TikTok Viral Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Smoked Turkey and Collard Greens (Crockpot Recipe)
This TikTok Viral Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Smoked Turkey and Collard Greens is a hearty, flavor-packed crockpot dinner made with tender beans, smoky turkey, Cajun seasonings, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a whole stick of butter. Serve it as a comforting soup or, my personal favorite, spoon it over fluffy white rice with a big piece of buttery cornbread on the side!
My Boyfriend Was Cheating on Meโฆ With Other Food Creators!
Okay, I have to tell you how this recipe came about because I still cannot get over it. My boyfriend was all excited about this viral 15 bean soup he saw on TikTok. He was telling me how amazing it looked and how he was going to make it in the crockpot. And I said, โExcuse me? Are you CHEATING ON ME with other food creators?!โ Well, apparently he was!ย
Here I am, making recipes for a living, and this man is scrolling TikTok watching somebody ELSE make dinner! But hereโs the thing. For my boyfriend to see a recipe online, get excited enough to buy the ingredients, and actually make it himself in the crockpot? That told me everything I needed to know. People WANT to make this soup. So naturally, I had to investigate. He made the original version he saw, and it was good. But I knew I could make it even better. I started thinking about what I would change, what ingredients I would add, and how I could make it taste like something that had been cooking in somebodyโs Southern grandmotherโs kitchen all day long. And let me tell you something. I DID IT!
I made my version with smoked turkey, Cajun 15 bean soup mix, fire-roasted garlic tomatoes, collard greens, a few extra seasonings, and, of course, a whole stick of butter. And according to my boyfriend, mine is a hundred times better! Now, I donโt know who the original TikTok creator was, but whoever you are, thank you for inspiring my boyfriend to make dinner. Because now weโve got one of the best crockpot meals Iโve made in a long time. And although everybody calls this a soup, I actually prefer to serve mine over white rice. Oh my goodness. MAKE IT!
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What to Serve with TikTok Viral 15 Bean Soup: Rice and Cornbread!
Now, hereโs something else I noticed about this viral TikTok recipe. Everybody seems to be serving their 15 bean soup with a big old piece of cornbread! And listen, I am NOT mad about that. Cornbread is absolutely delicious with this soup because you can dip it right into that smoky, buttery Cajun broth. But Iโm going to tell you something. I actually prefer to serve mine over a big scoop of fluffy white rice. And if you want to serve it with rice AND cornbread? Even better!
I have some absolutely delicious cornbread recipes on my website that would be perfect with this soup, especially my Honey Butter Cornbread and Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread.
Why Youโll Love This TikTok Viral 15 Bean Soup
- Itโs packed with flavor.ย The smoked turkey, Cajun seasoning, chicken base, and onion soup mix create an incredibly rich, savory broth.
- Itโs a crockpot dinner.ย Once the beans are properly prepared, the slow cooker does most of the work.
- Smoked turkey makes it special.ย You get that wonderful smoky flavor without using ham hocks.
- The collard greens cook right in the pot.ย No separate pan or complicated preparation.
- Itโs budget-friendly and filling.ย Beans, greens, and rice stretch into a hearty family meal.
- Itโs delicious several ways.ย Serve it as soup, over rice, with cornbread, or with both rice and cornbread!
- The leftovers are incredible.ย The flavors continue developing as everything sits together.
What Is Cajun 15 Bean Soup?
Cajun 15 bean soup is a hearty bean soup made with a mixture of dried beans, Cajun spices, vegetables, and often some type of smoked meat.
For my recipe, I used a 20-ounce package of Hurstโs HamBeens Cajun 15 Bean Soup Mix. And when I tell you there are a lot of beans in this bag, I mean it looks like every bean in the world is in there! The package also comes with a Cajun seasoning packet, which weโre absolutely using. I combined those beans with the classic Southern trinity of celery, green bell pepper, and onion, along with garlic, smoked turkey, collard greens, and a few ingredients that make this soup extra flavorful. The result is a rich, smoky, buttery bean soup with tender greens and meat that practically falls off the bone.
Click Here for my favorite crockpot!
I used this bag of shredded pre-washed collard greens.
I used smoked turkey drumsticks for this recipe that were already cut into sections because thatโs what my Publix had available. However, if you can find whole smoked turkey legs, I actually prefer those because theyโre easier to remove at the end and you have fewer individual bones to deal with.
Open your package of Cajun 15 Bean Soup Mix and remove the seasoning packet. Set that seasoning packet aside because youโll be using it in the recipe. Sort through the dried beans to remove any debris, then rinse them. Place the beans directly into your crockpot and cover them with several inches of water. Cover and let them soak overnight.
Here are some of my favorite ingredients that bring this recipe over the top!
Boil your beans and transfer them back into the crockpot. Important:ย Do not cook the beans in their overnight soaking water. Add smoked turkey drumsticks or whole smoked turkey legs. I used smoked turkey drumsticks
Add the trinity and garlic. This combination of celery, bell pepper, and onion is often called the Southern or Cajun trinity.
Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning packet that came with your beans and Tonys creole seasoning.
Add in the Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base.
Pour in your Huntโs Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic.
Shake in the apple cider vinegar.
Pour in the low sodium chicken broth.
Take your bag of shredded collard greens, give them an extra rinse, and start adding them right into the crockpot. I bought mine already washed and shredded because Iโm all about convenience up in here!
You might look at that giant bag of greens and wonder how in the world theyโre all going to fit. Donโt worry! Just gently push as many greens into the crockpot as you can without overfilling it. Add in your butter, cover the crockpot, and let it cook.
This step is important! As the smoked turkey cooks, the meat becomes incredibly tender and practically falls right off the bone. You shouldnโt even need to shred it. Carefully remove the turkey bones from the crockpot using tongs.ย
Click Here for my Large Checkered Cutting Board shown above!
More Delicious Comfort Soup Recipes!
Melissaโs Tips!
- Donโt Skip Soaking the Beans. Soaking dried beans overnight helps hydrate them and can reduce the cooking time. I love soaking mine right in the crockpot insert because itโs convenient. Just make sure to drain and rinse them the next morning and complete the boiling step before slow cooking.
- Use Smoked Turkey Legs if You Can Find Them. I used 2.75 pounds of Stahl-Meyer Smoked Turkey Drumsticks from Publix. Mine were already cut into sections. They worked beautifully, but if I had the choice, Iโd use whole smoked turkey legs because theyโre easier to remove and have fewer cut bone pieces to check for.
- Donโt Worry if All the Collard Greens Donโt Fit. A 32-ounce bag of collard greens looks enormous! But they cook down significantly. Add what comfortably fits, keep the rest refrigerated, and add the remaining greens as the first batch shrinks.
- Buy Pre-Shredded Collard Greens. This is one of my favorite shortcuts. I used WP Rawl Farms Shredded Collard Greens, which come triple-washed. I still gave them an extra rinse. If you prefer fresh whole collard greens, wash each leaf thoroughly, remove the thick center stems, stack the leaves, roll them tightly, and slice them into thin ribbons.
- Be Careful with Extra Salt. Between the smoked turkey, Better Than Bouillon, Lipton onion soup mix, Cajun seasoning, and butter, this recipe already has plenty of salty ingredients. Taste the finished soup before adding more salt.
- Adjust the Spice to Your Preference. The Cajun bean seasoning already adds flavor and some heat. I added just a little Tony Chachereโs. If you like things mild, leave out the extra Creole seasoning. If you love spice, add more to taste.
- Donโt Forget to Remove the Bones. The smoked turkey becomes so tender that the meat can fall directly off the bones. Carefully check the entire pot before serving.
- Add More Broth if Needed. Beans absorb liquid as they cook, and this recipe contains a generous amount of collard greens. If your soup becomes thicker than you like, stir in additional hot low-sodium chicken broth or water. If youโre serving it over rice, I actually love a slightly thicker consistency!
๐ค Common Questions
For this crockpot recipe, I recommend soaking the beans overnight. Soaking helps them hydrate and cook more evenly. Because the mix contains kidney beans, donโt skip the separate vigorous boiling step before slow cooking.
Raw or undercooked kidney beans contain naturally occurring lectins that can cause illness. A slow cooker may not reach a sufficiently high temperature to destroy them reliably. Thatโs why this recipe includes a vigorous boil in fresh water before the beans go into the crockpot.
Absolutely! Smoked ham or a meaty ham bone can add wonderful flavor to bean soup.
However, I specifically love the smoked turkey in this version because it creates such a delicious smoky broth.
Yes! Wash the leaves thoroughly, remove the tough stems, and chop or slice the leaves into smaller pieces. I used pre-shredded collard greens because theyโre convenient and save so much preparation time.
TikTok Viral Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Smoked Turkey and Collard Greens
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Remove and reserve the Cajun seasoning packet. Sort and rinse the dried beans. Place in the crockpot insert, cover with several inches of water, and soak for 8โ12 hours overnight. Drain and rinse.
- Transfer beans to a large pot of fresh water. Bring to a vigorous rolling boil for at least 30 minutes. Drain.
- Transfer the boiled beans to the crockpot. Add the smoked turkey drumsticks or whole smoked turkey legs.
- Add celery, green bell pepper, onion, and chopped garlic.
- Pour in 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth. Add Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base, Lipton Onion Soup Mix, the reserved Cajun seasoning packet, and a light shake of Tony Chachereโs, if desired. Gently mix.
- Stir in the fire-roasted garlic tomatoes and apple cider vinegar.
- Place the rinsed shredded collard greens on top. If all 32 ounces wonโt fit without overfilling the crockpot, refrigerate the remainder and add them as the first batch cooks down.
- Place the entire stick of salted butter directly on top of the collard greens.
- Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 7โ9 hours or HIGH for approximately 4โ6 hours, until the beans are completely tender and the turkey is thoroughly heated. Add any remaining greens during cooking as space becomes available.
- Carefully remove the smoked turkey bones, skin, and cartilage. Return any meat to the soup and check thoroughly for smaller bones.
- Stir, taste, and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve hot as soup, over fluffy white rice, with homemade cornbread, or with both!
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Nutrition
Notes
Optional White Rice
Ingredients- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups water
- Butter, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Bring the water, salt, and butter to a boil.
- Add the rice and return to a boil.
- Cover, reduce heat to very low, and cook for 15โ20 minutes, until tender and the water is absorbed.
- Rest covered for 5 minutes, fluff, and serve with the soup.
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Refrigerate for 3โ4 days or freeze for 2โ3 months for best quality.
