Easy Sausage and Pinto Bean Soup

This delicious sausage and pinto bean soup is so flavorful and perfectly spicy! Ready in just 30 minutes!

As an adult, when I’d visit my dad, he’d often ask if I had any special meal requests. For years my answer was his marinated grilled chicken and then later my answer became his sausage and pinto bean soup. That soup was just so unlike any soup I’d ever had before. Every bite was loaded with sausage, beans, bell pepper, and onion. And it was so spicy! But the good kind of spicy that’s packed with flavor!

My dad’s been gone for almost five years now and it’s surprising to me what memories stick out. I had 40 years with him so there are a lot of memories to choose from. But of course our brains can’t store every single shared interaction or experience so most fade over time. I find it interesting what memories do stick around. Some are obviously important moments but others might seem trivial. Yet they stay. I suppose that means they’re not so trivial after all.

I think about the sound his cowboy boots would make clicking on the floor when he walked in a room. That sound would arrive before he would. I think about all the hours we spent on a softball field together and that he made me a pitching mound in the backyard so I could practice at home. I think about how we watched old movies together and he’d cry at every single Shirley Temple movie (because they always involved her being separated from and then reunited with her father). I think about how fun he was, always up for a beer, a baseball game, or a joke. I think about how well he loved my kids. I especially think about the relationship he had with my son, his first grandchild. They didn’t have each other for long enough. I think about all the times we went fishing and camping. I think of the one time it was just the two of us fishing. We left home before the sun came up and spent hours playing cards while we waited for the fish to bite. I have no idea if we caught anything. I just remember the cards and the quiet time together without anyone else.

And as trivial as it may seem I think about how I once asked him to make his sausage and bean soup when I was coming to visit. Instead of just having the soup waiting for me (which he did) he also had two gallon freezer bags of it for me to take home.

I loved that soup and I really loved my dad.

My original intention was to publish his recipe as he had written it, but when I first made it I realized perhaps I shouldn’t. It requires multiple large pots and makes way more soup than most people would ever want. No wonder he gave me those gallon bags! It also uses dried beans which considerably increase the cook time. I ultimately decided to rework the recipe so it’s faster, uses less dishes (just one pot!) and yields a normal amount of soup. I tested and retested over and over again in order to really compare the finished flavor of his soup versus my modified version. It was so important to me that they taste the same and they truly do.

I consider this recipe a love letter to my dad, a very good man and an incredible father. I hope you enjoy this soup as much as I do.

Easy Sausage and Pinto Bean Soup Ingredients

• Olive or avocado oil: A little bit of oil helps us sauté the onion and celery until tender. I recommend extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil but you can use any oil you’re comfortable cooking with.
• Andouille sausage: Chicken, beef, turkey, or pork sausage are all delicious in here. No need to use a spicy sausage because the cajun seasoning we’re flavoring our soup with will provide plenty of heat.
• Onion: White or yellow onion both work well.
• Celery: Celery is considered an aromatic along with onion and garlic, meaning it adds aroma and flavor to dishes. The taste of the celery itself won’t stand out, but it works with the other aromatics to add extra flavor that is especially appreciated in soups and stews.
• Garlic: Minced garlic has a pungent and delicious flavor. You can mince your own fresh garlic or use a jarred variety.
• Chicken or vegetable stock: Chicken stock, chicken broth, or vegetable broth can be used in this easy soup recipe. I use chicken stock because that’s what I tend to have on hand.
• Canned pinto beans: We’re using four cans of canned pinto beans in this soup.
• Canned diced tomatoes: I recommend fire-roasted diced tomatoes if available in your grocery store.
• Bell pepper: Any color bell pepper will work but I like a green bell pepper in this soup.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds an earthy flavor.
• Green onion: I like to top this soup with chopped green onion for a bit of crunch.
• Seasonings: Cajun or creole seasoning, salt, and black pepper are the only spices we’re using to flavor the broth.

How to Make Easy Sausage and Pinto Bean Soup

Add oil, sliced sausage, onion, celery, and bell pepper to a soup pot. Sauté on medium high heat, stirring frequently, until onion is tender and sausages have a little browning. Then add minced garlic and sauté until golden in color, about one minute.

Reduce heat to a low simmer, medium or medium-low heat. Add all remaining ingredients except for the green onions and cilantro to the pot. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until everything is warmed through and flavors have had a chance to marry.

Taste and add more salt if desired. Stir in chopped green onion and fresh cilantro.

Is This Soup Spicy?

Yes, this soup has some heat thanks to the generous amount of cajun seasoning we’re using!

How to Store Leftovers

Want to enjoy this soup recipe the next day or later in the week? Leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop on low to medium heat until warmed through. You can also reheat in the microwave after thawing.

This is also a great recipe to freeze! Store in a freezer safe container like a freezer bag. After thawing add it to a pot on the stove over low to medium-low heat, stirring frequently, or reheat in the microwave. Feel free to double this recipe so you have plenty to freeze.

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