Name: Slow Cooker Tuscan Bean Soup Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: PT-490520H51M4S
Total time: PT-490520H51M4S
Cuisine: Tuscan
Ingredients: 1 pound dry white beans (Great Northern, navy, or cannellini); 2 large carrots, peeled and diced; 3 large celery stalks, diced; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped; 1 bay leaf; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 6 cups boiling water; 1 tablespoon salt; Ground black pepper, to taste; 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 large bunch Tuscan kale, roughly chopped; 1 14-ounce package Tofurky Italian Sausage, sliced and cooked in a pan (optional); Fresh herbs for garnish; Rustic bread for serving

Introduction

This Slow Cooker Tuscan Bean Soup is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for chilly days. Packed with tender beans, fresh vegetables, and savory Italian flavors, it makes a satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare. Whether you’re cooking for family or hosting friends, this soup will warm everyone’s hearts and appetites.

Two bowls filled with thick white bean soup are placed on a dark wooden table. Each bowl has a colorful, patterned rim with yellow, blue, orange, and green flowers and swirls. The soup is chunky with white beans, small pieces of tomato, and dark green leafy vegetables, topped with a few fresh green basil leaves. One bowl has a spoon resting inside, its handle light brown and silver. To the upper right, three slices of crusty white bread rest on a white wooden cutting board. Beside the bottom bowl, there is a crumpled light gray cloth napkin. Small round wooden plates hold torn pieces of bread and extra fresh basil leaves. The setting is on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 pound dry white beans (see notes below)

2 large carrots, peeled and diced

3 large celery stalks, diced

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped

1 bay leaf

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

6 cups boiling water

1 tablespoon salt

Ground black pepper to taste

1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 large bunch Tuscan kale, roughly chopped

1 14-ounce package Tofurky Italian Sausage (optional), sliced and cooked in a pan

Fresh herbs for garnish

Rustic bread for serving

Instructions

Step 1: Sort through and rinse the dry beans several times in cool water. Add them to the slow cooker along with the diced carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaf, and Italian seasoning. Pour in the boiling water.

Step 2: Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours, or on LOW for 10-12 hours, until the beans begin to soften.

Step 3: Remove the lid from the slow cooker. Stir in the salt, ground black pepper, and the undrained diced tomatoes. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes on LOW, or 1 to 1½ hours on HIGH, until the beans are soft.

Step 4: Before serving, stir in the chopped Tuscan kale and the cooked sausage if using. The heat of the soup will wilt the greens and warm the sausage.

Step 5: Garnish with fresh herbs and serve hot with rustic bread on the side.

Tips & Variations

If using cannellini beans, presoaking by boiling and soaking for 30-60 minutes helps soften them better and reduces cooking time.

For a meatless version, omit the sausage or replace it with sautéed mushrooms for extra umami flavor.

Different white beans like Great Northern or navy beans can be used; adjust cooking times accordingly as larger beans take longer to soften.

This soup can also be made in a pressure cooker following your device’s recommended bean cooking times for a quicker meal.

FAQs

Do I need to soak the beans before cooking?

For most white beans like Great Northern or navy beans, presoaking is optional and does not significantly affect cooking time. Cannellini beans benefit from presoaking by boiling and soaking to improve texture and reduce cooking time.

Can I make this soup without the slow cooker?

Yes, you can prepare this soup on the stovetop in a large pot or use a pressure cooker. Cooking times will vary: simmer beans with vegetables on low heat for several hours until tender, or follow your pressure cooker’s instructions for dried beans.