15-Bean Smoked Turkey Soup (Print Version)

A comforting blend of beans and smoky turkey slow-cooked to tender perfection.

# 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 & Seasonings

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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse and sort the 15-bean soup mix, discarding any debris or discolored beans.
02 - Place beans, smoked turkey, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and diced tomatoes in a 6-quart slow cooker.
03 - Pour chicken broth and water over ingredients. 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 until beans are tender and turkey is falling off the bone.
05 - Remove turkey pieces from soup. Discard skin and bones, then shred meat and return to pot.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove bay leaf. Serve hot.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It requires almost no babysitting once everything hits the crockpot, which means you can go about your day and come home to something magical.
  • The smoky turkey gives you all that rich flavor without feeling heavy or overly complicated.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day as all those bean flavors get to know each other.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the bean mix because sometimes there are little rocks hiding in there that will crack your tooth if you're not careful.
  • Eight hours on LOW is not negotiable if you want creamy beans, though eight hours on HIGH will work if you're in a time crunch.
03 -
  • If you have time, soak your beans overnight before cooking; they'll become even creamier and the soup will finish slightly faster.
  • Buy smoked turkey from the butcher counter if possible because the flavor is deeper and more authentic than pre-packaged options.
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