My Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup is a hearty, protein-rich meal loaded with beans, leafy greens, and a savory broth. It’s economical, high in fiber, and makes a satisfying, healthy dinner any night of the week.
Beans are an inexpensive source of protein and fiber, and when combined with vegetables and broth they become a nourishing, comforting soup that’s great for meal prep and family dinners.
Healthy Recipe for Navy Bean Soup
This Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup begins with sautéed onion, carrot, and celery in olive oil, then adds beans and broth and finishes with kale for color and nutrition. The result is a flavorful, balanced bowl that’s both filling and wholesome.
Bean Soup Recipe
The recipe is versatile. Use dried navy beans, cannellini, or great northern beans—each is low glycemic and a good source of iron. Choose the bean you prefer or have on hand; the method works well across varieties.
I hope you enjoy this healthy comfort food as much as we do.
Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried navy beans, soaked 8 hours
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped
- 6 cups beef bone broth or vegetable broth
- 1 bunch kale, stems removed and coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
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Drain and rinse the soaked beans and set aside.
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Set the Instant Pot to sauté and heat the olive oil.
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Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, 5–10 minutes until softened and lightly browned.
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Stir in the celery, carrot, drained beans, and broth.
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Lock the lid and set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 20 minutes.
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Allow pressure to release naturally, or use a quick release if short on time.
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Stir in the kale and ketchup, season with salt and pepper, and mix well.
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Simmer for 2–3 minutes until the kale wilts and flavors meld.
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Serve hot.
Equipment
A quick note about using ketchup: I sometimes add a small amount of ketchup instead of tomato paste because a bottle of ketchup is often already open in the refrigerator. It adds depth and a touch of sweetness without wasting a partial jar of tomato paste.
How to Make Navy Bean Soup
This soup works well with baby spinach or kale. Either green adds nutrients and color; choose the one you prefer or have available. Both are excellent with the beans and broth.
How to Prepare Instant Pot Beans
To reduce compounds that can cause digestive upset, soak dried beans overnight, then drain and rinse before cooking. My method—soaking followed by pressure cooking—helps make beans easier to digest for many people.
Soaking Dry Beans
Soak beans overnight, then drain and rinse. Different beans and older beans may require longer cooking times, so test for tenderness: properly cooked beans should mash easily between your fingers.
Why Do Beans Cause Gas and Digestive Distress?
Beans that are undercooked or very old can be harder to digest and more likely to cause gas. If beans seem firm after pressure cooking, return them to pressure for additional time until they’re soft and easily mashed.
How to Cook Navy Beans
Not all beans cook at the same rate. If your beans are older or denser, add extra pressure-cooking time—often an additional 10 minutes will do the trick—before adding greens and seasonings.
Instant Pot Bean Soup
If you prefer, you can use canned white beans to skip the soaking step. Add two cans of drained beans near the end of the cooking process, bring to a simmer on the stovetop, and cook a few minutes to blend flavors. Canned beans are convenient but typically more expensive than dried.
How to Use the Instant Pot
When using an Instant Pot, start with the sauté function to soften aromatics, then switch to high-pressure cooking for beans. Familiarize yourself with your model’s controls and natural vs. quick release; practice makes the appliance easy and reliable.
Vegetarian and Budget-Friendly Options
This soup is naturally high in fiber and protein from the beans. Use vegetable broth or water instead of bone broth to make it vegetarian. Dried beans are much more budget-friendly than canned, making this a great recipe for healthy eating on a budget.
Fiber and Gut Health
Beans are an excellent way to boost fiber intake, which supports gut health and regularity. Including soups like this one in your rotation helps increase dietary fiber in a delicious, approachable way.
More Soup Ideas
Instant Pot Navy Bean Soup is a nutritious, budget-friendly option that fits well into a healthy eating plan. If you enjoy low-carb or comforting soups, try other favorites such as gluten-free Thai coconut chicken, chicken noodle with veggie noodles, or low-carb matzo ball soup.
What’s your favorite soup? Leave a comment and share what you’d like to see next. This recipe was first shared in 2020 and remains a reliable, nourishing meal for busy cooks.