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Cozy Slow Cooker Kielbasa and White Bean Soup: Easy One-Pot Meal

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This hearty slow cooker soup combines smoky kielbasa with creamy white beans in a rich, savory broth. It’s a budget-friendly, set-it-and-forget-it meal that tastes like you spent all day cooking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb smoked kielbasa, sliced into rounds
  • 1 lb dried Great Northern beans, soaked overnight
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Soak the beans overnight: Place dried Great Northern beans in a large bowl, cover with 3 inches of cold water, and add a pinch of salt. Let sit overnight or at least 8 hours. Drain and rinse before using.
  2. Brown the kielbasa: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced kielbasa in a single layer and cook 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon, leaving rendered fat in the skillet.
  3. Sauté the vegetables: Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the same skillet. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent and vegetables have softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant, scraping up browned bits.
  4. Layer in slow cooker: Place soaked and drained beans in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Top with sautéed vegetables and browned kielbasa. Sprinkle with dried thyme, dried rosemary, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Tuck in bay leaves.
  5. Add broth: Pour chicken broth over ingredients and stir gently. Broth should just cover ingredients; add water or more broth if needed, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top.
  6. Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until beans are tender but not falling apart. Check at 6 hours on low.
  7. Finish and adjust: Remove bay leaves. Stir soup and taste. Add salt if needed (start with ½ teaspoon). For a thicker soup, mash some beans against the pot with a potato masher.
  8. Serve: Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Drizzle with olive oil if desired. Serve with crusty bread or a side salad.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the kielbasa—it adds deep flavor. Use low-sodium broth and add salt at the end to control sodium. Soak beans properly to ensure tenderness. For a thicker soup, mash some beans. This soup tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker kielbasa soup, white bean soup, kielbasa and bean soup, one-pot meal, easy soup recipe, cozy soup, smoky sausage soup

Find it online: https://grubella.com/cozy-slow-cooker-kielbasa-and-white-bean-soup-easy-one-pot-meal/