Hearty & Comforting Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup: The Ultimate Recipe for Leftover Ham
There’s nothing quite like a steaming bowl of homemade soup to warm you from the inside out, especially on a chilly evening. And when it comes to classic comfort food, few dishes hit the spot quite like Ham and Bean Soup. This recipe isn’t just hearty and incredibly satisfying; it’s also a wonderfully resourceful way to transform leftover holiday ham into a rich, flavorful meal that everyone will love. Forget complicated cooking techniques – our easy slow cooker method ensures deep, developed flavors with minimal effort, making it perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.
For many, a perfectly Baked Ham is a staple for festive occasions, gracing tables during holidays like Easter, Christmas, or even a special Sunday dinner. While the main event is always delicious, the culinary magic truly begins with the leftovers. Instead of letting that delicious ham go to waste, this Ham & Bean Soup provides an incredible second act. It’s an economical, nutritious, and incredibly tasty solution that brings new life to your holiday feast.
One of the best-kept secrets to an exceptionally flavorful ham and bean soup lies in the ham bone itself. If your leftover ham comes with a bone, whatever you do, don’t discard it! Adding the ham bone to your slow cooker while the soup simmers slowly infuses the broth with an unparalleled depth of smoky, savory flavor that simply can’t be replicated with just diced ham. It’s a simple step that elevates the entire dish, transforming a good soup into an extraordinary one. The slow cooker works its magic, gently extracting all the goodness from the bone, creating a broth that is rich, aromatic, and incredibly comforting.
Why Choose the Slow Cooker for Ham and Bean Soup?
The slow cooker is an absolute game-changer for this recipe. Its low and slow cooking method is ideal for breaking down dried beans until they’re perfectly tender and for extracting maximum flavor from the ham and vegetables. This “set it and forget it” approach means you can toss all your ingredients into the pot in the morning and come home to a house filled with the enticing aroma of a home-cooked meal. It’s perfect for those who want delicious, wholesome food without standing over the stove all day. The extended cooking time also allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a more cohesive and richer taste experience compared to quicker stovetop methods.
Key Ingredients for a Delicious Ham & Bean Soup
Crafting a truly memorable Ham and Bean Soup starts with a careful selection of ingredients. While the core components are simple, each plays a vital role in building the soup’s robust flavor profile. Here’s what you’ll need to create this comforting classic:
- Beans: The foundation of our soup! We’ll dive deeper into bean choices below.
- Leftover Ham: Diced into bite-sized pieces, this provides the star protein and savory base.
- Onions, Carrots, Celery (Mirepoix): These aromatic vegetables are essential for building a flavorful broth. They soften beautifully in the slow cooker, lending a subtle sweetness and depth.
- Garlic: Adds a pungent, aromatic kick that complements the savory ham.
- Chicken Broth: The primary liquid component, providing a rich background for the other flavors.
- Tomato Sauce: A small amount adds a touch of acidity and umami, balancing the richness of the ham.
- Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning, though remember to taste before adding too much salt, as ham can be quite salty.
- Ham Bone (optional, but highly recommended): As mentioned, this is your secret weapon for an incredibly rich broth.
Choosing the Right Beans: From 15-Bean Mix to Single Varieties
You’ve likely come across the popular 15 Bean Soup mix in the dried bean aisle. This blend is a fantastic choice for Ham and Bean Soup, offering a delightful variety of textures and flavors in every spoonful. The “15 Bean” bag often comes with a small seasoning packet, which you can absolutely incorporate into your soup for an extra layer of flavor. The diversity of beans in these mixes—ranging from navy, pinto, black-eyed peas, kidney, lima, and more—contributes to a wonderfully complex and satisfying soup.
However, the beauty of this recipe is its versatility when it comes to beans. While a multi-bean mix is excellent, you’re certainly not limited to it. You can opt for a single variety if you prefer, such as Great Northern, navy, cannellini, or pinto beans. Many enthusiasts swear by using all white beans for a more classic ham and white bean soup. The choice is truly yours, based on your preference for taste and texture. Just ensure you use beans you enjoy!
Dried vs. Canned Beans: Preparation Tips
This recipe primarily uses dried beans, which, when properly soaked, yield a superior texture and absorb the soup’s flavors more deeply. You’ll soak them overnight to rehydrate them and reduce cooking time. However, if you’re short on time, canned beans are a perfectly acceptable substitute. Just be sure to drain and rinse them thoroughly before adding them to the slow cooker to remove excess sodium and any canning liquid. Typically, about three 15-ounce cans of your chosen beans can replace 20 ounces of dried beans.
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Creating this delicious soup is incredibly straightforward, especially with the help of your trusty slow cooker. Follow these simple steps for a truly satisfying meal:
- Overnight Bean Soak (for dried beans): The evening before you plan to make the soup, place your dried beans in the slow cooker pot or a large bowl. Cover them generously with water, ensuring there’s at least an inch or two of water above the beans. Let them soak overnight (8-12 hours) to rehydrate. This step helps the beans cook evenly and reduces overall cooking time.
- Combine All Ingredients: In the morning, drain the soaked beans thoroughly and return them to the slow cooker. Add the chopped ham, the ham bone (if using), diced onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, chicken broth, and tomato sauce. Stir everything together until all ingredients are well combined. If you have a ham bone, place it in the center of the pot.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the low setting for 6-8 hours. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on your slow cooker and the type of beans used. The soup is ready when the beans are wonderfully tender and the flavors have fully melded. The aromatics should be soft, and the broth will be rich and fragrant.
- Season and Serve: Once cooked, carefully remove the ham bone (if used) and any remaining large pieces of fat. The meat from the bone might have fallen off into the soup, which is perfectly fine! Taste the soup and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Remember, ham can be salty, so always taste first before adding more salt. Ladle into bowls and serve hot!
This ham and bean soup is the quintessential hearty dish for chilly evenings. It cooks effortlessly in your slow cooker throughout the day, filling your home with an inviting aroma. Not only are the initial servings incredibly comforting, but the leftovers are also fantastic for a quick and easy lunch the next day. Plus, this soup freezes beautifully, allowing you to stock your freezer with ready-to-eat meals for busy weeks ahead. Serve it alongside warm, crusty bread for dipping or, even better, with a slice of the best cornbread for a truly complete and satisfying meal.
Expert Tips for the Best Ham and Bean Soup
Achieving a truly outstanding Ham and Bean Soup is simple with a few key considerations. These tips will help you maximize flavor and ensure a perfectly seasoned, comforting bowl every time:
- The Power of the Ham Bone: While not strictly essential, a leftover ham bone is a game-changer. It infuses the broth with an incredible depth of smoky, savory flavor that’s hard to replicate otherwise. If you have one, definitely include it in the slow cooker. Don’t worry if you don’t; the soup will still be delicious with just diced ham, but the bone adds that extra layer of richness.
- Strategic Salting: Ham, especially cured ham, is naturally high in sodium. To avoid an overly salty soup, always wait until the very end of the cooking process to add additional salt. Once the soup has simmered all day and all the flavors have concentrated, taste it, and then adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
- Spice it Up (or Keep it Simple): This recipe often relies on the inherent flavors of the ham and vegetables, meaning minimal additional spices are needed. Leftover ham typically brings plenty of seasoning to the table. However, if you’re using a 15-bean mix that comes with a seasoning packet, feel free to stir that in for an extra boost of flavor – it’s often designed to complement the beans perfectly. You could also add a bay leaf, a pinch of smoked paprika, or a dash of cayenne for a subtle kick.
- Wonderful Leftovers & Freezing: This soup is one of those magical dishes that tastes even better the next day! Its flavors continue to deepen as it rests. It’s also an excellent candidate for meal prep and freezing. Allow the soup to cool completely, then transfer it to airtight containers. It will keep beautifully in the freezer for up to a few months, making it perfect for quick, homemade meals whenever you need them.
- Bean Choice Freedom: The type of beans you use is largely a matter of personal preference. While the 15-bean blend offers a fantastic variety of textures and tastes, feel free to use your favorite. White beans (such as Great Northern, cannellini, or navy beans) are a very popular choice for a classic ham and bean soup. The most important thing is to use beans you enjoy eating!
More Great Leftover Ham Recipes
If you find yourself with even more delicious leftover ham after enjoying this soup, don’t worry! Ham is incredibly versatile, and there are countless ways to incorporate it into other fantastic meals. Here are some of our favorite recipes that put leftover ham to excellent use, ensuring nothing goes to waste:
- Ham & Cheese Sliders
- Mushroom & Ham White Pizza
- Ham & Cheese Tortellini
- Creamy Spring Gnocchi
- Split Pea Soup with Ham
- Ham & Cheese Biscuits
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Ham and Bean Soup
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Equipment
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Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 20 oz dried beans, 1 bag of 15 bean soup beans
- 3 cups ham, chopped
- 1 leftover ham bone, optional
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 1 can tomato sauce, (8 oz)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Soak dried beans in the bottom of your crock pot overnight – cover with water according to the package directions. Ensure enough water to fully submerge them, typically about 2-3 inches above the beans.
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In the morning, drain the soaked beans thoroughly and place them back in the crock pot. Add the chopped ham, the ham bone (if using), diced onion, carrot, celery, minced garlic, chicken stock, and tomato sauce. Stir all ingredients until well blended. Position the ham bone in the center of the pot if using.
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Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 6-7 hours, or until the beans are tender and the flavors are fully developed.
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Carefully remove the ham bone (if used) before serving. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper to your preference. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Feel free to use any type of dried beans you prefer; white beans like Great Northern or cannellini are a classic and delicious choice.
If your 15-bean mix includes a seasoning packet, mix it into the soup at the end of cooking for enhanced flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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