Slow Cooker Northern Bean and Spinach Soup

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Slow Cooker Northern Bean and Spinach Soup

4.4 of 5 (123)

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 216.5

Total Fat: 7.4 g
Cholesterol: 26.3 mg
Sodium: 590.5 mg
Total Carbs: 33.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 16.1 g
Protein: 18.4 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Slow Cooker Northern Bean and Spinach Soup calories by ingredient

Introduction

This hearty soup is perfect for when there is a chill in the air, and you want dinner waiting for you as you walk in the door. This hearty soup is perfect for when there is a chill in the air, and you want dinner waiting for you as you walk in the door.

Minutes to Prepare: 15

Minutes to Cook: 480

Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 cup dried Northern beans, rinsed and picked over NOTE: You must soak the beans overnight.

2 carrots, peeled and chopped, (about 1 cup)

1 medium onion, chopped, (about 1 cup)

2 garlic cloves, sliced

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

pinch teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

4 cups homemade or low sodium chicken stock

1 cup diced tomatoes, no salt added

6 ounces Fresh Express Baby Spinach (about 2 cups packed)

6 ounces light kielbasa or smoked sausage, diced

Tips

Soaking the beans overnight will ensure your beans are cooked and tender. Some chefs add baking soda to the soaking water to tenderize the beans, but I omitted it to save on sodium. Soaking and adding the tomatoes toward the end of the cooking time will ensure tender beans. We used dried beans because they have almost no sodium, to offset the higher sodium levels in the meat.

We just heard that smoked sausage with 1/3 less sodium will soon be on the market. Keep an eye out for that. Be sure to read labels: Many of the lower-fat varieties, including turkey smoke sausage, were higher in sodium! You can reduce the amount of sausage if you're really keeping an eye on your sodium intake.

Directions

Place the dried beans in the slow cooker and add 1 quart water. Cover and let soak overnight. (Do not turn on the slow cooker.)
In the morning, drain and rinse the beans
Return the beans to the slow cooker, along with the carrots, onion, garlic, spices, and stock, and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the beans are tender.
About 20 minutes before dinnertime, use an immersion blender to puree half the soup. (Or transfer to a blender, and leave the cap off the top but cover with a dishtowel to avoid splatters. This will allow steam to escape as you puree the soup. Return the pureed soup to the slow cooker.)
Add the tomatoes, spinach, and sausage to the slow cooker. Replace lid and cook on high for 20 minutes.

Ladle two cups into each bowl. Serve with crusty whole-wheat bread or place a scoop of mashed potatoes in the bottom of each bowl.
Serving Size: Makes 8 cups; 2 cups per serving.

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Member Ratings For This Recipe

SABRINAINDE

37 of 37 people found this review helpful

1 cup dried beans = 3 cups cooked, so about 2 cans of beans for the person who was asking. - 9/27/12
LUVS2BIKE101

Incredible!

24 of 24 people found this review helpful

I make this often, sometimes using chicken instead of the sausage. Excellent! - 9/27/12
MYBESTNOW

Incredible!

20 of 20 people found this review helpful

Great soup! My men really loved it. The only things I changed were kale instead of spinach, and I added 2 tsp. of Mrs. Dash original table. - 9/27/12
CD12947014

Very Good

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

This soup is delicious and there's nothing better than to have dinner almost done when you get home. The only thing I would do differently the next time I prepare this is to chop the spinach before adding it to the soup. - 10/1/12
ALICIA214

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

Delicious!! For any WW members out there this soup is 6pts + per
serving, bread etc add extra points. - 9/8/12
CMFARRELL36

10 of 25 people found this review helpful

Leave out the smoked sausage!
Have some toast and scrambled or poached eggs beside the soup! - 11/18/12
NANCYSGARDENS

8 of 35 people found this review helpful

I just can never understand why recipes call for meat based stock. If a recipes that have no meat always called for vegetable stock or bullion, then everyone could eat. I know, just sub, but other people think they always have to put meat stock in food when they cook. - 1/27/13
MAY3BRIDE

Very Good

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Made this tonight with black eyed peas, spinach and JennyO Smoked Turkey Sausage. It smelled so good all day could not wait to eat...worth the wait....real comfort food for a winter's night. - 1/2/13
CD13252474

Incredible!

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

My husband makes a very similar soup but uses green cabbage instead of spinach. I like the spinach, though. Kale is another awesome alternative! - 11/16/12
CVL205

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

can use 2 cans of beans - 10/1/12
ROSAMARCELLE

Incredible!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Substituted red lentils so I could make it without the soaking overnight and used quorn pieces instead of sausage and a veggie stockcube to make it vegitarian. It was great. - 1/8/13
PATRICIAANN46

Incredible!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

This soup is excellent!!!!! - 9/27/12
SKYSPIRIT464

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

I think I will give this one a try. You can totally make it vegetarian by using Vegetable Stock, instead of meat stock and leaving out the meat. Beans are high in protein and it should lower the calories . - 1/27/13
IMREITE

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

used lentils instead of northern beans - 1/20/13
NONNAOF2

Incredible!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

This is so satisfying! I love how hearty this soup is, it is great when the cooler weather is upon us! - 9/27/12
RETURNTOTHIN

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Think I'll make the base and store in 2 cup servings in the freezer (since I live alone) .... Excited to try! - 1/22/13
GREASE31

Incredible!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

I luv this recipe, it sounds just perfect. - 10/17/12
BEVIEG41

Incredible!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

This was easy and very good. I added some fresh corn and chopped Serrano Peppers for a bite. - 9/28/12
CD13083652

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

sounds great & wholesome, will go set it on now, TY for such a great site & fantastic resources.
Alicia214 - TY for the WW points - 9/27/12
CECTARR

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Left out the sausage and it was very good - 1/26/20
USMAWIFE

Incredible!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

i love this meatless - 9/27/18
KOALA_BEAR

Very Good

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This soup can be made faster even using dried beans if you first boil water then pour over the beans so they begin to soften faster. Changing the water a couple times will also reduce the gassiness if that helps anyone.
Can also mash the beans & veggies if no blender handy. Add the tomatoes last. - 10/4/15
MTSETTLES

Incredible!

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

The photo sold me! Great soup. Gets even better the next day. The only change I made was to omit the tomatoes, so my husband would eat it. I'll be making this soup again and again this winter! - 10/4/13
CJYOUCANDOIT

Incredible!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

My husband and I really enjoyed this soup. We used a can of butter beans. I was out of northern beans. The flavor and consistency were wonderful. If you use a blender to puree be sure to do what the recipe says. I did not and had a mess to clean up. - 2/3/13
ALIZAHH

1 of 4 people found this review helpful

I plan on trying to make this for Shabbat when I need it to cook all night. Can It be made vegetarian as well? I thought of using smoked Turkey. - 10/29/12
CD12992966

Very Good

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I cooked this on the stove top because I didn't have the time, and it was good. The next time I make it I would leave out the carrots, I think they are too sweet with the tomatoes. Yummy tho! - 9/27/12
DINAISPO

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Just wondering, should I choose to use canned beans instead, how much should I use? - 9/27/12
IMAVISION

1 of 4 people found this review helpful

This sounds so "perfect" - it will be cooking in the "Vision's" kitchen this week for sure!

Thank you for sharing this recipe! - 9/27/12
CD13114973

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

very good will cook it again another day - 9/25/12
MINDFULME2017

Incredible!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very good - 9/18/12
CD1987279

great - 3/17/21
BLOND1E

Yum - 3/14/21
LIBR@RYL@DY

Incredible!

YUM - 2/19/21
BONNIE1552

Nice way to get the veggies. - 1/31/21
JUSTJ2014

Incredible!

I have never added spinach this should be good, - 1/12/21
SUSANYOUNGER

Making this right now. Smells great. Will reheat tonight for dinner. - 11/28/20
CD17744865

I made it with turkey breast instead of kielbasa to cut down the fat and sodium. - 11/3/20
ROBBIEY

Incredible!

this is a great recipe. It is easy to change up and add the meat that you prefer. - 10/30/20
ETHELMERZ

O.K.

A lot of work to serve 4 people. Make more in a regular cook pot! - 10/30/20
SPARKPEOPLE1951

Very Good

Got a new Insta Pot today. I fixed this w/15 bean, I used the whole bag. I used a ham bone in place of sausage. I was impressed with how fast soup got done. Tasted very good. I think next time I will use less chicken stock. Will definitely make again - 9/28/20
DEE107

cant wait to make it thanks - 9/27/20
TERMITEMOM

Incredible!

Truly the soup that eats like a meal! Delicious and healthy too! - 9/27/20
SHERYE

Soups are the best comfort foods and this recipe didn't disappoint. Flavor and taste were so delicious - 9/27/20
GOFORGIN

Very Good

Ok - 9/27/20
JIACOLO

This is a great recipe! - 9/27/20
JULIJULINN

Very Good

Delicious!! As others have said, I use chicken in place of the sausage. If you're a WW, this will greatly reduce the points value.
- 9/27/20
CARD512002

this looks good may have to try it - 9/27/20
REGILIEH

Very Good

Yum - 9/27/20
PCK12J

Incredible!

I made it using Navy beans (just different size, essentially), added celery and used Kale instead of spinach. Loved it! I almost threw is some ditalini pasta. I've also seen someone add a diced potato. - 6/16/20
CHERYLHURT

Love it. - 3/6/20
LOSER05

Incredible!

Yum - 2/20/20
LAURALLANCE

Incredible!

Delicious recipe! Sometimes, we sub in turkey instead of sausage. I've also cut out the meat entirely and the soup is still very tasty. - 2/10/20
CHERIRIDDELL

nice - 11/17/19
PLATINUM755

Incredible!

YUMMY! A few changes made: no meat added, more vegetables added like chopped broccoli and mushrooms. and vegetable stock used. - 11/2/19
BIKE4HEALTH

Good

Good soup - 10/12/19
GOOZLEBEAR

I used canned beans and drained them and this was so good. I didn’t add the red pepper flakes but other than that I kept it the same. - 10/5/19
PATRICIAAK

;) - 10/4/19
LESSOFMOORE

This looks good. - 10/2/19
CD15799877

Incredible!

Perfect soup for autumn. The spices are just right and I didn't have spinach but added fresh green beans. Easy to use what is on hand. Delicious! - 9/30/19
CKEYES1

Not sure what northern beans are - 9/27/19
WILDKAT781

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

sounds great! - 9/27/19
EVIE4NOW

Good

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Was good but I had to change a few things. - 9/20/19
CD2693807

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

looks yummy - 9/20/19
NEPTUNE1939

tasty - 3/14/19
PICKIE98

O.K.

I skipped the hot pepper, used smoked hocks instead of sausage, but you can use a ham bone as well. I never puree` soup, too much like baby food for my taste. - 1/17/19
NASFKAB

Great healthy soup do not like sausage so used some meat chunks instead - 10/8/18
MOMMY445

Good

good - 10/1/18
RAZZOOZLE

Good

good - 9/30/18
MIYAMO

Sounds great. - 9/28/18
THINCPL2004

Good

Instead of soaking the brand overnight , I just used Bush's beans, and I also use low sodium chicken stock. Not bad if I do say so myself. - 9/27/18
ARTJAC

NICE - 9/27/18
BONDMANUS2002

Interesting - 9/27/18
NANAW12001

Incredible!

I made this with a little sausage but added chicken. Also added sirachi. very good. - 9/27/18
ADRIENALINE

Incredible!

Great recipe for the cold winter nights - 9/27/18
THROOPER62

Very Good

Used two cans of beans and polish kielbasa - 9/27/18
PLCHAPPELL

Very simple - not a bad taste - 9/27/18
ANHELIC

Sounds like an awesome tasty and healthy soup. Great slow cooker recipe, put everything in and leave it to cook away. Thanks for sharing. - 9/14/18
HOLLYM48

Incredible!

I love this Slow Cooker Northern Bean and Spinach Soup Recipe! Absolutely delicious! - 8/11/18
MSTINA0519

DINNER TOMORROW - 6/28/18
SUNSHINE99999

yummy - 2/14/18
JANIEWWJD

Gooooood soup!!! - 1/11/18
CD3409143

I would omit the garlic - 12/9/17
ROSSYFLOSSY

Very Good

Beans are delicious! - 11/25/17
KACEYSW

Incredible!

Such a tasty recipe! - 10/3/17
SRIVERS1

Incredible!

This is great on a cold day. Love this recipes. - 9/29/17
TOMATOCAFEGAL

Very Good

REALLY LIKE THIS. - 9/28/17
PEGGY-BEE

Very Good

Good! I switched out pinto beans as I don't care for the white beans, other wise so good, - 9/28/17
DRLMAZ

Great soup - 9/28/17
HOTPINKCAMARO49

Yum ... so good! - 9/27/17
EGGBASKET1

Incredible!

Delicious - 9/27/17
DAIZYSTARLITE

yummy - 9/27/17
JAMER123

Thank you for sharing. - 9/27/17
REDROBIN47

Incredible!

This soup is so good, we really enjoyed it. There are only 2 of us so it provided 2 meals for us. Yum. - 9/27/17
JUNETTA2002

Incredible!

Great soup. - 9/27/17
SHOAPIE

I’ll substitute a multi-bean mix. I’m not fond of just white beans. - 9/27/17
CD17951176

Looks good! - 9/27/17
CJS1MOMMY

Good

Going to be interesting - 9/27/17
JVANAM

Incredible!

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. - Richard Bach - 9/27/17
NANASUEH

yummy - 9/27/17
FISHGUT3

finally fall temperatures, sounds good - thanks - 9/27/17