Senate Bean Soup (With a Shortcut)
This is an old-fashioned Senate bean soup recipe with a shortcut that includes tender beans and smoked turkey in a flavorful broth for the most hearty comfort food dish imaginable.
Have you heard of Senate bean soup before? Made with navy beans, ham hocks, and onion, its name originates from the fact it’s been traditionally served in the dining room of the United States Senate daily since the early 20th century. I love this famous soup because it’s simultaneously flavorful, filling, and the ultimate comfort food dish.
But in my mind, it needed to be made a bit more accessible for folks who don’t have all day to soak their beans as you do for my pinto beans and ham recipe. So, this is my shortcut Senate bean soup recipe. Fortunately, it tastes every bit as good as the old-fashioned version. So, wondering what ingredients you need to get your hands on to make Senate soup? It’s simple: lots of navy beans, onion, garlic, celery, butter, chicken broth, instant mashed potatoes, and a smoked turkey leg is the piece de resistance!
The instructions are just as easy. We first cook the turkey leg in the broth, saute the veggies and seasonings in the butter, then combine all the ingredients together. Then we just have to patiently wait for it to simmer and for all the flavors to mingle together before we can serve it to our hungry family! Sometimes it’s the simple flavors that are the best and the combination of the beans, smoked turkey, and flavorful broth will have you coming back for more.
I don’t think you’ll find a saltier, heartier, or thicker soup recipe, which is why this easy Senate bean soup is a favorite in my household. A little goes a long way and leftovers can be reheated and enjoyed for lunch the next day. I mean, say less!
Recipe Ingredients
- Navy beans
- Minced garlic
- Onion
- Unsalted butter or margarine
- Chicken stock/bullion cubes
- Celery
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Smoked turkey leg
How to Make Senate Bean Soup
Place bullion cubes in a pot with six cups of water (or substitute for chicken broth if you prefer) and add the turkey leg.
Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes.
The turkey leg does not have to be covered with water/broth.
Place butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion, celery, and garlic, and saute until lightly brown.
Like this.
Remove turkey leg from broth and dice it up once cool.
Add onion mixture, beans, and diced turkey.
Stir in salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes before serving.
Oh my goodness, glorious comfort food on a chilly day!
I hope you get to make this Senate bean soup soon.
Storage
- Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days and reheat in the microwave.
- It also freezes VERY well for up to 3 months. I took my leftovers and put them in a mason jar, leaving plenty of head space, and froze it to eat later. When it was time, I let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.
Recipe Notes
- Now, you can substitute the instant mashed potatoes for actual mashed potatoes if you prefer. You’ll need to boil 1 large Russet potato and mash it with about 1/2 cup of milk before adding it to the soup. But this recipe is all about shortcuts, so I’ll stick to the instant option!
- Another option is to substitute the turkey leg for smoked ham hocks or a meaty ham bone. You may need to simmer for another 30 minutes to ensure the meat is tender.
- Have a leftover ham bone from Easter? Turn it into Senate bean soup!
- You can really use any type of white beans in Senate bean soup, like cannellini beans or Great Northern beans.
Recipe FAQs
How do you thicken Senate bean soup?
With a thickening agent. In this case, I’m using instant mashed potatoes because they’re the most brilliant soup thickener. Another option is to make a slurry by stirring one teaspoon of cornstarch or all-purpose flour into cold water and adding that to the soup. You can continue to use this method a teaspoon at a time until it’s to your desired consistency.
How do you serve Senate bean soup?
Here are some soup serving suggestions:
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives.
- Serve with homemade biscuits, cornbread, or crusty bread.
Can I make navy bean soup in the Instant Pot?
Yes, Instant Pot Senate bean soup is just as simple. Follow Instant Pot directions for cooking the turkey leg and sauteing the vegetables if you like. Then add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot and cook on the manual setting for 45 minutes before releasing naturally.
Check out these other comforting soup recipes:
Creamy Vegetable Soup (Low-Carb Version)
How To Make Chicken Noodle Soup
Taco Soup (The World’s Easiest Supper)
Ingredients
- 4 15-ounce cans navy beans, undrained
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 chicken bullion cubes (6 cups of chicken broth)
- 1 smoked turkey leg
- 1 cup instant mashed potato flakes
- 1 stick margarine or butter (1/2 cup)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Place bullion cubes in a pot with six cups of water (or sub for straight chicken broth instead) and add the turkey leg. Cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. The turkey leg does not have to be covered with broth.4 chicken bullion cubes, 1 smoked turkey leg
- Place butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and garlic, and saute until lightly brown.3 stalks celery, chopped, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 onion, chopped, 1 stick margarine or butter
- Remove the turkey leg from the broth and dice it up when cool. Add instant potatoes to broth and stir. Then add onion mixture, beans, and diced turkey. Stir in salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and reduce heat to simmer for 30 minutes before serving.4 15-ounce cans navy beans, undrained, 1 cup instant mashed potato flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
Nutrition
Gentle reminder: We don’t talk politics on any of my platforms. This post was originally published in 2010 and I updated the photos and the post in 2020.
This recipe was featured in Meal Plan Monday and Weekend Potluck!
Ok, I guess I need to know what a “Prop” stylist does now…lol… I would have loved to have seen your family’s eyes when Miss Poppins started to unload her favors. Did you happen to ask her how long it took her to make all that stuff?… This is a wonderful soup, and I will have it soon as my DH comes home.. its a southern comfort food for me. I didnt know about the potatoes, but from now on, Im keeping some on hand. BTW, did I ever tell you that “BUTTER” is what my husband hauls?…. hehehehe. And we have about 300 lbs of the stuff in 2 extra fridges on our back porch!!!… We give it to the local food banks sometimes when he gets it… and I still have that much.. Oh well. I digress..
Lawd da mercy that looks good!!!!! With some unsweet cornbread…yes mam!!!!
Had to laugh at that one, DJ!
You would not BELIEVE what they do to cornbread in Michigan. It’s downright criminal – or corncakinal.
Hey there,
I am a lifelong southern girl, first half in Alabama (Roll Tide Roll) and the second half in South Carolina (GO Gamecocks!!), I’m not sure where I should spend the last part of my life, but I am certain that the good Lord will see that it is in the South!!
I just wanted to share with you that I was happy to see you using Bush’s beans in your recipe for Senate bean soup. I am sure that you used them because you always have an eye to price. But I was happy for another reason, that is they are truly a Southern bean. I work in engineering and went to the bean “plant” one time for a job. It is nestled in the valley between some small rolling hills in Tennessee and is very much a family business. The home (small mill house) where momma Bush first started canning her vegtables is still there. She actually started canning on the back porch!! How southern is that!! The bean plant with all of it’s buildings and such grew up around the home. There is a small cafeteria that makes home style food and sometimes you see the Bush bean son that does the t.v. commercials. No dog though.
I’m sure that momma Bush would be proud that you used the family bean in your soup, and that you have grown a business around your family just like she did.
Love you girl! I’ll blow a kiss your way the next time I cruise into B’ham, momma an’ ’em still live there, near Hoover and the Galleria.
Jan, you should spend it in upstate SC and pull for Clemson. I’m foriginally from Anderson, SC
A food stylist! I now know what I wanna do for the rest of my life. *puts a tiny dress on a potato and rolls it across the carpet while yelling “Work iiit! Work iiit!”
Dad will love the beans for sure. Will have to make cornbread though. I’ll get a beating if I don’t.
Love ya Kiddo!
Bill…I can’t get that potato “model” out of my mind! You are sooo funny!
LOL!!!
Hey Christy,
I’m a DC native and still live in the area. Dang girl…the “public” can’t eat at the Senate restaurant at the Capitol. I suspect if you contact your senator, they’d probably make an exception for you. 🙂
Used to be that you could tour the Capitol at your own pace. Now there is a Capitol Visitor Center (built underground) and you have to arrange in advance to have the tour (and you will be “screened” before you go).
Let me know if you plan to visit DC. I’d love to show you around.
P.S. One of my Mama’s favorite things in this world (next to chicken and dumplins and nana puddin’) is bean soup and corn bread…she’s from Andalusia, AL.
Yummy! Canned beans are a staple in my pantry.
Seriously Christy. Pinch those pennies elsewhere and start using REAL butter for pete’s sake!!! It’s natural ya know unlike margarine and much better for you and your family, AND you can catch it on sale and freeze it ya know.
Hi – One time I found pork boullion cubes. I bought and used them in my beans. Now I look in every grocery I’m in to try to find them again, but never have. I, too, am put off by the high cost of butter – but nothing beats it. I stock up when it’s on sale and freeze it. It does freeze well. Love this site and these family style recipes.