15-Bean Smoked Turkey Soup (Print View)

Slow-cooked 15 beans with smoked turkey and vegetables for a warm, flavorful dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Beans

01 - 1 (20 oz) bag 15-bean soup mix, rinsed and sorted

→ Meats

02 - 1.5 lbs smoked turkey wings or legs

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 large onion, diced
04 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 3 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained

→ Liquids

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 2 cups water

→ Spices and Seasonings

10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1 bay leaf
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjusted to taste
16 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - Rinse and sort the 15-bean soup mix, discarding any debris or stones. Soaking overnight is optional but will improve texture and reduce cooking time.
02 - Layer the sorted beans, smoked turkey, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and diced tomatoes into a 6-quart slow cooker.
03 - Pour chicken broth and water over ingredients. Stir in thyme, paprika, black pepper, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and red pepper flakes if desired. Mix gently to distribute seasonings evenly.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW setting for 8 hours until beans are tender and turkey meat is falling from the bone.
05 - Remove smoked turkey pieces from the pot. Discard skin and bones. Shred the cooked meat and return it to the soup.
06 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste the soup and adjust seasonings as needed. Ladle into serving bowls and garnish as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crockpot does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day, and somehow that makes the soup taste even better.
  • One pot of this feeds a crowd and tastes even richer the next day, so meal planning becomes wonderfully simple.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about a bowl this hearty and warm that also happens to be naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing and sorting the beans, because one hidden stone in a spoonful ruins the whole experience and you'll hear about it at dinner.
  • The soup will thicken as it cools, so if it seems a little loose after cooking, that's actually perfect, it'll be exactly right by tomorrow.
03 -
  • Check your crockpot size before you start, because a 6-quart or larger gives the ingredients room to mingle, but a smaller one will still work if you're careful.
  • If your turkey is really salty, taste the broth before adding extra salt, because sometimes the meat does enough seasoning on its own.
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