Frugal Dried Bean Soup Mix

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

Every homestead needs a good Dried Bean Soup mix in their pantry for those nights when you need a good hearty meal but aren’t sure what to put on the table.

Every homestead needs a good Dried Bean Soup mix in their pantry for those nights when you need a good hearty meal but aren't sure what to put on the table. #driedbeansoupmix #readytomake #makeaheadmixes #homesteader #frugalmeal #soupmix

Dried Bean Soup Mix

We love having beans for lunch or supper (especially our Canned Pinto Beans) because they are easy to toss together, frugal, and they fill up your belly. This dried bean Soup Mix is another pantry staple that we keep around for when we need it.

I generally like to buy beans in bulk. Dried beans are inexpensive and even cheaper when purchased in a larger quantity (I get mine from Azure Standard). Even though there are several types of beans in this soup mix, it still makes for a frugal dish.

This recipe isn’t super quick (since you have to soak the beans), but it is very easy to put together.

–Try this Homemade Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix next!

Dried Beans

Dried Bean Soup Mix

What You Need for Bean Base:

  • 1/2 cup dried Kidney Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried Pinto Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried White Beans or Navy Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried Lentils
  • 1/2 cup dried Split Peas
  • 1/2 cup dried Black Beans

What You Need for Spice Mix:

  • 1 tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons dried Minced Onion
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Celery Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 5 Tablespoons Brown or Raw Sugar

How to make dry bean soup mix:

Adding Beans to Jar

Layer the beans in a quart-sized jar.

Spices for Bean Soup MIx

In a small bowl, mix together the spices.

Putting Together Bean Soup Mix

Place them in a small bag before putting in the jar on top of your dried bean mix and label them so you don’t forget what it’s for.

Bean Soup Mix

When you are ready to make your soup, place the jar of beans into about 4 cups of water in the morning and let them soak all day. Drain off any excess water and place the beans in a large stockpot. Add in the spice packet and 1 pint of stewed tomatoes or one large can from the store if you don’t have your own). Also pour in 4 cups of water and 2 cups of chicken broth. Turn on a low to medium heat and let the soup simmer until beans are cooked through (about an hour or 2) you may need to add a bit more water if your soup is getting too thick as the beans soak up more water.

Need to print this to add to your Recipe Binder? Get the Dried Bean Soup recipe below:

5 from 1 vote
Print

Dried Bean Soup Mix

Ingredients

What You Need for Bean Base:

  • 1/2 cup dried Kidney Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried Pinto Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried White Beans or Navy Beans
  • 1/2 cup dried Lentils
  • 1/2 cup dried Split Peas
  • 1/2 cup dried Black Beans

What You Need for Spice Mix:

  • 1 tablespoon Red Pepper Flakes optional
  • 2 teaspoons dried Minced Onion
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Celery Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 5 Tablespoons Brown or Raw Sugar

What you need to make the Soup (on Cooking Day)

  • approximately 4 cups water to soak
  • Jar of Bean Soup Mix with Spice Packet
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 pint stewed tomatoes
  • 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

How to make dry bean soup mix:

  1. Layer the beans in a quart-sized jar.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the spices.
  3. Place them in a small bag and label them so you don't forget what it's for. Place the bag in the jar on top of your
  4. beans. Store until you are ready to cook soup.

When you are ready to make your soup:

  1. Place the jar of beans into about 4 cups of water in the morning and let them soak all day.
  2. Drain off any excess water and place the beans in a large stockpot.
  3. Add in the spice packet and 1 pint of stewed tomatoes or one large can from the store if you don't have your own). Also pour in 4 cups of water and 2 cups of chicken broth. Turn on a low to medium heat and let the soup simmer until beans are cooked through (about an hour or 2) you may need to add a bit more water if your soup is getting too thick as the beans soak up more water.
  4. Enjoy!

Looking for more quick and easy meals to have on hand? Here are a few to try next:

Cheesy Chicken Crescents Freezer Meal Recipe

Homemade Rice Roni Mix

Hamburger Helper Mix

Sloppy Joe Seasoning Mix Recipe

How to Make Make Ahead Meatballs

77 Easy Recipes to Throw Together in the Slow Cooker

div lineMeal Planning Made Simple
Trying to plan better, more frugal meals for your family so that you always have a warm meal on the table and aren’t wasting money at the grocery store? You’ve got to check out my ebook Meal Planning Made Simple. Even if you thought meal planning didn’t work for your family, this ebook will help you find the perfect fit for your family’s style.

div line

 

What are your favorite meals in a jar to make?

merissabio

This Dried Bean Soup Mix Recipe was originally published on Little House Living in January 2015. It has been updated as of January 2020.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Support Little House Living by Sharing This

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




53 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this. This will be a fun project to do with my kids. How long is the soup mix good for once it is assembled in the mason jar?

    1. As long as it’s stored air tight you can keep this for a long long time. I haven’t tested it to know for sure but I know it would be great for well over a year if not much longer. Dried beans store very well. 🙂

      1. this is wonderful ,,,, can’t wait to start….making a list and can you say what type of canning jars??? regular ones? like the one you can buy at walmart?

  2. I was thinking what a lovely gift this would make as well as provide extra food storage too! Your pictures are wonderful! I have printed the recipe and plan to add it to my menu in the future 🙂 Thanks again!

  3. I have done this myself for our “Home Craft Sales”. What fun. Very much appreciated by Mothers “working out of the home”.
    Thank you again.

  4. Our cub scouts are working a unit on foods and nutrition. I will be using this idea to finish off the lesson. Each boy will be able to bring home a jar…imagine how proud he will be when he can say he fixed dinner! Thanks for the great idea.

  5. Melissa,
    Have you ever done this in the crockpot? A lot of times I just put in the night before. A ham hock would be good in this too. Thanks for sharing.

        1. Is there any change in the amount of liquid for using the slow cooker? And by all day do you mean 8hrs or longer?

  6. We love this bean soup, it’s so versatile, you can add whatever type of bean you like as well as seasoning, we like it with a teaspoon of chili powder and rotel tomatoes( I make my own). Serve with hot corn bread and its a meal fit for a king.

  7. Wow, that looks pretty enough to give as a gift! Thank you for this, I am always on the lookout for simple, make ahead recipes!

      1. I made it the other day and only added 1 T raw sugar to it. It was very good! My husband even commented how good it was.
        Also want to try it in the slow cooker. Have read to soak the beans overnight first, drain, rinse, and add to slow cooker. Has anyone tried this?

  8. We are often cautioned to not add anything acidic when cooking dried beans. Because of this I might choose to cook the beans until soft before adding the tomatoes.

  9. Thanks so much for the recipe! A “Must Make” &/or “put together” soon! We’ve been enjoying using beans in so many different things, and this will be an added bonus!
    Thanks!

  10. we got a jar of Dried Bean Soup Mix for Christmas. I made it yesterday in the crockpot. We both LOVED it. The neighbor now cannot find the original recipe. This recipe has all the right beans in it and hopefully it has somewhere close to the right seasoning mix. I put the beans in a

    collander and then placed the collander in a large bowl. I then poured boiling water over the beans, filling the bowl. Let it sit for 45-60 minutes, then drain. I browned one pound of mild Italian sausage while crumbling. Drained all the fat off,then just added everything to the crockpot. I used one 14 oz, can of diced tomatoes and a 14 oz. Can of Italian flavored diced tomatoes. Did not drain the tomatoes. Cooked on high for a little over 7 hrs. Don’t forget to put in the packet of seasoning mix. his makes a 5 qt. crockpot full!!

  11. I made this about a month or so ago and my 14 year old son loves it. I just added ham and made some cornbread. Very delicious and filling. I also added a little cayenne for heat. I wound up making it twice in one week it was such a hit. Thanks for posting.

  12. Thank you. I was just talking to the family today about having an emergency supply of meals in jars (soup, chili, rice, pasta, etc) where all we need to do is add water to make the meal. Living in a rural area you never know when it may be needed. I’d love to see what kind of other “jar meal” recipes you may have.

    1. This would be a great for an emergency meal if you need one in cold weather when you have a wood stove or other fuel handy to cook on, but if fuel is scarce during an emergency the long cooking beans might be impractical. I would use only the peas and lentils with dried carrots and onions and maybe an addition of a small amount of pearl barley. All of those cook much faster than pintos and kidneys, and will make a hearty soup.

  13. I have never been to your blog before and just found it because I have been searching for ways to use up some of last year’s overabundance of beans before planting MORE. I just wanted to say how much I love the look of your blog! Especially the social media links on the eggs. Cute! 🙂

  14. We have got to make up some of this soup!!! It sounds so yummy and I love how you can have it on hand. Thanks for sharing on the Thursday Favorite Things link up 🙂

  15. Hi, Just love your web page. I’m just learning how to can. I have lots and lots of beans and lentils I received from a food bank. I was wondering if I can precook the beans if this recipe would work for long term?

  16. This is such a great recipe and a cute presentation! I did this a few years ago with my MOPS group and we had a great time. We each made 2 jars – 1 to keep and 1 to gift. After cooking mine, I have kept the recipe to continue using because it was delicious! I’m getting ready to soak my beans so we can have this tomorrow.

  17. All the dried beans really look lovely and colourful in the bottles. How will it look after cooking. And the black beans take longer to cook, than the red lentils . Can you please give advice on the end result.
    Thanks

    1. Dried beans last for about a year if they aren’t in a sealed/air tight environment. If you put this in a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber it should last for many years.