Bean and Bacon Soup {Campbells Copycat} recipe with simple, all-natural ingredients all made in the crockpot for a easy hearty soup.
(Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-Free, Low-Sugar)
Bean and Bacon soup – Ahhh, nostalgia at its finest. Campbell’s® Bean with Bacon Soup was a staple in my diet for many, many years. I was able to recreate this soup with simple all-natural ingredients, less sodium, and packed with bacon.
Packed with bacon? Sounds like heaven, right?
There are a few conclusions I’ve come to in my cooking escapades, one being that bacon will always make something one billion times better. This bean and bacon soup is no different, packed with bacon and the flavorful bacon juices that send me right into childhood bean and bacon heaven.
All you need are 6 simple, natural ingredients and in as little as 2 hours you can have a protein packed, delicious, warm hearty soup.
We’re taking another break from the dessert train this week. Lately I’ve been on a roll with cookies; chocolate peanut butter cookies and healthy chocolate chip cookies have pretty much been a necessity as I pull together my cookbook. Join me as we switch tracks from the dessert train to take a ride on the nostalgia train.
I’m going to tell you my deep dark secret when it comes to this canned soup. Campbell’s® Bean with Bacon Soup and I go way back. Back in the days (circa 1998) I would go as far as opening the can and spooning out spoonfuls of the beans-with-bacon-orange-ish-sludge that would miraculously turn into soup after adding water. Who had time to add water? Well, I did, but chose not to. That highly concentrated bean and bacon stuff was my favorite growing up.
I know what you are thinking. The more I think of it, I also can’t believe I would do that. But VB is a judgment-free zone, or I hope it is since I just shared something really gross. There has to be some gross things that you too used to eat as a kid!
Bologna! With more mayonnaise then bread and bologna combined. Not to mention, the whiter and gummier the bread, the better. *SIGH* Those were happy times.
Processed ingredients and uncertain meats were the furthest from my mind back then. All that mattered was a spoonful of unknown orange-ish bean and bacon flavored bits.
This easy crockpot bean and bacon soup is the best of best worlds. It has that perfect bean and bacon flavor minus the processed ingredients and high sodium content.
As you all know by now, I’m lazy.
The less work to make a meal, the better.
However, if you wish to go above and beyond and win the best home cook award, you can puree a little bit of the beans and re-introduce back into the soup before serving. This will give you a thicker texture of soup.
To achieve this take about 2-3 cups of beans out after they have fully cooked, add 1 cup of soup broth, and puree with an immersion blender for 2 minutes or until creamed. Pour it back into the crockpot and stir until fully combined.
Pretty simple, and easy. Again, I was not feeling it was necessary; there was bacon in the soup and that was good enough for me.
After a couple hours cooking in the crockpot, the smell wafted throughout my house, throwing me back into my childhood. The nostalgia train just took me away. Memories of hot summers in our house without air conditioning, fans blowing in the windows, The Price Is Right on the television, dial-up Internet, and house phones. Those were the good days.
Oh, and let’s not forget the bean and bacon soup eaten straight out of the can with a spoon, because that is totally normal.
During those summers, lunch was either bean and bacon soup with a grilled cheese sandwich or mac n’ cheese. My sister and I normally ate mac n’ cheese almost every single day during the summer. Now that I think of it, falling into food ruts runs in the family. We never got sick of mac n’ cheese or bean and bacon soup, like ever.
It must run in the family genes. I have been in a taco salad rut for at least a year now; I eat it at least once a week right now. It’s all I want in my life, so much so that I have to forcefully make myself prepare soups like this; otherwise I will revert to the rut of a taco salad. #noshame
I must admit, it was definitely worth stepping out of the rut to make this soup.
So whether you are also a Campbell’s® Bean with Bacon Soup addict or just love bacon for the amazing, delicious meat that it is, this soup is for you.
You, yeah you–are you a Campbell’s® Bean with Bacon Soup addict, too? I can guarantee this recipe will get you your fix with healthier ingredients, and that’s a win in my eyes.
Ginger says
I was also a bean with bacon straight out of the can eater when I was a teen. That stuff was so delicious. So happy to have a copycat recipe I can enjoy now!
Lindsay says
Hahaha Yesssssss! I’m so glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
Darryl C says
Does it have 2 b great northern beans??? would kidney beans work???
Lindsay says
Honestly, I think Kidney Beans would work just fine Darryl. 🙂
Rebecca says
Tastes great! I used 2 cups dried navy beans and I puréed some of the soup at the end.
How did you get your nutritional info? I ran the recipe through the verywellfit recipe nutrition analyser and this is the result I got.
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 377
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14.7g 19%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 28mg 9%
Sodium 940mg 41%
Total Carbohydrate 35g 13%
Dietary Fiber 13.4g 48%
Total Sugars 3.7g
Protein 23.8g
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 90mg 7%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 948mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Lindsay says
So glad you liked it! We use SparkRecipes nutrition calculator. So there might be some differences. As always we provide the nutritional information as a courtesy. We try to be accurate with this information but feel free to make your own calculations. 🙂
Jerry PalmerJe says
Where are you getting the recipe from, it states all u need is 6 items , there no 6 items that I see, only beans and bacon SO what’s the other ingredients ? Is it can soup?
Lindsay says
I’m sorry Jerry but do you not see the recipe card at the bottom of the post? The entire recipe with the 6 ingredients is there…. If you can’t see the recipe card let us know and perhaps we can help from there but it is there…..
Gail says
No shamr in eating Bean with Bacon out of a can. I’ve eaten it that way as well. Maybe not a whole can, but I know when I was young I needed to modify the water quite a few times. Your sentence that started with Mayonnaise, Bologna, gummy…. Lord, my stomach started contacting not in a good way. I love Campbell’s BwB. I’m looking forward to this recipe. I certainly could become an addict because it’s a healthier version! I will also try it work a smoked turkey leg, or meat as I avoid pork but girl. This looks great, thank you!
Sue says
This totally cracked me up, as I read it ! I was giggling my way through it !I was eating that bean and bacon sludge when I was a kid… way back in the early to mid 60’s ! One of my very favorites! Oh, to go back to those days again !
Lindsay says
I still miss it to this day to be honest. LOL pure heaven 😉
Sam says
Ok. I’ll be the tie breaker. Me and my sister learned this from a girl we babysat for.
Cambells Bean and Bacon soup
1 pkg saltine crackers
Tabasco sauce
Open can, spread soup on cracker, add drop of Tabasco, eat.
No need to dilute with water. I’ve never had this soup any other way.
Can’t wait to try your “copy cat” recipe
Lindsay says
BAHAHHAHA oh my word I’m loving this so much
Brenda Willis says
I do not like the Campbell’s Bean and Bacon soup they make now. Not the original taste or texture. I am going to try this recipe and hopefully it will taste like it did in the 60s. Thank you for the recipe, it was one of my favorites!!