Easy Hearty Soup Freezer Packs
A simple, wholesome soup recipe designed for freezer meal prep and crockpot convenience, featuring fresh veggies, beans, and rich broth for a comforting, hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 8 hours (slow cooker low) or 3 to 4 hours (slow cooker high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes to 8 hours 20 minutes (slow cooker low) or 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes (slow cooker high)
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried beans (navy, cannellini, or kidney), rinsed and picked over or 2 cups canned beans, rinsed and drained
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chopped kale or spinach (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste (add after cooking)
- Optional add-ins: 1 cup cooked diced chicken or sausage, 1/2 cup cooked pasta or rice, fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- If using dried beans, soak overnight or quick-soak by boiling for 2 minutes then letting sit for 1 hour. Drain and rinse well. If using canned beans, rinse and drain.
- Dice onion, carrots, and celery into 1/2-inch pieces. Mince garlic. Chop kale or spinach if using.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine beans, chopped vegetables, diced tomatoes with juice, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Mix well.
- Divide mixture evenly into 4 to 6 freezer-safe zip-top bags. Flatten bags to remove air, seal tightly, and label with date and contents.
- Freeze flat for up to 3 months.
- To cook, thaw overnight in fridge or place frozen in crockpot. Add 6 cups broth to crockpot with thawed pack.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Add salt to taste near end of cooking.
- If using cooked chicken, sausage, pasta, or rice, stir in during last 30 minutes to warm through.
- Ladle soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve.
Notes
[‘Do not add salt before freezing to avoid over-salting; add salt after cooking.’, ‘If soup is too thick after cooking, stir in extra broth or water to desired consistency.’, ‘Use fresh garlic and herbs for brightness; dried herbs hold up well in freezer.’, ‘Cook on low heat for best flavor and texture; avoid stirring too often.’, ‘Thawing overnight reduces cooking time and improves flavor blending.’, ‘Can cook on stovetop for 1 to 1.5 hours if crockpot unavailable.’, ‘Use gluten-free pasta or omit pasta for gluten-free diet.’, ‘Add cooked proteins or pasta near end of cooking to avoid overcooking.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 to 1
- Calories: 20025
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 12
Keywords: hearty soup, freezer meal prep, crockpot soup, easy soup recipe, healthy soup, meal prep, slow cooker, freezer packs