Rainbow Bean Soup Mix gives you a hearty homemade soup starter in one jar, bag, or vacuum-sealed pouch. Layered dried beans and a simple seasoning packet turn pantry staples into a filling pot of soup with very little fuss later.
This mix combines dried red beans, Great Northern beans, dried peas or lentils, and black beans for color, texture, and a little more interest than the usual one-note bean jar. It also makes a practical pantry staple or budget-friendly gift, especially if you want something useful instead of another dust-collecting trinket.
Because this is a dry mix, it keeps best in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. For best quality, plan to use it within 12 months, which is a conservative estimate based on the dried herbs and seasonings in the packet. Once cooked, the finished soup is just regular leftovers, so refrigerate it promptly and use it within 3 to 4 days. If you’d like another variation for your pantry shelf, take a look at Mexican Bean Soup Mix or Italian Bean Soup Mix. For the cooked soup, the USDA recommends using leftovers within 3 to 4 days, which is the safest window to follow here.
Rainbow Bean Soup Mix Recipe
You’ll Need:
- 1/2 cup dried red beans
- 1/2 cup Great Northern beans
- 1/2 cup dried peas, yellow split peas, or lentils
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon powdered lemonade mix with sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Layer the beans in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum bag. In a small packet, combine the dried minced onion, beef bouillon granules, parsley, basil, powdered lemonade mix, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano. Seal the seasoning packet and place it in the container with the beans, then close the container tightly and attach the cooking directions.
To Use:
Remove the seasoning packet and set it aside. Rinse the beans, place them in a large microwave-safe dish, and cover with water 1 to 2 inches above the beans. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 10 minutes, rotating the dish after 5 minutes. Drain and rinse the beans well, then place them in a large pot with 4 cups water, 1 can of crushed tomatoes, and the seasoning packet. If you’d like a meatier soup, you can also add 1 small can of chopped ham. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender.
This mix makes about 12 cups of soup, or roughly 6 generous 2-cup servings. Serve it with cornbread, crackers, or a hunk of homemade bread if you want to stretch it into a full meal. If you like bean soups with a little more kick, Tortilla Soup with Black Beans is another good one to keep in rotation.
Store the dry soup mix tightly sealed in a cool, dry cupboard for up to 12 months for best quality, estimated. Once cooked, cool the soup promptly, refrigerate it in a covered container, and use it within 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze the cooked soup for up to 3 months for best quality.
A small pinch of powdered lemonade mix may look odd on paper, but it adds a little acidity and brightness that helps round out a long-simmered bean soup without making it taste like lemonade. Strange little pantry trick, yes. Effective one, also yes.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Rainbow Bean Soup Mix
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dried red beans |
$1.98 |
1/2 C. |
$0.20 |
|
Great Northern beans |
$1.68 |
1/2 C. |
$0.17 |
|
Dried peas |
$1.24 |
1/2 C. |
$0.16 |
|
Black beans |
$0.72 |
1/2 C. ≈ 1 count ≈ 1.5 cup(s) |
$0.24 |
|
Dried minced onion |
$1.08 |
1 T. |
$0.10 |
|
Beef bouillon granules |
$3.48 |
1 T. |
$0.15 |
|
Dried parsley flakes |
$1.24 |
1 T. |
$0.13 |
|
Dried basil |
$1.24 |
1 t. |
$0.07 |
|
Powdered lemonade mix with sugar |
$3.24 |
1 t. |
$0.02 |
|
Chili powder |
$1.24 |
3/4 t. |
$0.03 |
|
Garlic powder |
$1.24 |
1/2 t. |
$0.02 |
|
Pepper |
$2.48 |
1/2 t. |
$0.03 |
|
Dried oregano |
$1.24 |
1/2 t. |
$0.03 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$1.35 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.23 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
Frequently Asked Questions about Rainbow Bean Soup Mix
You can, and it works well. Lentils cook a bit softer than split peas, so the finished soup will be slightly thicker and less chunky, but the mix still holds up just fine at the same simmer time.
No, but it does speed things up. That 10-minute microwave soak jump-starts the dried beans so they cook more evenly later, which is handy when your mix uses more than one type of bean in the same pot.
It adds a small hit of sweetness and acidity, which brightens the tomatoes and balances the earthy beans. You only need 1 teaspoon, so it should round out the flavor, not make the soup taste fruity.
Absolutely. The bouillon and herbs already give the soup savory flavor, so the ham is optional rather than structural. If you skip it, taste the soup near the end and add a pinch more pepper if it needs a little backbone.
They should mash easily when pressed with a spoon and shouldn’t feel chalky in the center. If one bean type is still firm, keep simmering in 10 to 15 minute increments and add a splash of water if the pot starts looking too thick.
Yes, but pre-soaking or the microwave quick-soak still helps with a mixed-bean blend like this. After soaking and rinsing, cook it on low for about 7 to 8 hours or on high for about 4 to 5 hours, then check for tenderness before serving.
Usually it comes down to age, not stubbornness for sport. Older dried beans can take much longer to soften, and hard water can slow them down too, so keep simmering gently and add more hot water as needed instead of cranking the heat.
You can, as long as your pot is big enough. Double the beans, seasoning packet, water, and tomatoes in the same ratio, then allow extra time for the pot to come up to a boil before you reduce it to a simmer.
Go with something simple that soaks up broth well, like cornbread, biscuits, toast, or saltines. If you want to stretch dinner on the cheap, add a basic green salad and call it done.
Use a jar with a tight-fitting lid, a vacuum-sealed bag, or a heavy food-safe bag with as much air pressed out as possible. The goal is simple: keep out moisture, pantry odors, and little crunchy freeloaders that were not invited.
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🖨️ Print-Friendly Rainbow Bean Soup Mix
Rainbow Bean Soup Mix
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried red beans
- ½ cup Great Northern beans
- ½ cup dried peas yellow split peas, or lentils
- ½ cup black beans
- 1 Tbsp dried minced onion
- 1 Tbsp beef bouillon granules
- 1 Tbsp dried parsley flakes
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp powdered lemonade mix with sugar
- ¾ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
Equipment
Instructions
- Layer the dried red beans, Great Northern beans, dried peas or lentils, and black beans in a large cone-shaped bag, jar, or vacuum bag.
- In a small packet, combine the dried minced onion, beef bouillon granules, parsley flakes, basil, powdered lemonade mix, chili powder, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.
- Seal the seasoning packet and place it in the container with the beans.
- Seal the container tightly and attach the cooking directions.
- To prepare the soup, remove the seasoning packet and rinse the beans.
- Place the beans in a large microwave-safe dish, cover with water 1 to 2 inches above the beans, cover loosely, and microwave on high for 10 minutes, rotating after 5 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the beans well, then place them in a large pot.
- Add 4 cups water, 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes, and the seasoning packet.
- Add 1 small can of chopped ham (optional), if desired.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Makes about 12 cups of soup.
Recipe Size Alteration
💡 If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cook time.
Notes
Estimated cost covers the dry mix only and does not include water, crushed tomatoes, or optional chopped ham added when the soup is cooked.
Dry mix shelf life is estimated at up to 12 months in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for best quality.
Cooked soup should be refrigerated promptly and used within 3 to 4 days.
