Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup is a family favorite in our winter meal rotation. Tender beans, salty ham, aromatic veggies… this soup is so good! It's an effortless, hearty meal. Just throw the beans, ham, veggies, and herbs in the slow cooker and let everything simmer away!
Jump to:
I know a new soup recipe is going to be a family favorite in our house when around hour 3 of cooking it, the kids start saying, "Is dinner ready yet? That smells so good!" This one is a hit.
Try these other easy ham recipes next! You're going to love these Ham Sliders, Potato Soup with Ham, and Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Why You'll Love This Bean Soup With Ham Recipe
- Easy to Make: The prep for this soup is stress-free! The slow cooker does all the work for you once you get it going.
- Budget-Friendly: This crockpot bean soup is a great way to use up leftover ham and pantry staples.
- Healthy and Comforting: This ham and bean soup with canned beans is comfort food at its finest, and it's nutritious, too! Plenty of protein and fiber make this a nourishing meal.
Ingredients
- Cooked Diced Ham: This is a great recipe to make after a big holiday dinner featuring ham. If you have a leftover ham bone from a baked ham, throw it in for extra flavor! You can also ask your local butcher for ham bones or ham hocks to add to the soup. You can also use leftover turkey instead of ham!
- Yellow Onion, Carrots, Celery, and Garlic: Mirepoix veggies and minced garlic give the soup a flavorful base.
- Great Northern Beans: In this recipe, I use three 15-ounce cans of great northern beans, drained and rinsed. They add creaminess to the white bean soup with ham. You could also use navy beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, or a bean mix.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Since the ham adds a lot of salt, I prefer using low-sodium broth. Chicken is my favorite, but beef or vegetable broth would also work.
- Dried Thyme, Rosemary, Parsley and Mustard: A combination of dried thyme, dried rosemary, dried parsley and dried mustard adds tons of flavor to this soup.
- Paprika: For a smoky flavor to complement the ham.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a hint of sweetness to balance out the flavors.
- Bay Leaf: Two leaves are all you need for some added herbiness and depth to the soup.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Add Some Heat: If you like spicy foods, add a can of Rotel tomatoes with chilies, sliced jalapeno, or cayenne pepper to the bean soup recipe with ham.
- Add Extra Veggies: Throw in leftover veggies like squash, green beans, corn, peas, kale, spinach, or extra carrots.
- Greens: Add spinach, chopped kale, or Swiss chard towards the end of cooking. The residual heat in the soup will wilt it.
- Vegetarian: Skip the ham and use vegetable broth instead. You may want to add more smoked paprika, a drop or two of liquid smoke, and more of the seasonings to boost the flavor a bit.
How to Make Ham and Bean Soup in the Crock Pot
Here's how to make bean soup with ham. It's amazingly easy- truly a "dump and go" recipe!
- Step 1: Chop ham into bite-sized pieces and add to the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, beans, thyme, Rosemary, parsley, black pepper, paprika, ground mustard, brown sugar, and chicken broth to the slow cooker and stir until well combined. Then, place the bay leaves on top.
- Step 3: Cover and Cook. You'll want to cook on the low setting for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. Remove the bay leaves and stir before serving!
Hint: Thickness and Texture
For a thinner consistency, add one extra cup of broth or water. For a thicker consistency, mash some of the beans, add pureed veggies, or add a roux or cornstarch slurry. Each method will adjust the flavor a bit.
Expert Tips
- Storing and Reheating: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat the dish on the stovetop or in the microwave on medium heat for 30-60 second intervals until it is heated through.
- For Extra Rich Flavor: Infuse the broth with a leftover ham bone. The more meat there is on it, the meatier the flavor will be. You can also use ham hocks or ham shanks.
- If You Have an Extra 10 Minutes: Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic on the stovetop first before adding them to the Crock Pot. This gives an even better flavor to the old-fashioned ham and bean soup made in the slow cooker.
Serving Suggestions
This easy bean soup made in the slow cooker goes well with bread or your favorite side dish. Here are some ideas to inspire you.
- Serve with crockpot cornbread or crusty bread for dipping.
- Enjoy your bowl of soup with buttermilk biscuits and a kale salad or simple green salad.
- Top with cheese like cheddar or Monterey Jack for extra flavor.
- Pair it with more veggies like cooked collard greens.
- After dinner, treat the family to a delicious dessert of slow cooker bread pudding or this gooey chocolate lava cake.
More Delicious Bean Dishes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below. Then follow me on Facebook and Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in my Facebook Group.
Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked ham chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 3 teaspoons garlic minced
- 3 (15 ounce) cans great northern beans drained and rinsed
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Chop ham into bite-sized pieces and add to the slow cooker.
- Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, beans, thyme, Rosemary, parsley, black pepper, paprika, ground mustard, brown sugar, and chicken broth to the slow cooker and stir until well combined. Then, place the bay leaves on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours or until the carrots are fork-tender.
- Remove bay leaves and stir before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the Consistency: Add an extra cup of broth or water if you prefer a thinner consistency. If you want it thicker, you can mash some of the beans, add pureed veggies, or add a roux or cornstarch slurry to thicken the soup.
- Richer Flavor: Feel free to add a leftover ham bone, ham hocks, or ham shanks for extra flavor. You can also saute the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic on the stovetop before adding them to the crockpot for even better flavor.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
Ryan Allen says
If you love hearty and flavor soups this recipe is for you. I love to add leftover ham bones or turkey from the holidays.