What could be more comforting than a bowl of homemade Ham and Potato Soup?
In this easy recipe potatoes and chunks of leftover ham are simmered in a rich creamy broth with a handful of veggies. It’s pure comfort food.
This is an easy recipe with simple ingredients and lots of flavor!
An Easy Soup Recipe for Leftover Ham
Every time I make a baked ham, I look forward to leftover ham recipes! I use every bit of it including the bone for a ham bone soup and everything from ham casserole to… you guessed it, this creamy ham and potato soup!
- This soup uses simple ingredients but is cozy and creamy.
- The potatoes can be swapped for leftover mashed or scalloped potatoes (reduce simmering time if they’re already cooked).
- It keeps in the fridge for a few days and reheats well for lunches or quick meals.
Ingredients and Variations
This recipe is simple but sometimes it’s great to be able to use what you have on hand.
POTATOES We love russet potatoes in this recipe for their starchy texture but Yukon gold is another great choice. You can also add some (or all) sweet potatoes. Once softened, the potatoes are slightly mashed to thicken the soup a bit, don’t worry about the ham chunks.
Use up leftover roasted, mashed or scalloped potatoes in this recipe! Leftover veggies like green beans and carrots are great additions too.
HAM Leftover ham works well or you can purchase a single ham steak at the grocery store and cube it. Smoked sausage or even ground sausage are great substitutes in this recipe.
To use bacon, fry a few slices of bacon and remove from the pot. Leave the bacon fat in place of butter to cook the veggies. Add crispy bacon to the top of the soup when serving.
BASE The base of this soup starts with chicken broth (because I prefer the flavor) but vegetable broth can be substituted. The addition of light cream adds creaminess while keeping the calories in check. You can swap it out for evaporated milk or even a bit of heavy cream if you’d like. Sour cream adds great flavor.
How To Make Ham and Potato Soup
I often make a crock pot potato soup which simmers all day however this version is quick to prepare for a weeknight meal.
- Melt butter and cook the onions until tender.
- Add remaining ingredients, except dairy (per the recipe below). Simmer over medium-low heat until potatoes are tender
- Mash some of the potatoes, add cream and simmer a few minutes more. Stir in sour cream and serve.
Garnish with fresh parsley if you’d like and serve with a slice of homemade bread or some rolls.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t mash too many of the potatoes, the soup should have some potato and veggie chunks for texture.
- Use leftover mashed potatoes and cooked carrots from your ham dinner if you’d like.
- Add the sour cream last, simmering can cause it to change texture so stir in at the end until heated through.
- Cheddar cheese can be added. Stir in a cup or so of your favorite just before serving. (Don’t boil the cheese, it can curdle or become grainy.
How to Thicken Ham & Potato Soup
For a thicker soup, combine equal parts cornstarch and water. Pour a little at a time into the simmering soup to reach desired thickness. This soup can also be thickened by adding some potato flakes.
For a thinner soup, add additional chicken broth.
Leftovers & Freezing
Ham and Potato Soup should keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. The completed soup with the dairy shouldn’t be frozen as dairy doesn’t freeze well.
- Ham and potato soup can be frozen before adding the dairy. Simply remove a portion of the soup before adding the dairy. Stir in the cream and sour cream before serving. Note that the potatoes can change texture slightly when frozen/defrosted.
- Reheat leftovers on the stovetop over medium heat without letting the soup boil. Top with your favorite garnishes before serving!
Potato Soup Toppings
There are so many options when it comes to dressing this soup up and making it really special.
- Try chopped chives or green onions and a dollop of sour cream….yum!
- Try adding some bacon crumbles and caramelized onions (or french fried onions)!
- Homemade croutons or crostini with shredded cheese on top…so delicious!
- Hot sauce or chili flakes always make things interesting!
Any way you choose to serve it, this soup-er recipe is sure to please! ;) Bon Appetit!
Potato Soup Variations
- Baked Potato Soup – rich & creamy soup!
- Creamy Potato Soup – with bacon & cheese!
- Sweet Potato Soup – hearty & heartwarming
- Quick Potato Corn Chowder – loaded with fresh veggies
- Potato Leek Soup – easy and elegant
- Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup – so easy to prepare!
Ham and Potato Soup
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 cups potatoes diced, about 3 large potatoes
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups ham diced
- 1 large carrot chopped
- 1 stalk celery sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons parsley
- ½ teaspoon thyme leaves
- pepper to taste
- 1 cup light cream or half and half
- ½ cup sour cream
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Cook onion in butter in a soup pot until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients except cream, sour cream, & cornstarch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Using a potato masher, mash some of the potatoes in the pot add cream and simmer an additional 5 minutes.
- Combine the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and stir into the soup and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Stir in sour cream and serve warm.
Notes
Cheese can be added along with the sour cream. Remove from the heat and stir in until melted. For a thicker soup, combine equal parts cornstarch and water. Pour a little at a time into simmering soup while whisking to reach desired thickness. For a thinner soup, add additional chicken broth.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
This soup recipe is SOOO good!! We made two pots of it in one weekend because it was so delicious.
Great soup
I am so glad you enjoyed this soup recipe Maryanne!
Super easy and quick! Huge hit!!!!!
So glad you loved it!
Fantastic way to use up leftovers. This soup is delicious. I used up our cheesy leftover scalloped potatoes from ham dinner too as suggested in the recipe and it turned out great!
Growing up in the 40’s , we ate a lot of soup. Our potato soup was very similar, we also had bean soup. Instead of cooking the potatoes, mom would make mashed potatoes and serve the soup over the potatoes, also did so with bean soup (ham and bean). Many ways to serve and not so expensive.
I love a thick soup over mashed potatoes too, such a great comfort food!
Its really a nice recipe and mouth watering.
Turned out pretty good. I think maybe alittle less parlsey my husband loved it.
So glad you enjoyed it, Patricia.
Whole family loved this soup, husband declared it a staple dinner for this winter. Thank you!
So glad your family loved this Sarah!
This is super yummy. I didn’t use the dairy at the end since I’m lactose intolerant. My husband loved it too and suggested putting navy beans in next time. Great recipe for using leftover ham!
Navy beans are a great idea! Great to hear you and your husband enjoyed it!
This recipe looks quite delicious. I’m lactose tolerant, though. Think I could use coconut milk in place of the light cream?
We have only tried this recipe as written, but I think that coconut milk should work, Jeanne!
This soup is super yummy. I wanted something different for dinner and this soup hit the spot.
What’s the 3 tablespoons of butter for?
Hi Danielle, you can use the butter in place of olive oil to cook the onions. :)
Wow I can’t wait to try this out! This is perfect for a cold day, I will try this out this weekend. Pinned!