Looking to fill up some bellies with a hearty, comforting meal? This six-ingredient slow cooker ham and bean soup is a no-fuss, flavor-packed recipe that warms the soul. It's effortless to make and a great way to use up holiday ham! Soup leftovers taste even better the next day, so don’t be afraid to make a big batch—everyone will want extra helpings.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat slow cooker ham & bean soup
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with ham & bean soup
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose leftovers
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Whether you’re feeding the family or meal prepping for the week, this
slow cooker ham and bean soup is a surefire crowd-pleaser. - Serve this filling soup on a chilly evening any night of the week with some golden cornbread for a complete meal.
- Don’t over-salt your soup—taste it at the end and add extra salt then if you need to.
This
It’s as easy as tossing ingredients into the pot and letting it simmer to perfection while you go about your day!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Smoked ham hocks or ham shanks would work instead of a ham bone.
- You can substitute navy beans for Great Northern beans.
- Replace a cup of chicken stock with beer for a malty depth.
- Make it creamy! Stir in a bit of heavy cream and freshly shredded cheddar cheese at the end for a richer texture.
- Bulk it up with other fun mix-ins: corn and bell peppers add delicious flavor and crunch!
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Add the ham bone and soaked beans to the
Add the onion, celery, carrots, and chicken stock.
After cooking, remove the ham bone and ham.
Shred the ham and return it to the
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- If you forget to soak the beans overnight, the quick-soak method (boiling for 2 minutes, then soaking for 1 hour) will do in a pinch.
- Soaking the beans improves their texture, making 'em taste better than canned. Some experts say soaking beans makes them easier on the tummy, too!
- If you like a thicker soup, mash some beans or let the soup simmer uncovered to reduce the broth.
- Shred ham easily using two forks, or grab a heavy knife and give it a quick chop. Some people even use a food processor to shred meat—just don't overdo it (a few pulses are all you'll need!)
- Wait until the end to adjust the salt since ham and chicken stock are pretty salty already.
Marye's Tip o' the day
The ham bone is the MVP of this recipe—it infuses the broth with rich, smoky goodness. You can ask your deli or a store like Honey Baked for a ham bone if you don't see them in the display or don't have a leftover ham bone to use.
🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat slow cooker ham & bean soup
Soup is a great make-ahead meal because leftovers keep great! Store cooled leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Freeze leftovers in individual portions in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to three months.
Thaw frozen soup in the fridge overnight. Reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally until warmed.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up
Top your soup with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, chopped scallions, or diced avocado for a Tex-Mex vibe. Even just a bit of chopped parsley adds nice color and freshness!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Diced pre-cooked ham works well, though you’ll miss the depth of flavor the bone provides. Add smoked paprika or a touch of liquid smoke to compensate.
Sure, they'll do in a pinch. Of course, you can skip the soaking step if you're using canned beans.
There are plenty of options, depending on how much heat you like. Add cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or a chopped jalapeño.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Look for pre-diced onions, carrots, and celery in your grocery store’s produce section, or use a frozen mirepoix mix. You can also use canned beans rather than dried.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with ham & bean soup
My Buttermilk Cornbread recipe is pure comfort—golden and perfectly tender with a buttery, slightly sweet flavor. It’s the perfect sidekick to ham and bean soup, soaking up every smoky, savory drop.
Keto Broccoli Salad is loaded with crisp broccoli, smoky bacon, cheddar cheese, and a tangy, creamy dressing that's low on carbs but big on flavor. It’s a fresh, crunchy side that pairs perfectly with ham and bean soup.
If you’re a fan of Cracker Barrel’s Southern Cobbler, get ready to fall in love with this quick and easy microwave Mexican Hot Chocolate Cobbler. Ground ancho chiles in the fudge sauce add a sweet-and-spicy kick that’ll have everyone begging for seconds!
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose leftovers
Slow cooker ham and bean soup is easy to transform into something totally new:
- Make a savory pot pie. Thicken the soup with a cornstarch slurry and pour into a baking dish. Cover with biscuit dough and bake 'til golden.
- Use your ham and bean soup as a casserole base. Mix with rice or pasta, then bake with plenty of cheese on top.
- Use thickened soup as a nacho topping with shredded cheese and jalapenos. Think of it as a more nutritious kind of nachos—the kids'll love it, and you'll love not needing to stress over dinner!
- Make it into a new soup. Thicken ham and bean soup with a cornstarch slurry and add lots of cheese and a bag of frozen broccoli florets. Call it "broccoli cheddar soup with ham," and enjoy!
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
I think everyone needs a "back pocket" recipe for those times that the month is just a little longer than the paycheck. This is the recipe I keep in my own back pocket!
It's so good and comforting - it's just as delicious when you're on top of the world.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 ham bone with ham, or 2 smoked ham hocks
- 2 cups ham cubed
- 1 pound dried great northern beans, rinsed
- 1 cup carrots, sliced
- ½ cup celery, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 6 cups chicken stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak beans overnight in cold water to cover.
- Drain and rinse. Set aside.
- Spray slow cooker with no stick cooking spray
- Place ham bone in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Add beans, carrots, celery, and onion.
- Cover beans and ham bone with chicken broth.
- Cook on high for 6 to 8 hours until beans are tender.
- Take ham bone out of the pot and remove all ham.
- Shred or dice ham and return it to the pot.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Notes
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- If you forget to soak the beans overnight, the quick-soak method (boiling for 2 minutes, then soaking for 1 hour) will do in a pinch.
-
- If you like a thicker soup, mash some beans or let the soup simmer uncovered to reduce the broth.
-
- Wait until the end to adjust the salt since ham and chicken stock are pretty salty already.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Divagirl says
Could I use pinto beans in place of the Northern beans?
Marye says
Sure.That works great.