Chicken sausage, beans, mushrooms, and spinach come together to create the most comforting and hearty soup!Slow cooker bean sausage soupis so easy to prepare and bursting with flavor.

Sausage bean soup with spinach in white serving bowls.

If you are looking for an easy, slow cooker dinner then you are in the right place! This bean sausage soup is full of flavor and is the perfect solution if you don’t know what to have for dinner. I love how quickly this dish can be prepared, it only takes a few minutes to combine all the ingredients and the result is a delicious, warm bowl of soup.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

The soup is hearty, comforting, and satisfying.
You can prepare everything in 10 minutes, and the slow cooker does the rest.
It is full of flavor from the spices, beans, veggies, and sausage.

Recipe Ingredients

portion bowls each with raw ingredients to make sausage bean soup with spinach.

Sausage—Sliced. We use Italian chicken sausage, but any kind is great!
Bean Soup Mix—A prepackaged blend of dried beans.
Onion—Finely chopped. These will release a bright flavor as they cook.
Garlic—Minced. To add depth to the dish.
Chicken Broth—Helps cook your beans and infuse them with flavor.
Water—To help cook the beans.
White Mushrooms—Trimmed and quartered.
Spinach—Fresh or baby spinach will work.
Spices—A blend of thyme, red pepper flakes, and bay leaves for optimal flavor.
Salt and Pepper—Season to your taste.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Slow Cooker Bean Sausage Soup

clear mixing bowl in the process of making sausage bean soup with spinach.

crockpot with sausage bean soup with spinach.

Step #1.Microwave the sausage, onion, garlic, thyme, and pepper flakes in a bowl until the onion starts to soften. Place the onion mixture in your slow cooker.

Step #2.Add the broth, water, mushrooms, dried beans, bay leaves, and salt. Stir to combine.

crockpot with sausage bean soup with spinach with being scooped with a white spoon.

Step #3.Cover and cook until the beans are tender. Remove and throw away the bay leaves. Stir in the spinach and let it sit until slightly wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step #4.Remove and throw away the bay leaves. Stir in the spinach and let it sit until slightly wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Can I use canned beans instead?

Yes, if you are in a pinch then you can use canned beans instead of the dried bean mix. We love to use dried beans because it gives a nice variation without having to do too much work, but they also absorb the flavor of the broth better than canned beans. As they cook, they will soak up the flavor in the soup and elevate the dish. But, if you can’t find the dried bean mix, then drain and rinse some canned beans and those will work just as well!

How can I thicken my soup?

As the dried beans absorb the liquid, your soup will naturally thicken. But, if you notice that your soup is very runny, you can easily thicken the soup with a slurry of flour and water. Whisk together equal parts of water and flour to create the slurry, then mix it into the soup about 30 minutes before it is done cooking in the slow cooker. This will give the broth enough time to thicken up! Alternatively, if the soup seems too thick with not enough liquid, you can add another ½ cup of chicken broth and stir everything together.

Popular Substitutions and Variations

Switch up the meat—Instead of chicken sausage you can use beef, or even chopped bacon. You can also use hot or sweet sausage for different flavors.
Make it vegetarian—Instead of switching the meat, omit it completely! You can easily make this vegetarian by using tofu, or just adding extra vegetables instead of sausage.
Make it spicy—Crank up the heat by adding cayenne pepper and extra red pepper flakes to season your soup.
Swap the vegetables—If you don’t like some of the vegetables, don’t use them and swap them for something different! Zucchini, broccoli, or carrots are great choices.

How to Serve and Store Slow Cooker Bean Sausage Soup

This soup is hearty and filling enough to be served on its own, but you can also add some simple side dishes to make a complete meal. We love to havebreadwith our soup because it is perfect for dipping! Try servingbreadsticks,French bread,orcornbreadwith butter. Other yummy sides include steamed vegetables such asbrussel sproutsor carrots, stuffing, baked potatoes, or a light garden salad. You can’t go wrong!

Any leftovers of your soup can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-5 days in an airtight container. Scoop one serving of the soup in a bowl and reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time until it is warm!

Expert Tips

Keep in mind thata 4-7 quart slow cooker is the best size for this recipe, but you can always adjust the ingredient amounts if needed!
There are many different bean soup mixes out therewith different kinds of beans, so pick one that you like or you can use a homemade mix if you have that instead.
If you are cooking the soup on low,set the timer for 9-11 hours, and if you are cooking on high, set the timer for 6-8 hours. You’ll know it is done if it has thickened and the beans are soft!
If you don’t have any fresh garlic cloves thenyou can use 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder instead.