Got some leftover Christmas ham? Turn it into a tasty ham bone soup.
This effortless recipe is filled with ham, beans, and vegetables. Just throw everything in the slow cooker and let it work its magic.
Serve it with some easy dinner rolls or homemade bread for the perfect anytime meal!
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An Easy Soup for a Leftover Ham Bone
We love soups around the holidays and this ham bone soup tops the list.
- This ham bone vegetable soup recipe is easy to make.
- No need to run to the store; you probably have all the ingredients already!
- Add the ingredients to your CrockPot (or Instant Pot) let it do its thing
- This recipe can also be cooked in a dutch oven on the stovetop or in an Instant Pot.
- This recipe can be frozen for quick meals.
Ingredients in Ham Bone Soup
Ham Bone: A ham bone (or smoked ham hock) provide the base for the soup and add a lot of flavor. Save the bone from your holiday ham or spiral ham (just toss it in the freezer until you’re ready).
Broth: Use broth (or broth and water) to create the liquid base for this ham bone soup recipe. You can also add in leftover gravy or homemade turkey or chicken stock to boost the flavor. Ham is salty so be sure to use low-sodium or no-sodium broth.
Beans: Canned beans make this easy but you can certainly rehydrate and cook dried beans if you prefer.
Vegetables: Fresh or frozen vegetables can be added. Use vegetables you have leftover from your turkey dinner, such as sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, corn, carrots, squash, and more. If they’re already cooked, stir them in for the last 30 minutes of cooking to heat through so they don’t get mushy.
Other Uses For a Leftover Ham Bone
- Remove most of the meat from the bone to use in leftover ham recipes. but leave a little on the bone for flavor.
- Save the bone in the freezer until you’re ready to make soup (use right from frozen).
- Before serving, remove the bone from the soup and pick off any remaining meat. Add the meat back to the soup and discard the bone.
- Note: the bone should not be used for more than one soup as it won’t have enough flavor left.
Try using it in ham and bean soup or split pea soup.
How To Make Ham Bone Soup
This is the best ham bone soup, and since it is made in a slow cooker, all you really need to do is a tiny bit of prep.
- Dice, chop and slice your veggies.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook until the vegetables are tender.
- Remove meat from the bone and add it back into the soup.
It really is one of the simplest soups you will ever make. Enjoy!
Hearty & Savory Soups
Did you enjoy this Ham Bone Soup? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 meaty ham bone
- 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes diced, peeling optional
- 3 medium carrots sliced
- 2 ribs celery sliced
- 1 cup frozen corn kernels thawed
- 15 ounces canned cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 7 cups chicken broth or water
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the onion in butter in a small skillet over medium heat until slightly softened.
- Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 6 hours or on low for 9-10 hours.
- Remove ham bone, bay leaves and thyme stems (if using fresh thyme).
- Chop meat from the bone and add back into the soup. Stir and serve.
Notes
- The size of your ham bone or the amount of meat on the bone can add more or less flavor.
- Use a smoked ham hock if you don’t have a ham bone.
- Add leftover gravy or homemade stock for extra flavor.
- Replace canned beans with soaked beans. This will increase the cooking time.
- Add leftover vegetables from your turkey dinner, such as sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, corn, carrots, squash, during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
- The ham bone should not be used for more than one soup
- Store leftovers in the fridge in a covered container for up to 4-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course, Soup
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This is an incredibly easy, delicious recipe! When it was ready, I ladled out some of the beans and vegetables, blended them and then poured it back into the soup to add thickness. Amazing flavor!
Thank you Ellin! Great idea for thickening the soup.
I made the ham and bean soup tonight. It was absolutely delicious!
I made the potatoes separately, using some of the juice from the crock pot, just enough to cover the potatoes, in a separate pot.
I added the potatoes at the end of cooking time, only because I prefer the potatoes a little firm. Perfect!
Very good! Just like the photo. Campbells cream of chicken for broth + water. Used frozen and cold veggies to speed prep. Green beans subbed for navy beans. Crock pot on low 12 hours. Perfect.
I made this soup today with the ham we had for Christmas. It was easy to make and very delicious! I would make this again another time I have a ham bone.
I used this as a guide to make ham and bean soup in my pressure cooker. I put everything but the beans and canned corn into my pressure cooker for 25 minutes. I let it naturally release the pressure for 20 minutes and then did a quick release. I took the bone out and put in the beans and corn. It turned out so good.
Really wonderful – and frankly much better when we reheated it after refrigerating it overnight! Thank you.
Glad you think so Neil!
This recipe was exactly what I was looking for.
The only thing I did different was I added garlic salt and used white northern beans. I also made corn bread to go along with it. Delicious!
That sounds delicious Anissa!
This sounds delicious! I usually save my ham bone (with plenty of meat on it) to make a delicious Pea Soup w/Ham. I’m anxious to try your recipe with beans, as well.
I liked this recipe a lot. I hate it when people post a positive review when they didn’t actually follow the recipe (which is what I am doing). However, this recipe is flexible and forgiving. I will be the first to admit I am not a good cook, so I usually follow recipes to the letter.
I wanted to use up some various leftovers. I had some corn, and a partial bag of frozen mixed vegetables so I used them. I also added cabbage. As called for in the recipe I added carrots, celery, onion and potato and beans.
I only had one box of chicken stock so I used 1/2 water and added Better than Bullion to taste. This was actually good because I have to watch my sodium intake.
I have not decided yet if I want to add some pureed tomato. It’s really good as it is and I would hate to ruin it.
Those sound like delicious substitutions PJ! Thanks for sharing.
I made this New Years Day with ham bone from ham at Christmas.
This soup was very delicious and refreshing after all the rich foods at the holidays.
Makes a lot of soup! This recipe is a keeper!
This soup was very bland. Since it was my first time making a ham soup I followed the recipe exactly. It was easy to make and had all my favorite ingredients, and my ham bone was very flavorful so there was lots of ham flavor, but it was not delicious. It was just OK. If I try it again I would kick it up a notch by adding some salt, pepper, garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce.
I don’t know what happened but I followed this receipt to a T. The soup came out with very little taste. Very bland to say the least. Think it needs a broth with more seasoning.
Amazing great recipes
I love your recipes I tried your ham and potato soup and it turned out really good thank you
I’m so glad you loved it Audrey!
Delicious, better on day 2 when the flavors have time to meld. A nice lighter alternative to pea soup or bean soup.
This is a really good soup. I personally found 7 hours to be too long. I prepared it as the recipe reads, adding some chopped kale and a few sage leaves, used half chicken broth/half water, and reserved the beans until about half way through the cooking time – I find beans get really mushy when cooked that long. When I make this again, I will wait even longer to add the beans (or use great northern instead) as after 3 hours, they were almost totally broken down.
This easily makes enough soup for 6-8 people with hearty appetites, or accompanying grilled cheese soup (which is what we did tonight).
Hi! This sounds very yummy!! Do you use canned corn or frozen? Thank you!
Either will work, I generally use frozen. Enjoy the soup!
I thought this was very flavorful and the ham pulled right off the bone. Great recipe!
I am so glad you enjoyed this soup Susan!
I loved the fact of just throwing everything in the slow cooker. I used this recipe as a base. Used beef broth instead of water. Used one can of baked beans in tomato sauce as thats what o had on hand. Added barley , small pasta noodles hot pepper sauce . Nice consistency..
Your additions sound delicious! Glad you enjoyed the soup.
Made the ham and bean soup in my stove crock pot it was amazing. Thank you
You’re welcome! So glad to hear you loved it so much!