I grew up on Campbell’s Bean with Bacon Soup. And their Chicken Noodle and Cream of Asparagus. Through the winter, these were staples in my house, often accompanied by a perfectly made grilled cheese sandwich, courtesy of my dad. Truth be told, I still like the soup, but I’ve never really understood the “bacon” part. I haven’t seen or tasted much in the way of bacon and as a kid, I didn’t mind. But I really just love bacon and it happens to give excellent flavor to just about any dish. So, last week I set out to make my own.
Dare I say, I was successful in re-creating a classic from my childhood, and it is delicious!
Slow Cooker Bean and Bacon Soup
Ingredients:
6-8 slices of bacon, trimmed of fat
6 carrots, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 14.5 oz cans of small white beans, drained but NOT rinsed
1 32 oz. box of chicken broth
What’s Next:
- Once trimmed of fat (you won’t be able to get every single bit, but that’s okay) cut bacon into thin slices, about 1/4″ wide
- Brown bacon in a small skillet for about 7 minutes. It should be browned, but not burned.
- Leaving bacon in pan, add tomato paste and 1 tablespoon of the chicken broth. Stir together. This will create a base for the soup.
- Add bacon base to slow cooker.
- When draining beans, some beans will be left on the bottom of the can. Just scoop them out with a spoon and add to slow cooker. Do not rinse.
- Add broth and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Take 2 to 3 ladles of the soup (be sure there are plenty of beans) and puree in a food processor. Add back to rest of soup.
Notes from my experience:
It’s amazing. The finished product looks almost exactly like what comes from the can, but there is so much more of it!
This was incredibly easy to make and the flavors are so much more intense in this soup compared to what is in the can. There’s just enough salt from the bacon and broth that you can taste it, but it doesn’t overpower the overall flavor of the soup.
Want more winter soup ideas? Check out these other recipes from our Crock It! slow cooker series.
