Could it have Bean any easier?

This time of the year it seems especially hard to eat healthy. School projects, work, family, the list goes on and on. Every one is so busy, who has time to fix a nutritious meal? YOU do! This bean soup has it all. It's flavorful, filling, Super nutritious (a whopping 20g of Protein and 24g of Fiber for less than 200 calories a serving!), cheap, and most importantly, it's Easy. This soup can be fixed on the weekend and eaten throughout the week which means you will be reaching for something healthy instead of calling the local pizza place. Do your taste-buds, waistline and wallet a favor, power up the crock pot and get to cooking. 

No Excuses 16 Bean Soup

-an Anna original

makes 8 servings

Tools

4-6 quart Crock Pot (or you can use the stove if you have one)

bowl

Ingredients

20oz bag of Kroger's 16 Bean Soup Mix, Chicken Flavor (don't have a Kroger? no worries, most grocery stores carry a similar bean soup mix)

1 6oz can of diced tomatos (no added flavors-unless you want)

1 cup cooked chicken, chopped (I love using left over Rotisseri Chicken for an extra flavor burst!)

Directions

1. Soak the beans in 6-8 cups of water overnight or follow the quick soak directions on the back of the bag. 

2. Rinse the beans and place in the crock pot. Add water until there is approximately 2 inches of water over the beans. 

3. Turn the Crock pot on medium and allow to simmer for 3-4 hours or until the beans are soft. Check on the beans every once in a while to add water if needed. 

4. Once the beans are tender, add the seasoning packet that came with the beans, the chicken, and the diced tomatos. Stir and let simmer for another 30min or until the soup is the desired thickness. Salt and Pepper to taste. 

5. That's it! You're Done! Aren't you glad you made time to do something healthy for you? Now go on and Enjoy!

pssst- I add a tiny dollop of sour cream and some shredded cabbage to make it extra special. 

Nutrition Info

makes 8, 1/2 Cup servings

per serving:

Amount Per Serving

Calories 168.5

Total Fat 0.5 g

    Saturated Fat  0.0 g

    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0 g

    Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g

Cholesterol  0.0 mg

Sodium 30.4 mg

Potassium  44.7 mg

Total Carbohydrate   42.9 g

     Dietary Fiber  24.2 g

     Sugars  2.6 g

Protein  20.6 g