With winter on the way, you might be looking for a hearty main dish that echoes the essence and flavors of the seasons. Luckily, our go-to recipe for bean and bacon soup has you covered!
If you're ready to serve this comforting delight to your loved ones, read on to unveil the secrets of making this timeless soup and discover the expert tips to ensure a successful cooking experience every time.
The perfect recipe for busy families on cold winter nights
Juggling busy schedules and trying to make sure your family has a delectable and nourishing meal to enjoy at the end of the day can feel overwhelming. That's where our favorite bacon and bean soup recipe comes in, offering an effortless way to create a dish brimming with comforting flavors — perfect for chilly winter nights.
Whether you consider yourself a kitchen expert or you're just beginning your culinary journey, this hearty soup recipe simplifies the art of crafting a soul-warming masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression on all those gathered around the table. Its warm embrace and effortless preparation make this the perfect option for busy households seeking a delicious, time-saving dinner. Plus, infusing the recipe with the smoky, savory flavor of Hatfield® bacon only adds to the richness of each spoonful.
Cooking instructions: Bring your favorite bean and bacon soup recipe to life
Serves: 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 oz. Hatfield® Hardwood Smoked Bacon, diced into small pieces.
- 1 ½ cups yellow onions, chopped.
- 2 cups carrots, chopped.
- 2 cups celery, chopped.
- 1 Tbsp. garlic cloves, minced.
- 5 ½ cups chicken stock or chicken broth.
- 2 ½ Tbsp. tomato paste.
- 1 ½ tsp. sugar.
- 2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped (optional).
- 3 (15 oz.) cans of navy beans, drained and rinsed.
- 1 ¼ cups shredded mozzarella or string cheese.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional for serving).
Directions for preparing and cooking bean and bacon soup
- Step 1: Start by cooking your Hatfield® bacon in a large enameled cast iron pan until browned and crisp. Then, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels, leaving 2 Tbsp. rendered bacon drippings in the pan.
- Step 2: Next, heat the drippings over medium-high heat and add your onions, carrots and celery. Sauté for 4 minutes, then add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes longer.
- Step 3: Now, add in the chicken stock or broth, tomato paste, sugar, thyme and dry beans.
- Step 4: After this, you can stir in about ¾ of the cooked bacon, while reserving the remainder in a small resealable bag in the refrigerator for future use.
- Step 5: Then, season your bean soup with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until veggies are soft (about 30 minutes).
- Step 6: Transfer about 2 ½ cups of the soup to a blender, cover the pan with a lid (while removing the lid's center insert and holding a folded kitchen towel over the blender) and blend until smooth.
- Step 7: Stir the pureed mixture back into the soup pot or pan. Finally, serve this main dish warm and topped with shredded cheese and parsley. (Note: You can thin the soup with more broth or water if preferred).
Ready to get started on this hearty soup recipe? Head to your local grocery store to pick up your favorite Hatfield® pork products today!
Tips for elevating your mealtime results
Before diving into this recipe, consider the following tips, tricks and best practices to ensure consistently delicious results:
Choosing your bacon and considering pre-marinated options
Bacon is key to mouthwatering and flavorful results, but with so many kinds of bacon to choose from, you might be wondering if the type you use matters. The short answer is no: You can opt for any specific bacon texture or taste that your loved ones prefer!
Experiment with bacon thickness with Hatfield® Cherrywood Smoked Extra Thick Cut Bacon, or explore uncurated options like Hatfield® No Antibiotics Ever Uncured Hardwood Smoked Bacon. Keep in mind that pre-marinated bacon from Hatfield® is a great way to streamline your culinary tasks and infuse immediate, rich flavors into your dish. This saves you time in the kitchen while ensuring delicious outcomes.
Can you substitute the type of beans used?
While the white bean soup recipe featured above calls for navy beans, or dry beans, swapping this option with popular alternatives is a fantastic way to personalize the soup. If your family enjoys a creamier texture or buttery richness, you might use cannellini beans instead. Or, add refried beans to infuse a robust, and slightly earthy, essence. Finally, pinto beans are another common option that brings a subtle nuttiness while retaining their shape well — adding a delightful bite to this recipe.
Feel free to mix and match for a custom blend or simply use what you have on hand to make your perfect bean and bacon soup.
Other cooking options for bacon and white bean soup
For the instructions above, you'll need a cast iron pan, which offers great flexibility to prepare this dish successfully. However, there are several other cooking methods you can utilize to bring this recipe to life. If you have plenty of time, you can use a slow cooker for a leisurely, hands-off approach — allowing the flavors to meld over hours. When time's scarce, you might opt for a pressure cooker or Instant Pot instead to ensure a speedy yet savory result. Essentially, it's best practice to choose the cooking approach that accommodates your schedule and preferences.
Properly storing and freezing leftovers
Got leftovers? No problem! You can preserve the delightful flavors of crumbled bacon and bean soup for future enjoyment with proper storage. After you've let the dish cool, move leftovers to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator for three to four days. For longer storage, you can portion out your cooled soup into freezer-safe containers or bags — making sure to leave room for possible expansion. You can freeze this for up to three months.
Other Hatfield® soup recipes to try this winter
Once you've perfected this bean and bacon soup recipe, you can expand your winter soup repertoire with Hatfield's diverse recipes. For instance, you might try our Asian Pork Noodle Soup, which offers a fusion of flavors — ideal for families seeking a zesty twist on traditional soups. Or, try our White Bean and Sweet Italian Sausage Soup recipe, designed to encapsulate comforting, Italian-inspired flavors that the whole family is sure to love.
Cooking with confidence: Why quality matters
Bean and bacon soup is a simple yet comforting winter dish that will have everyone in your household clamoring for more. But when it comes to cooking for your loved ones, starting with premium ingredients is what sets the stage for true culinary success.
Pre-marinated bacon from Hatfield® emerges as a high-quality ingredient to elevate your soup's richness and depth. This ensures more than just quality, but also food safety for your family. Once you're ready to get started, you can explore a range of premium bacon products that fit your household preferences, like Hatfield® Applewood Smoked Bacon or Hatfield® Maple Brown Sugar Bacon.
Already know what you're looking for? Use our store locator to find your favorite Hatfield® products at a supermarket or grocery store near you!
