Ham And Bean Soup Recipe

This old fashioned ham and beans recipe pairs tender white beans with smoky ham for true, homemade comfort. It’s an easy, delicious way to use leftover holiday ham.

After you’ve made a tasty, gorgeous spiral ham, the next question is: what will you do with the bone? This slow cooker ham and bean soup will make the most of the ham bone and any ham leftovers.

Ham and beans are often called ham and bean soup or navy bean soup. The reason this soup is so popular is because its absolutely divine! When you slow cook a leftover spiral ham bone with white beans, it unlocks so much flavor – its smoky, savory, and even has a touch of sweetness.

The best part, it only takes a few steps to make this hearty, budget-friendly ham and bean soup. Your whole family will thank you.

This is the best ham and bean soup for any cooking level because it’s just so simple. Here’s what you’ll need to make it. Ingredient amounts are in the recipe card below.

ham and bean soup recipe

Ham and Bean Soup

ham and bean soup recipe

Old-fashioned ham and beans recipe made with navy beans and smoked ham using a crockpot or stove for true, homemade comfort. Ham & bean soup is an easy, delicious way to use leftover holiday ham or smoked ham hock.

Prep: 5min

Total: 365min

Yield: 10

Serving Size: 1 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 cup, calories 163 kcal, Carbohydrate 30 g, Protein 10 g, Fat 1 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Sodium 254 mg, Fiber 12 g, Sugar 3 g, unSaturated Fat 2 g

Ingredients:

  • 1 (16-oz bag) Dried Navy Beans (about 2 1/2 cups, sorted and rinsed)
  • 1 Ham Bone (or smoked ham hock)
  • 1/2 large Onion (diced (1 cup))
  • 1 large Celery Rib (diced (1 cup))
  • 5 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme (or 3 fresh sprigs)
  • 1 teaspoon Sea Salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 6 cups Water
  • 1 large Carrot (diced (1 cup))

Instruction:

  1. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘(recommended) Soak beans overnight in 8 cups water. Then drain and discard the liquid. See footnote for unsoaked beans.’, ‘name’: ‘(recommended) Soak beans overnight in 8 cups water. Then drain and discard the liquid. See footnote for unsoaked beans.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-0-0’}
  2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘Crockpot Instructions (see stove instructions below)’, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Add NAVY BEANS, HAM BONE, ONION, CELERY, GARLIC, THYME, SALT, and BLACK PEPPER to a slow cooker.’, ‘name’: ‘Add NAVY BEANS, HAM BONE, ONION, CELERY, GARLIC, THYME, SALT, and BLACK PEPPER to a slow cooker.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-0’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Add enough WATER to cover the beans by 1 inch.Note: You can always add more water later if you like ham and beans with extra broth.’, ‘name’: ‘Add enough WATER to cover the beans by 1 inch.Note: You can always add more water later if you like ham and beans with extra broth.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-1’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Set the slow cooker on LOW heat for 6 hours.*ATTN: Timing may vary. Please see recipe footnote about final cook time.’, ‘name’: ‘Set the slow cooker on LOW heat for 6 hours.*ATTN: Timing may vary. Please see recipe footnote about final cook time.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-2’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘At around the 5 hour mark, stir in CARROTS and continue cooking another hour (or more as needed) until carrots and beans are soft to your liking.’, ‘name’: ‘At around the 5 hour mark, stir in CARROTS and continue cooking another hour (or more as needed) until carrots and beans are soft to your liking.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-3’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘When beans are done, transfer ham bone out of the pot and strip any edible ham from it. Sift and discard any small bone pieces or gristle from the soup.’, ‘name’: ‘When beans are done, transfer ham bone out of the pot and strip any edible ham from it. Sift and discard any small bone pieces or gristle from the soup.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-4’}, {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘If you prefer a creamy soup, use a potato masher to mash some of the beans right in the pot. This will immediately thicken the broth. Add shredded ham back to the soup and serve warm.’, ‘name’: ‘If you prefer a creamy soup, use a potato masher to mash some of the beans right in the pot. This will immediately thicken the broth. Add shredded ham back to the soup and serve warm.’, ‘url’: ‘https://thekitchengirl.com/ham-and-bean-soup/#wprm-recipe-48093-step-1-5’}]}

Ham and Bean Soup

ham and bean soup recipe

This hearty ham and bean soup is a perfect recipe for the Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Stove Top. It’s made with navy beans and delicious bites of ham and carrots in a thick and flavorful broth!

Prep: 10min

Total: 190min

Yield: 13

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 212 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 13 g, Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Sodium 540 mg, Fiber 9 g, Sugar 3 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 small yellow onion (diced)
  • 2 cups ham (diced. (equal to two 8 oz. ham steaks.))
  • 2 cups carrots (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 ham bone (see notes for alternatives)
  • 1 lb. dried Navy beans (rinsed)
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 sprigs thyme

Instruction:

  1. *Add a little additional water or broth if the soup ends up thicker than you’d like.
  2. Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems and serve!
  3. Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems and serve!

Navy Bean Soup Recipe | Ham and Bean Soup

FAQ

What kind of beans do you put in ham soup?

dried navy beans – Or small white beans or great northern beans. ham bone with meat – I used the bone from my orange glazed spiral ham but a smoked ham hock from any grocery store will work too. You can even use chopped ham from deli meat.

How to make thicker ham and bean soup?

How Do You Thicken Ham and Bean Soup? Adding cornstarch or flour to the ham and beans soup is a good way to thicken it. To do this, stir 3 tablespoon of all-purpose flour or cornstarch into 1 cup of liquid (broth or water) until smooth. Then, add it to the soup and keep cooking the soup until it thickens.

Why does my ham and bean soup taste bland?

Not Adding Acid. If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

What if my bean soup needs more flavor?

A small amount of an acidic ingredient like lemon juice added at the end of cooking brightens flavors, especially in long-simmered bean soups or rich meat-based soups. Start with a little bit of acid, taste and adjust, until your soup tastes balanced and bright.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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