Skip to Content

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

This Pinto Bean Soup is Rich, smoky a little bit spicy and super filling! It will have everyone banging the table for more! You’ll be kitchen rockstaring it on into fall with this one!

Pinto Bean Soup is the perfect magic combination between traditional chili and southwest flair that will have everyone in your family asking for MORE MORE MORE!

Two square white bowls of pinto bean soup recipe with a spoon

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

  • It is EASY!
  • You can make this in the crockpot, on the stove top or in the oven? How about that?
  • Simply open a few cans, add a dash of this and that and BAM, you are done!
  • It is ready when you are!

WHAT IS PINTO BEAN SOUP?

Pinto Bean soup is a simple mix of your favorite ingredients all rolled into one delicious bowl! Made with the ever humble pinto bean and mixed with a perfect balance of sweet, spicy and salty.

OTHER PINTO BEAN RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE

The Secret to Perfect Old Fashioned Pinto Beans

How to Cook Pinto Beans on the Stovetop

How to Cook Canned Pinto Beans

Two small square bowls with orange striped towel and two spoons for pinto bean soup recipe

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

WHAT SHOULD I SERVE MY PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH?

To sprinkle on top:

  • Chopped Onions
  • Shredded cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Parmesan Cheese sprinkles
  • Corn Chips
  • Garlic Salt

For people to sprinkle over the top.

To go with…,

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention trying some of this Pinto Bean Soup with INSERT LINK TO OTHER BIG SITES.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR PINTO BEAN SOUP (FAQ)

Lots of questions and variations for folks, so let’s get to those…

CAN I FREEZE PINTO BEAN SOUP?

Yes, of course you can freeze your soup. After it is cooked, simply place it in a freezer bag, seal well and place in the freezer for heating up later.

HOW DO I REHEAT THE PINTO BEAN SOUP?

If frozen:

  • Thaw the pinto bean soup by soaking the freezer bag full of frozen soup in a large bowl of warm water or Thaw in the microwave and then…

On the stovetop:

  • Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat in a saucepan

In the microwave:

  • You can reheat individual bowls of pinto bean soup in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl for one minute and then repeat at 30 sec. Intervals until heated through.

In the oven:  

  • Place in an oven proof container and reheat at 350 for 30 minutes.
An overhead view of two square bowls of pinto bean soup recipe with a spoon on a wooden background

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

HOW LONG DOES PINTO BEAN SOUP KEEP?

  • If you keep pinto bean soup refrigerated, it will be good for about 5 days.

PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH CHICKEN

  • You can substitute the ground beef for chicken if you like that better. It’s easiest if you use roasted chicken from the grocery store.

PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH BACON

  • Use 4 slices of thick bacon that you have cooked in a frying pan, break into pieces and add to the pinto bean soup!

PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH HAM

  • If you prefer ham rather than ground beef, simply substitute the same amount of cooked ham for the ground beef.

PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH A HAM HOCK

  • Add a big ol ham hock right in there, it will be delicious!

HOW DO I THICKEN PINTO BEAN SOUP?

If you prefer the pinto bean soup to be thicker, you can do one of two things…

  1. Allow to cook on the stove top with the lid off of the pan and eventually the watery goodness will evaporate off.
  2. In a small bowl add 2 Tbs of corn starch to 2 tbs of cool water. Mix until it is thin and looks like milk. Add this to the bean soup, stir well and wait 20 minutes and the pinto bean soup will thicken right up!

TO COOK THIS PINTO BEAN SOUP ON THE STOVE TOP…

  • Follow the instructions through browning the meat then place everything in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until heated through. Allow to simmer for an hour or more for more flavor.

TO COOK THIS PINTO BEAN SOUP IN THE OVEN…

  • Follow the instructions through browning the meat and then place everything in a dutch oven with the lid on and cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 2 hours.

WHAT CAN IS SUBSTITUTE FOR PINTO BEANS?

For this recipe the best substitutions are:

  • Cannellini Beans
  • Navy Beans
  • Kidney Beans

PRO TIP:

  • This pinto bean soup is best if allowed to cool and then to rest in the refrigerator overnight. No kidding. You will be SHOCKED at how much better it can taste if left alone till the next day. That’s the problem, no one will want to leave it alone that long though!
  • Add an extra can of beans and a 4.5 ounce can of chopped green chilis to expand the recipe and make it go farther.

LET’S TAKE A PEEK AT THE RECIPE FOR PINTO BEAN SOUP WITH PHOTOS

First gather your ingredients.

The crockpot and all of the ingredients for this pinto bean soup recipe

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

  1.  Brown your onions, garlic, celery and meats
  1. A photo of a pan of burger with celery and onions

    Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

    Put everything in the crockpot, set it on high and come back in 4 hours or set it on low and come back in 8 hours.

A crockpot of pinto bean soup ready to cook

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

The final product

a small square bowl of pinto bean soup recipe from the side with two spoon handles in the front and another bowl in the background

pinto bean soup recipe

YA’LL HELP ME OUT NOW, YA HEAR?

Please leave me a 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟  comment below in the comment section, all right? I would LOVE to know if you made this recipe or even if you are planning to! Of course, head on over to Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram and tag me with some photos of your creation!

I can’t wait!

Ya’ll know I love your comments!! ❤

THE RECIPE FOR PINTO BEAN SOUP

bean soup

Pinto Bean Soup Recipe

This is an easy pinto bean soup recipe that can be made in the crockpot, on the stove top or even in the oven.  Your family will go wild over it!
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Save Rate
Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: pinto bean soup recipe, pinto bean soup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 300kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 onion minced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 stalk celery cut into small pieces
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 lb pork sausage
  • 1 15.5 oz Pinto Beans Can
  • 1 14.5 oz Diced Tomatoes Can fire roasted garlic are especially good
  • 1 10 oz Rotell Tomato and Green Chilis use hot if you like a hotter soup
  • 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp if regular table salt
  • 1 tsp black ground pepper
  • 1 4.5 oz chopped green chillis
  • 4 tbsp molasses
  • 1 tbsp chicken stock concentrate 4 bouillon cubes if you don't have concentrate
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp tumeric
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  • Brown the onions, garlic and celery in 2 tbs vegetable oil over medium heat in a skillet. When soft (in about 3-4 minutes) add the ground hamburger and the ground pork sausage to the onion mix and cook over medium heat till browned (another 3-4 mins)
  • Add the hamburger and onions mix to a crockpot and then add everything else to the crockpot and stir well.
  • Cook in the crockpot on low heat for 8 hours or high heat for 4 hours.

Notes

  • Serve with sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese and corn chips or serve over pasta or rice. Add garlic salt if needed. Garnish with chives. You can also cook on the stove top in a large sauce pot - heat over medium heat until heated through. (an hour)
  • If you prefer not to use Pinto beans then cannellini or navy beans work great.  Kidney beans will also work. 
  • You can substitute brown sugar for the molasses if needed
  • Substitute chicken boullion cubes for the broth concentrate if you need to. 
  • You can substitute chicken or ham for the ground beef. 
  • Another nice way to kick this up is to add crispy bacon either on top or allow it to cook with the soup.  Adds smokiness
  • If you just want smokiness and not the bacon, add a few drops of liquid smoke.  Be careful, that stuff is very strong. 
  • Add an extra can of beans and a 4.5 ounce can of chopped green chilis to expand the recipe and make it go farther.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Pinto Bean Soup Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 300
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

 

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

Recipe Rating




Judy

Tuesday 20th of December 2022

The soup is presently in the instant pot finishing up. The molasses worried me at first, but the broth tasted amazing before I put the lid back on. Dinner should be ready in another few minutes.

Wendi Spraker

Wednesday 21st of December 2022

I'm glad you liked the broth and I hope they turned out just perfectly for you. I love that slightly sweet hearty flavor from the molasses.

Moxie

Friday 26th of October 2018

I made this today! Wonderful!

15585

Want My 9 Secrets to Immediate Kitchen Confidence?