Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup
This Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup with Spinach is an easy, family friendly dinner that's great for busy weeknights. It's hearty, full of vegetables, and my kids love it, so it's one I make again and again.
Quick Look: Slow Cooker Sausage White Bean Soup
Ready In: 4 hours
Serves: 4-6
Calories: ~440 Calories
Main Ingredients: Italian sausage, white beans, onion, carrots, Italian seasoning, broth, cream
Why You'll Love It: Slow Cooker White Bean Sausage Soup is a super easy, hearty, and nutritious soup!
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Jump to:
- Quick Look: Slow Cooker Sausage White Bean Soup
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup
- Expert Tips
- Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup Recipe FAQs
- Other Cozy Soup Recipes to Consider
- Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup
This Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup with Spinach is one of my go-to crockpot dinners for busy weeknights. You brown the sausage and veggies, add everything else to the slow cooker, and walk away. By dinnertime you have a hearty soup full of carrots, celery, spinach, and beans that my kids actually eat.
I brown everything right in my slow cooker using the sauté function, so there's only one pot to wash at the end of a long day. No sauté function? A skillet on the stovetop works just as well.
On nights full of practices, homework, and everything in between, this is the kind of dinner that makes life easier. Once it's in the crockpot, the slow cooker does the work, and all that's left is stirring in the spinach and cream before you serve.
Looking for more easy slow cooker dinners? Try my Slow Cooker Ground Beef and Vegetable Soup, Slow Cooker Potato Leek Soup, Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup, and Crock-Pot Chicken Rice Soup. If you want more sausage soups, check out my Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup and Sausage Kale Potato Soup.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Hearty and Filling - sausage and two cans of white beans make this a soup that keeps everyone full.
Full of Vegetables - carrots, celery, onion, and spinach are all in every bowl.
Kid Approved - my kids love this soup, and it's one we make again and again.
One Pot - if your slow cooker has a sauté function, you brown everything right in the slow cooker.
Simple Ingredients - everything here is easy to find at any grocery store.
Key Ingredients
Italian Sausage - I use mild Italian sausage, but hot Italian sausage works if you like a little spice.
Onion, Carrots, and Celery - this classic veggie base gives the soup a ton of flavor.
Garlic - four cloves of fresh minced garlic add a savory, cozy flavor.
Italian Seasoning - one teaspoon of this dried herb blend brings the whole soup together.
Great Northern Beans - two cans, rinsed. They're creamy and mild and soak up all the flavor of the broth.
Spinach - chopped spinach adds color and even more veggies.
Heavy Cream - just half a cup gives the broth a creamy finish without making it heavy.
Please refer to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients.
Substitutions and Variations
Spice It Up - use hot Italian sausage instead of mild if your family likes a little heat.
Different Beans - cannellini beans would work in place of great northern beans.
Different Greens - kale works in place of spinach if that's what you have on hand, it just might need closer to 10-15 minutes until the kale is softened and ready to eat.
Frozen Spinach - thaw it and squeeze out the extra water before stirring it in.
Half and Half - use half and half instead of heavy cream for a lighter creamy finish.
Low Sodium Broth - use low sodium chicken broth if you want more control over the saltiness.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup
Step 1.
Using the sauté function on your slow cooker, or a large skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat, cook the sausage until browned, breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt and cook 1-2 more minutes.
Step 2.
Stir in the rinsed great northern beans and chicken broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
Step 3.
Stir in the chopped spinach and heavy cream, and cook until the spinach is wilted and the soup is heated through.
Step 4.
Serve topped with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use the Sauté Function - if your slow cooker has one, browning right in the insert saves you a dirty pan.
Rinse the Beans - rinsing canned beans removes the starchy liquid from the can so your broth stays clean tasting.
Mild or Hot - mild Italian sausage keeps this kid friendly. Go with hot if you want more spice.
Storage - Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup Recipe FAQs
No. If your slow cooker doesn't have a sauté function, brown the sausage and vegetables in a large skillet on the stovetop, then transfer everything to your slow cooker.
Not with mild Italian sausage, which is what I use. It's very kid friendly. If you like a little heat, use hot Italian sausage instead.
Yes, just leave out the heavy cream. The soup will be brothy instead of creamy, but still hearty and delicious.
Other Cozy Soup Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Slow Cooker Sausage and White Bean Soup
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage for a little spice
- ½ white onion diced
- 3 carrots diced
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cans great northern beans rinsed
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Using the sauté function on your slow cooker, or a large skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat, cook the sausage until browned, breaking it into pieces as it cooks.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt and cook 1-2 more minutes.
- If you browned everything on the stovetop, transfer it to your slow cooker.
- Stir in the northern beans and chicken broth. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- In the lasts 10 minutes of cooking, stir in the chopped spinach and heavy cream. Cook until the spinach is wilted and the soup is heated through.
- Serve warm, topped with grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
