An Easy Black Bean Soup, Studded With Smoky Sausage
This black bean soup recipe is so easy, we’re tempted to say it cooks itself, but that’d be crazy. So instead, we’ll just say that it’s about the easiest, tastiest thing to come out of the TMP kitchen in quite some time. Thanks to the help of canned black beans, this ridiculously simple, pretty-healthy meal comes together in literally just a few minutes.
Can You Guess the Secret Ingredient in Our Black Bean Soup?
We’ve put our own spin on a classic black bean soup recipe with a few lively additions: smoked sausage, bell peppers, and plenty of garlic! The result is a black bean soup that’s full of deep, bold flavors and interesting textures. And, thanks to our trusty immersion blender, it’s also the creamiest black bean soup you’ve ever had, making it the perfect meal to slurp down with your family any night of the week.
What Goes in Homemade Black Bean Soup?
This scratch-made black bean soup strays a bit from what you might find in your mom’s trusty cookbook, but we’re confident you won’t hear any complaints. We’ve eliminated half the steps that a more traditional recipe might have (saving some serious time in the process) and added a few things to deepen the flavor and add even more punch to an already-delicious dish. Here are all of the ingredients you’ll need to make it:
- Olive oil
- Red onion
- Garlic
- Bell peppers
- Chicken stock
- Black beans
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Dried oregano
- Chili powder
- Smoked sausage
How To Make Black Bean Soup
Got about 20 minutes? Then you can make this creamy, thick black bean soup! Here’s how:
- Sauté the veggies.
- Add the beans, chicken stock, and spices and bring all that yumminess to a boil.
- Place an immersion blender into the soup pot and pulse it a few times until the desired consistency is achieved. We like to leave some whole beans and veggies for texture. Immersion blenders are a dream for this kind of job, but if you don’t have one, you could easily just ladle a portion of the soup into your standing blender and then add it back into the pot.
- Add the sausage. (Also, be sure NOT to blend your sausage- trust us.)
- You’re done! All that’s left is to top this rich and smoky bowl of goodness with sour cream and cilantro and chow down.
Tips for Making Homemade Black Bean Soup.
- Why Canned Black Beans: Dried beans have their place, but canned beans are just SO fast, and this soup is all about weeknight ease. Canned black beans to the rescue! After testing and retesting, we can say with lots of confidence that the soup is just as good with canned beans as dry (and vastly quicker).
- Keep a stocked pantry: this soup really is a pantry recipe. If you’ve got a decently stocked pantry and spice cupboard, you’ll probably have ¾ of the necessary ingredients on hand at all times. We’ve even started buying sausage and just throwing it in the freezer so that I can whip up this soup whenever the mood strikes or when I’m pressed for time and don’t want to resort to take-out.
- Invest in an immersion blender. Immersion blenders are one of the most cost-effective, space-saving small appliances you will ever own. It may not seem like a necessity now, but once you own one you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. From spaghetti sauce, to mashed potatoes, to this creamy black bean soup—everything’s easier with an immersion blender!
Is Black Bean Soup Healthy?
Still sticking to those resolutions? Make this homemade black bean soup even healthier. Our version of black bean soup from scratch may not be the healthiest out there, but we do believe it is the best! If you are trying to lighten your calorie count or are avoiding processed meats, this soup is easy to adapt into a very healthy black bean soup! Here’s how:
- Swap low-sodium veggie stock for the chicken stock.
- Opt for a chicken or veggie sausage made without nitrates, or leave it out entirely.
- Skip the sour cream. Although it tastes delicious, this creamy black bean soup is a winner even without the added addition of that delightful dairy.
4 More Quick, Easy Soup Recipes to Try!
Black Bean Soup + Busy Weeknight = Dinner, Done!
This pot of soup comes together fast, is full of rich, complex flavors, and is a truly satisfying meal at the end of a long day. If you make and enjoy this black bean soup recipe, we’d love to see who you shared it with! Post a picture to Instagram and tag @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can celebrate good food and great company along with you. Happy eating!
