This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Dr Pepper® and Eckrich® All opinions are mine alone. #MyGiantEagleWin

Slow cooker sausage and bean soup, aka Hoppin’ John Chowder, is easy to make and is perfect for college football homegating or tailgating. This one has an indulgent, one of a kind flavor and depth of richness because of a secret ingredient in the sauce, Dr Pepper®. Add the savory flavor of Eckrich® Smoked Sausage and you have a winner!

Overhead view of slow cooker sausage and bean soup with rice in white bowl on white plate with fresh bread and butter
The right ingredient choices can take a recipe from so-so to over the top and the Dr Pepper and Eckrich Rope Sausage do just that.

Homegating for a Crowd the Easy Way

Letterboard with words Schedule Food Football Goal Kick and food for homegating party including sausage and bean soup
This slow cooker sausage, peppers and onions, and rice recipe is great for a crowd, serving up to 18, and because it’s made in a slow cooker, you can prep it beforehand and then just add some munchies like chips, pretzels, and dips, and chill your Dr Pepper so that everything is ready in advance allowing you to enjoy your football homegating or tailgating with friends and family.

Homegating set up with Dr Pepper and homemade sausage and bean soup with rice in blue bowl
Once I planned my menu I headed to Giant Eagle to pick up the ingredients. Store view of ingredients used to make sausage and bean soup in slow cooker recipe
I grabbed some Dr Pepper since it’s always a crowd favorite and I wanted to add it to the slow cooker sausage cassoulet and right now the cans look like mini footballs…honestly, talk about perfect for homegating!

How To Make Slow Cooker Sausage and Bean Soup

3 cases of Dr Pepper - one Diet, one regular, and one diet cheery with two packages of Eckrich smoked sausage - homemade sausage and bean soup with rice in slow cooker recipe

Ingredients:

Overhead view of cans of beans, tomatoes and chiles with lids removed on marble countertop
4 – 15.8 ounce cans black-eyed peas, undrained

2 – 10 ounce cans diced tomatoes 1 small can green chiles, undrained Can of Dr. Pepper being held in hand above slow cooker of ingredients to make sausage and bean soup with rice
1 12 ounce can Dr Pepper

1 – 14 ounce container of beef broth Sliced sausage and Eckrich smoked sausage in package and can of Dr Pepper - homemade sausage and bean soup with rice recipe
2 – 14 ounce packages of Eckrich Smoked Sausage, sliced fresh green pepper and yellow onion on marble countertop

chopped onions on wooden cutting board

1/2 onion, chopped Chopped green peppers on wooden cutting board and marble countertop ready for sausage and bean soup with rice made in slow cooker recipe 1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 family-size package boil in bag rice, uncooked Overhead view of beans in slow cooker pot before making sausage and bean soup with rice

Overhead view of base for sausage and bean soup with beans, fresh vegetables, chiles, and tomatoes added

overhead view of sausage and bean soup with basic ingredients only - no sausage, beans or rice

Overhead view of sausage and bean soup before adding the sausage

overhead view of sausage and bean soup with sausage being added

overhead view of sausage and bean soup in slow cooker.
Combine all ingredients except for the rice into slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours. Rice being added to sausage and bean soup recipe in slow cooker.

Sausage and bean soup with rice in large slow cooker.
Cut top off of boil-in-bag rice and pour into cooker. Stir. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes. Blue bowl with white interior filled with sausage and bean soup with rice.

Serve! AND, right now, Dr Pepper and Eckrich have an awesome sweepstakes going on just for football lovers and homegaters (or tailgaters) like you! For rules and entry details, click here.

  • 10 Grand Prizes each consisting of: Tailgating 10×10 Tent; Portable Speakers; Folding Chairs; 5-Piece Grilling tool Set; Beverage Tubs w/ Serving Tray; Tundra 35 Yeti Cooler; Kirk Herbstreit Autographed Football; Weber Grill.

Slow Cooker Sausage and Bean Soup with Rice

Delicious sausage and bean soup with rice made in the slow cooker - perfect for entertaining!
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crockpot, Sausage and Bean Soup, slow cooker
Servings: 12
Calories: 535kcal
Author: Mary Beth

Ingredients

  • 4 -15.8 ounce black eyed peas, in can undrained
  • 2- 10 ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 4 ounces green chiles 1 small can, undrained
  • 12 ounces Dr Pepper 1 can
  • 14 ounces beef broth
  • 2 14 ounce packages Eckrich Smoked Sausage sliced
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 14 ounces white rice uncooked, boil in bag

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients except for the rice into slow cooker and stir. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
  • Cut top off of boil-in-bag rice and pour into cooker. Stir. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes.

Collage of 3 pictures - one of sausage and bean soup in slow cooker, one of sausage and bean soup in bowl with bread and butter, and ingredients to make sausage and bean soup.