Senate Bean Soup made in the Instant Pot gets dinner on the table fast. Loaded with ham, beans, & veggies – it’s “good for you” comfort food.
This hearty, comforting soup is a meal in a bowl. The dish has roots in the U.S. Senate’s tradition of serving soup during legislative sessions when it was often made with beans as a protein source and vegetables from the garden.
Not only is this a traditional American recipe, but it is a hearty, healthy soup that is perfect for cold winter days.
I first learned about this soup this past summer when my son was working in the Senate. He had the opportunity to dine in the Senate dining room with the Senator he was working for. He ordered this soup, fell in love with it, and then made sure to tell me all about it later that day.
I started looking for different versions of the recipe online and there are a lot of them. Since I was short on time, I decided to take the inspiration from what I was finding but then turn it into a “dump and go” type recipe for the pressure cooker.
I know I don’t have time to tend to a soup on the stovetop all day and you probably don’t either. This one is simplified and delicious.
senate navy bean soup recipe
Here are some commonly asked questions
Where did Senate Soup Originate?
While there are several stories about where the soup came from – since we are in Idaho, our favorite story involves Senator Fred Dubois of Idaho. It is said that he requested the soup to be served back in the early 20th century.
That recipe includes mashed potatoes and makes a massive 5-gallon batch. My son says that the version they serve in the Senate dining room today doesn’t include the mashed potatoes but is made with a braised onion.
This version is a little bit of this and that so I could get it to cook quickly and adapt easily for the pressure cooker. I didn’t want to have to soak the beans or add in any other steps that would make the soup complicated. I think Senaor Dubois would still love this version of the famous soup. It is a wonderful meal.
How to store leftovers?
This soup is easy to store. Just place the leftovers in an airtight container and keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this soup for up to 3 months.
instant pot senate soup
Can this be made on the stovetop?
Yes, you can make this on the stovetop. Just follow the instructions using a stockpot, large kettle or large pot over medium heat on the stove. Work as written up to step 4. Then instead of covering and setting the pressure, you will just let it simmer on the stove for about an hour – stirring occasionally.
How to Thicken Senate Bean Soup
If you want this soup to be thicker you can do a couple of different things. First and probably the easier option is just to increase the mashed or instant potatoes you are adding to the mixture.
The second is adding a cornstarch slurry to the soup. You can do this by whisking together a 1/4 cup of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and then stirring it into the soup.
senate soup
Ingredients for Senate Bean Soup
- yellow onion – chopped
- celery – chopped
- carrots – chopped
- olive oil
- vegetable stock
- diced ham
- granulated garlic
- pepper
- salt
- white beans – drained and rinsed (any type of white beans)
- Roasted Garlic Flavored Instant Mashed Potatoes
Toppings
- parsley
- bacon
- chives
- cheese
NOTES FOR THE BEST SOUP
- You can use a ham bone in place of the diced ham if desired.
- 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes or 1/3 cup instant potato flakes can be used in place of the flavored version called for.
- Any variety of stock can be used.
- You can use water instead of broth
- Change up the chopped vegetables
- Reheat over low heat
- You can add or reduce the beans so you have enough beans to your liking.
- Try with a smoked turkey leg in place of the ham
- Use cannellini beans or white navy beans
Can this be made in the slow cooker?
Yes, actually you can make this U.S. Senate Bean Soup in the slow cooker. You will need to saute the veggies in a skillet. Then add them to the slow cooker along with the stock, ham, beans, and seasonings. Then just cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 3-4 hours. When you have about a half-hour before you are ready to serve, add the potatoes and stir.
senate navy bean soup
How to Make Senate Bean Soup in the Instant Pot
- Combine the chopped onion, celery and carrots with the olive oil in the Instant Pot insert.
- Heat on the saute setting, stirring frequently until the veggies start to soften.
- Press cancel.
- Add the stock, ham, granulated garlic, pepper and salt.
- Cover and set the valve to sealing.
- Cook on manual pressure for 8 minutes.
- Natural pressure release for 15 minutes.
- Once the pin has dropped, remove the lid and press cancel.
- Add in the beans and mashed potatoes packet. Stir.
- Turn on the saute setting again and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Stir before serving.
senate bean soup recipe
What size Instant Pot do you use for this recipe?
I am currently using an 8-quart pot, but this recipe can be made in the 6-quart pot too. If you have one of the smaller versions (3-quart mini), I recommend cutting this recipe in half.
Here are my favorite Instant Pot Tools and Accessories!
- Instant Pot
- Non-Stick Instant Pot Insert with Silicone Lid
- Accessory Set
- Glass Lid
- Sealing Rings
- Silicone Egg Bites Mold
- Large Mesh Steamer Basket
- Complete Cook & Bake Set
If you love this easy soup recipe, you’re going to love these other dinners too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
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Senate Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion – chopped
- 2 stalks celery – chopped
- 2 carrots – chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 cups vegetable stock
- 16 ounces diced ham
- 2 tsp granulated garlic
- 2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 31 ounces white beans – drained and rinsed (2 cans – any type of white beans)
- 4 ounce packet Roasted Garlic Flavored Instant Mashed Potatoes
Toppings
- parsley
- bacon
- chives
- cheese
Instructions
- Combine the chopped onion, celery and carrots with the olive oil in the Instant Pot insert.
- Heat on the saute setting, stirring frequently until the veggies start to soften.
- Press cancel.
- Add the stock, ham, granulated garlic, pepper and salt.
- Cover and set the valve to sealing.
- Cook on manual pressure for 8 minutes.
- Natural pressure release for 15 minutes.
- Once the pin has dropped, remove the lid and press cancel.
- Add in the beans and mashed potatoes packet. Stir.
- Turn on the saute setting again and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Stir before serving.
Notes
- You can use a ham bone in place of the diced ham if desired.
- 1 cup leftover mashed potatoes or 1/3 cup instant potato flakes can be used in place of the flavored version called for.
- Any variety of stock can be used.
Equipment
- 1 pressure cooker
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
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