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Hearty Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Soup

slow cooker Tuscan white bean and sausage soup - featured image
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A rustic and comforting slow cooker soup featuring Italian sausage, white beans, and fresh herbs, perfect for warming up cold winter days with minimal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or mild)
  • 2 cups dried cannellini or Great Northern beans (soaked overnight) or 3 cans (15 oz each) drained and rinsed
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 cups baby spinach or kale
  • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, rinse and soak overnight in plenty of water (about 8 hours) or quick soak by boiling for 2 minutes then letting sit covered for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove sausage from casings and crumble into the pan. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer sausage to slow cooker using a slotted spoon, leaving fat in pan.
  3. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to skillet. Sauté diced onion, carrots, and celery until softened and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Transfer vegetables to slow cooker.
  4. Add soaked and drained beans (or canned beans), chicken broth, diced tomatoes with juices, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, and red pepper flakes if using to slow cooker. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beans are tender but not mushy.
  6. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in baby spinach or kale. Cover and let wilt in residual heat.
  7. Remove bay leaves. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as desired. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve warm.

Notes

Browning the sausage adds depth and richness; don’t skip this step. Use dried beans soaked overnight for best texture or canned beans for convenience, adding them later to avoid mushiness. Adjust salt carefully as sausage and broth can be salty. Let soup rest 10-15 minutes after cooking to deepen flavors. For freezing, omit greens and add fresh after reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, Tuscan soup, white bean soup, sausage soup, winter soup, easy soup recipe, Italian sausage, comfort food

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/hearty-slow-cooker-tuscan-white-bean-and-sausage-soup-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-winter/