15-Bean Smoked Turkey Soup (Printable version)

Slow-cooked hearty stew blending 15 beans, smoked turkey, vegetables, and warm spices for cozy meals.

# What you 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 & Seasonings

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

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse and sort the beans, discarding any debris. No need to soak unless desired for creamier texture and slightly shorter cooking time.
02 - Place the beans, smoked turkey, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and diced tomatoes in the slow cooker.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and water. Add thyme, paprika, black pepper, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir gently to combine.
04 - Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until the beans are tender and the turkey is falling off the bone.
05 - Remove the smoked turkey pieces. Discard skin and bones; shred the meat and return it to the soup.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beans become silky without any overnight soaking fuss, and the smoked turkey dissolves into the broth like it was meant to be there.
  • Eight hours of hands-off cooking means you can actually enjoy your Saturday instead of standing over a stove.
  • This makes enough to feed a crowd or eat well for days, and it tastes even better the next morning when all the flavors have gotten to know each other.
02 -
  • Don't salt too aggressively at the beginning because salt can make beans cook slower and tougher, so hold back and taste at the end when everything is already tender.
  • If your soup seems too thin, you can mash some of the cooked beans against the side of the pot with the back of your spoon to release their starch and thicken the broth naturally without flour or cornstarch.
03 -
  • Use a six-quart or larger crockpot because this volume needs room to circulate and cook evenly, and a cramped pot leads to unevenly cooked beans.
  • Buy your smoked turkey from the butcher counter if you can, since they often have better quality and flavor than the pre-packaged versions sitting in the case.
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