This Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey is the best way to use up leftover turkey after the holidays. It’s a hearty meal full of tender beans, vegetables, and smoky Cajun flavor from the Hurst’s HamBeens Cajun 15 Bean Soup mix. The combination of bean varieties, like black beans, navy beans, and baby lima beans, creates a rich base that tastes even better the next day.
I’d like to thank Hurst’s Brand for sponsoring this post.
Why You’ll Love Cajun 15 Bean Soup
This Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey recipe makes the most of simple ingredients to create a bowl of pure comfort food. It’s filled with hearty beans, a delicious Cajun seasoning packet, and leftover turkey for protein.
You can make it on the stove top, in a slow cooker, or as an Instant Pot recipe, and it pairs perfectly with white rice or a slice of Buttermilk Cornbread on a cold day.
You might also enjoy my Crock Pot Chicken Pinto Tortilla Soup.
Ingredient Insights
- Hurst’s Cajun 15 Bean Soup: Brings rich flavor, texture, and perfect Cajun seasoning.
- Leftover turkey: Adds hearty protein and a savory finish.
- Onion, celery, and carrots: Build a sweet, flavorful base for the broth.
- Diced tomatoes: Brighten the soup and balance the spice.
- Chicken stock: Forms a flavorful base; low-sodium works best.
- Olive oil: Adds richness when cooking the vegetables.
- Salt and black pepper: Season lightly near the end.
- Optional add-ins: Try andouille, smoked sausage, ham hocks, or a ham bone.
How to Make Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey
Step One: Rinse the beans in cold water and remove any unwanted debris.
Step Two: Add the rinsed beans, onion, celery, carrots, chicken stock, water, and the Hurst’s Cajun seasoning packet to a 4–6 quart Dutch oven. Stir to combine.
Step Three: Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat. Cover and simmer for about 70 minutes.
Step Four: Check the beans for tenderness. When they’re soft, stir in the turkey and diced tomatoes.
Step Five: Continue cooking for an additional 30–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is hot and the flavors have come together.
Serve with a scoop of rice or bread. For extra flavor, try a splash of Louisiana hot sauce or a dash of liquid smoke. You can find the full printable recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Use the slow cooker: Combine everything except the turkey and tomatoes in your crock pot and cook on low for 5–7 hours. Stir in the turkey and tomatoes at the end of the cook time.
- Pressure cooker method: Cook at high pressure for 40 minutes, then do a quick pressure release before stirring in the remaining ingredients.
- Swap the meat: Use diced ham, smoked sausage, or even leftover honey-baked ham instead of turkey. You should also try my Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Ham!
- Vegetarian option: Skip the meat and use vegetable broth with extra vegetables like green bell pepper or green chiles.
Crissy’s Cajun 15 Bean Soup Tips
- Check the beans early: After about an hour, begin testing for tenderness; cooking times can vary with dry beans.
- Hold off on salt: The seasoning packet adds salt, so taste before adding more.
- Add more liquid if needed: The beans absorb liquid as they cook; add stock or water to loosen it up.
- Spice carefully: A pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper adds heat but can overpower if you use too much.
- Rest before serving: The soup thickens and flavors deepen when it sits, making it even better the next day.
- Add greens at the end: Collard greens or spinach can be stirred in for color and extra nutrition.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze in portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm slowly on the stove top.
Room temperature: Don’t leave the soup out longer than 2 hours before refrigerating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this without turkey?
Yes. It’s also great with smoked sausage or a leftover ham bone. You can also make it without adding any meat. One of the best things about Hurst’s Brand products is that they work well alone! I even have a version of this utilizing ham: Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Ham.
Do I need to soak the beans first?
No soaking is needed. The Hurst’s HamBeens bean mix is designed to cook perfectly with long simmering or pressure cooking.
Can I use my Instant Pot to make Cajun 15 Bean Soup?
Yes. This works well as an Instant Pot recipe. Cook on high pressure, then do a quick release before adding the remaining ingredients.
If you enjoyed this recipe, try my Marry Me Chicken 15 Bean Soup, Crock Pot 15 Bean Soup, or Instant Pot 15 Bean Salsa Chili. They all use Hurst’s HamBeens for the same comforting, hearty flavor that’s perfect for a winter night
Cajun 15-Bean Soup with Turkey
Ingredients
- 1 package Hurst’s HamBeens Cajun 15 Bean Soup
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups leftover Turkey diced
- 1 can diced tomatoes 15 oz.
Instructions
- Rinse and sort through the beans, check for any unwanted debris and discard.
- Add rinsed beans, onion, celery, carrots, chicken stock, water, and Hurst’s Cajun seasoning packet into a 4-6 quart dutch oven, stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover, and continue a medium boil for 70 minutes.
- Check beans for doneness. If beans are tender, add turkey and tomatoes.
- Cook for an additional 30-45 minutes, keep warm until ready to serve.
- Serve with long grain rice or cornbread.
Notes
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Nutrition
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Oooooh this soup is right up my alley. I will definitely be trying this with leftover turkey this November, if not some ham if I’m too impatient to wait till then. It looks amazing ?
Could I just leave this in the crockpot on low all day while I’m at work? Thanks, Jenny