Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham and Collard Greens
3 Comments Apr 21, 2024
Updated Jun 03, 2024
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Whether you’re cooking for family or a crowd, this Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham and Collard Greens is a must try! This delicious soup features a generous helping of ham hocks, collard greens, onions, and a host of seasonings for a dish that could serve as the main course or a side.
Looking for other ways to give your beans a twist? Try my delicious Slow Cooker Apple Pie Baked Beans and Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Soup with Collard Greens Recipe
Cooking collard greens alone is an absolutely delicious dish on it’s own, but adding them to a soup takes this healthy green vegetable to a new level. When I first tried this recipe, I knew we were in for a tasty soup. The 15 Bean Soup Mix makes for the hearty base, thanks to the combination of great northern beans, pinto, baby lima, white kidney, and 11 other beans.
Instead of the ham seasoning packet, you’ll add seasonings like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper for a tasty soup flavor. The dump-and-go method makes cooking these beans a breeze and the cooking time is just long enough to start the beans in the morning and have them ready by dinnertime.
Recipe Ingredients
- 15 Bean Soup Mix: I use the Hursts Ham Beens Brand for this recipe (minus the ham seasoning packet). I find this bean mix at most grocery stores, especially Walmart.
- Ham Hocks: 3 smoked ham hocks add an amazing smoky and meaty flavor.
- White Onion: Adds flavor and heartiness to the soup.
- Collard Greens: These are added toward the end of cooking time and cooked tender just before serving. We LOVE collard greens and often make a big batch of Slow-Cooker Collard Greens.
- Seasoning: Salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper is the winning combo to make these beans delicious and flavorful.
- Water: Added to create the soupy base. (See the full recipe in the recipe card below the photos).
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Add everything to the slow cooker except the collards.
Step Two – Pour the water into the slow cooker.
Step Three – Stir everything together until well combined. Cover and cook on HIGH For 6 hours.
Step Four – Remove the ham hocks and shred any meat you can off of them.
Step Five – Add just the meat back to the slow cooker. Stir.
Step Six – Add the chopped collards.
Step Seven – Cook for one hour longer. Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve
- This soup with collard greens can be served as a meal by itself. Simply pair it with some cornbread, biscuits, or another crusty bread of your choice for dipping.
- Turn this into a soup and salad meal by serving it alongside your favorite salad. A good house salad or Caesar would taste wonderful!
- As for toppings, provide salt and pepper to taste and red pepper flakes to add a bit of heat. Some people like to add onion and parmesan cheese on top as well.
Recipe FAQs
There is no need to soak the beans before cooking. Though, be sure to cook them on high to ensure they tender up.
Yes! 15 bean soup freezes very well. Add to airtight containers or freezer ziplock bags. Freeze for up three months.
Of course! You can use a large dutch oven (or large pot) to cook the soup over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium low to prevent sticking and time to allow the flavors to enhance. This is a great recipe for the slow cooker, dutch oven or the Instant Pot.
Smoked sausage adds a nice flavor, fresh chopped garlic adds more garlic flavor, and you can use kale in addition to or instead of collard greens. Rosemary also adds a nice herby flavor.
More 15 Bean Soup Slow Cooker Recipes:
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Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham and Collard Greens
Ingredients
- 20 oz. 15 Bean Soup Mix (Hursts Ham Beens Brand), (discard the ham seasoning packet)
- 1 white onion, diced
- 3 smoked ham hocks
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 8 cups water
Add towards the end
- 2-3 cups chopped collard greens (about 2 inch squares), (remove the white spines before chopping)
- additional salt if desired
Instructions
- Add everything to the slow cooker except the collards.
- Stir.
- Cook on HIGH For 6 hours.
- Remove the ham hocks and shred any meat you can off of them. Add just the meat back to the slow cooker. Stir.
- Add the chopped collards and cook for one hour longer.
- Add additional salt if needed, you may not need any if your ham hocks are very salty.
How to Video
Sarah’s Notes
- If you choose to use cajun 15 bean soup mix, omit the other seasonings in the recipe.
- There is no need to soak the beans before cooking. Though, be sure to cook them on high to ensure they tender up.
- 15 bean soup freezes very well. Add to airtight containers or freezer ziplock bags. Freeze for up three months.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
We don’t care for Collard greens so is there something different we can use like spinach etc.?
Yes! Spinach is a great choice. It doesn’t need to be cooked long, just 5 minutes or so.
Can I use a ham ( Cut up in pieces) instead of the Hocks? It looks Delicious!!!!