with a tossed green salad and some crusty bread for dipping. Or if you’re my husband you’ll just add a big handful of crackers.

What to do with leftovers

  1. Refrigerator: Your bean soup will last about 4-5 days in the fridge if stored properly in an airtight container.
  2. Freezer: Let your soup cool, then pour it into a freezer bag or container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and heat on the stovetop.

An image of a bowl of bacon and bean soup.

Here are some more soup recipes to try:

  • Smoky Vegetable Beef Soup
  • Tomato Beef Stew
  • Chicken Bacon and White Bean Chili
  • Hearty Chicken Soup
  • Hamburger Soup
  • Easy Beef Stew
This Bacon and Bean Soup is sure to make it into your fall recipe arsenal. Easy to make and full of flavor, this recipe is always a crowd pleaser!

Bacon & Bean Soup

Julie Kotzbach
This Bacon and Bean Soup is sure to make it into your fall recipe arsenal. Easy to make and full of flavor, this recipe is always a crowd pleaser!
4.8 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Dish
Servings 2 main course servings or 4 appetizer servings

Ingredients
  

  • 10 to 12 strips bacon diced
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • 1 carrot peeled & diced
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Two 15 ounce cans Great Northern beans drained
  • 2 to 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 ounces tomato sauce
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.
  • Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic to the bacon grease. Cook for 5 minutes until soft.
  • Add the beans and chicken broth. Stir to combine. Add the bay leaf.
  • Increase heat to high and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the bay leaf from the soup, Transfer the soup to a blender, food processor, or grab your immersion blender. Carefully pulse the soup until your desired consistency is reached. (I like the beans broken down, but not completely smooth.)
  • Return the soup to the pot (unless you used your immersion blender) and add the tomato sauce. Stir to combine. Add 1/2 of the bacon back into the soup, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Portion soup into serving bowls and garnish with remaining bacon. Serve immediately.

Notes

If you like your soups thicker, use 2 cups chicken broth. If you don't mind your soup on the runny side, use 3 cups broth.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Bacon and Bean Soup - A warm and comforting fall recipe. Easy to make and full of flavor, this recipe is always a crowd pleaser! Comfort food or dinner recipe.

Creamy Bacon & Bean soup collage

Previous Post
Next Post

About Julie Espy

Food nerd. Cocktail enthusiast. Carboholic. Bacon addict. Basset nuzzler. Boy mom. Come eat something delicious with me at Bread Booze Bacon!

5 Secrets to Dinnertime Sanity

free email bonus
Tested, Tasted & Terrific!

Reader Interactions

Join the Conversation

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Vicky says

    December 28, 2020 at 8:28 am

    I happen to have dry beans, how much do I use?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      December 29, 2020 at 1:16 am

      a 15-ounce can of beans equals about a half cup of dry beans. So for the two cans you’d use a cup of dry. Keep in mind that you’ll need to soak the beans overnight and the cooking process and need to cook them quite a bit longer.

      Reply
  2. Christine Matheson says

    December 21, 2020 at 2:10 pm

    Delicious! Might add a pinch of cayenne pepper and a little smoked salt.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      December 24, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      Awesome feedback Christine! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Jill says

    June 23, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    My entire family, including my three young kids, love this soup. I am not a very good cook, and it is easy to make. I am making it today for the third time!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      June 25, 2020 at 9:37 am

      Sounds like winner! Thank you for your awesome feedback.

      Reply
  4. Charlene Fessia says

    April 17, 2020 at 6:26 am

    I made the soup and it was good but to salty. I didn’t put any salt at all in it just pepper. Only used 6 slices of low sodium bacon.

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      April 17, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      Even low sodium bacon can be pretty salty. Also, salt is a personal preference so the flavor can be different for everyone.

      Reply
  5. Sharon Burkett says

    March 17, 2020 at 8:33 am

    I don’t have celery,so can I use celery seed and how much?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      March 17, 2020 at 6:59 pm

      You can just leave it out.

      Reply
  6. Anita MacKinnon says

    February 27, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Are great northern beans a navy bean?

    Reply
    • Kristin Maxwell says

      February 27, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      Yes, they are.

      Reply
  7. Carol Price Keahey says

    January 24, 2020 at 12:05 pm

    Good quick soup with few ingredients.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m KRISTIN!

I'm a busy wife and mom who loves to cook, bake and create. All of the recipes and tips you will find here are created with your busy family (and mine!) in mind.

Read More »
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Twitter! Follow me on Instagram! Email me!

5 Secrets to Dinnertime Sanity

free email bonus
Tested, Tasted & Terrific!

Mexican Food Faves

  • How to Make Authentic Mexican Rice
  • Ground Beef Enchiladas
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • Mexican Chicken Casserole
  • Healthy Chicken Fajita Bowls with Rice
  • Hot Mexican Corn Dip
  • Turkey Taco Stuffed Peppers
  • Easy Homemade Taco Pizza

All-Time Favorites

  • Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
  • How to Make Authentic Mexican Rice
  • All-Natural Mattress Cleaner – How to Clean Odors and Stains from Your Mattress
  • Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (Au Gratin)
  • Healthy Ground Turkey Teriyaki Rice Bowl
  • Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
  • Cheesecake Cookies
  • One Pot Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta Skillet

Yellow Bliss Road, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Browse Around

  • Chicken
  • On the Grill
  • Pasta
  • Dinner
  • Soups
  • Sides
  • Salads
  • Desserts
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram!
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Collaborate
  • Privacy & Copyright
  • Recipes by Category
Copyright © 2021 Yellow Bliss RoadTheme by Once Coupled