Colorado has seen our fair share of beautiful days over the last few weeks, but our weather is getting ready to turn.
The weather people are predicting a weekend full of snow.
Of course, they have been known to be wrong but predictably the grocery store was filled with folks anticipating being dumped on.
Now being dumped on is a good thing if you are in the mountains and prepared to ski.
But driving to the mountains while the snow is falling is not so much fun. Manservant was planning on skiing this weekend and I am not so sure he is going to make it.
In which case me being prepared, means having food in the house. I have all the staples and I am ready to hunker down.
Magazines are waiting to be read, and all I need is Manservant to chop some wood.
Truth be told, I don't mind hunkering down.
To me there isn't much better than being in my pj's all day, while sitting next to a toasty fire, and gazing out the window at Manservant operating the snow blower.
I promise I'll even have the hot chocolate waiting as he strips out of his wet clothes.
So, I'm guessing there might be a few folks across the nation that are getting tired of this scenario.
One thing I can promise is that you won't get tired of this bean soup.
We've been eating it all week. Manservant loves beans. I mean he really loves beans.
It used to be that pintos were his thing and where I came from it was kidney beans.
Honestly, neither are my favorite.
I like white navy beans. (Now why are navy beans white?) And Great Northerns. And black beans. And teeny red beans. I like green beans.
I love cacao beans and coffee beans but I guess that is getting off track.
I used mayocoba beans in this soup which is an heirloom Peruvian bean, similar to a pinto.
They contain 9g of fiber and 8g of protein per a ¼ cup. Not bad for a little bean.
I soaked my beans, but if time is short, feel free to use canned beans.
And I don't even care what variety! Check out the dried bean council if you'd like.
How to Make Bean Soup with Sausage:
Soup is a hard thing to mess up which is totally unlike predicting weather.
Don't be afraid to use other types of meat and you could even leave it out.
I've seen many varieties of BBQ bean soup that used short ribs.
Now my mother loves short ribs, but me, not so much. Personalize this soup to your heart's content.
I wasn't sure where I was going when I began, but this turned out so good that Manservant has been eating it every day.
As it happens, his parents sent a honey baked ham for the holidays and because there are only two of us, I put a lot in the freezer.
Manservant takes that ham and lays it across the top of this soup and is in hog heaven.
I've also seen him poach or fry some eggs and put those on top. It is hard to keep this man from his beans!
This bean soup with sausage is made with ground sausage but can easily be made with sliced links.
It also can be made with any ground meat of your choice or even another sausage.
Begin by sauteing the sausage and then adding onion and garlic.
Stir in bbq sauce, Worcestershire sauce, maple syrup and a bit of chopped chipotle which adds some heat and also some smokiness.
Then add your seasonings, which include a Secret seasoning recipe that I think you will like on many things!
I also add an envelope of onion soup mix because it adds a lot of umami to this hearty bean soup.
Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and water. If you are not using soaked beans you may not need as much water.
Don't forget a few dashes of liquid smoke and a dash of vinegar!
Choose your favorite garnishes but we love crisp bacon and cornbread croutons!
This BBQ bean soup with sausage is full of flavor and is a hearty, economical meal.
Enjoy!
Recipe
Barbeque Bean Soup with Sausage
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours*
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 8 - 10 Servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
This hearty bean soup with sausage is hearty and filling. And so, so good! Flavored with barbeque seasonings, this bbq bean soup with cornbread croutons might even beat a sandwich!
Ingredients
- 1-1 ½ lbs sweet Italian sausage, bulk
- 2 c chopped onion
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- ½ c of your favorite bbq sauce
- 1 T maple syrup
- 1 T Worcestershire
- 1 T chopped chipotle in adobo sauce
- 1 t smoked paprika
- 2 T special seasoning
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 3 cans water
- 1 lb dried beans soaked or 3-4 cans of your favorite beans, drained
- Few dashes of liquid smoke
- 1 T balsamic vinegar
- Special Seasoning: (You will have some left over but I know you will find ways to use it. It rocks!)
- 2 T sugar
- 1 T coarse salt
- 1 T freshly ground black pepper
- 1 T garlic powder
- Garnishes:
- Chopped raw onion
- Cooked, crisp bacon bits
- Grated Smoked Cheese
Cornbread Croutons (I used leftover cornbread and baked it until dried out.)
Instructions
Notes
Chorizo or ground pork, chicken or beef would also work. Sausage has more seasoning so make sure to double check if you are not using it.
Juliana says
This bean soup looks delicious Abbe...I love the sweet touch of the maple and the BBQ sauce in it...very hearty, for a great meal!
Have a nice week 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
The sweet is what makes the spiciness stand out! Thanks Juliana!
Sue/the view from great island says
OMG this looks so good, and the cornbread croutons are genius!
Abbe Odenwalder says
I don't think that there are that many foods that cornbread doesn't work with! Thanks, Sue! Leftovers force creativity!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen says
We were so thankfully we didn't choose Denver as our transfer point instead of Phoenix coming back from California on Saturday! The weather did not sound good there at all. Instead of snow we have cold! I would sure welcome a bowl of that delicious bean soup. The flavors sound complex and delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
You were lucky. The weather got nasty! Better cold, than snow! Hope you had a great break!
Cheri Savory Spoon says
I'm a big bean person too, my husband not so much. Love that you added chipotle!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Love chipotle! Took me a long time to get used to beans. I now must say that I do look forward to them because there is so much one can do with them!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I always have bbq beans with pork bbq but now I'm rethinking that decision. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
This works so well on its own! Time to rethink! Thanks, Maureen!
dedy oktavianus says
Simply damn delicious bean sausage stew!!!
Dedy@Dentist Chef
Abbe Odenwalder says
You got that right, Dedy!
Adri says
We are big on beans on our house too. I love the idea of Barbecue Bean Soup. It is new to me, and I bet it is darn tasty. Thanks for this one, and i hope you survive you weather. We are pretty fortunate out here in Southern California. We have had mostly sunny days, and have even been wearing shorts and short sleeves lately!
Abbe Odenwalder says
You are fortunate. Especially while I'm looking out and watching the snow fall. But Manservant does love to ski! Thanks Adri!
Angie Schneider says
You are so right! I can never get enough of hearty and healthy soups like this. It looks wonderful.
Abbe Odenwalder says
This was a very enjoyable soup. It lasted a week and now I want more!
Liz Berg says
White navy beans are my favorite, too---I always put kidney beans in my chili, but I'm really not a fan. One of my sisters sent me an outdoor thermometer shot from Denver either yesterday or Wed. when I was griping about our sub-zero wind chills. Now why doesn't that warm air just head my way??? It does in the summer! Anyhow, your soup looks terrific.
Abbe Odenwalder says
I used to pick every kidney bean out! Thanks, Liz!
Kitchen Riffs says
We love beans around here too. Really nasty weather at the moment -- both ice and snow falling. Yuck. So of course I'm making chili. With beans. Only because the idea of this soup had never occurred to me. Love it! Very creative -- thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Just popped in my head one day. I am weird like that! This weather is getting a bit old!
adam j. holland says
Pictures say a thousand words. But your recipe says a few words of its own — tangy, hearty and delicious. Good luck outwitting the weather peeps.
Abbe Odenwalder says
You are so good with words, Adam! I must try harder! And you are so correct. It tastes just like you described!