A hearty soup is an easy meal and the perfect way to enjoy leftover ham.
This hearty homemade ham and bean soup recipe is easy to make – no soaking required! A mixture of beans, ham, onion, and broth simmer in the crockpot for a meal that is as easy as it is delicious!
Serve it with a piece of cornbread or a crusty loaf for dipping.
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I am excited to have partnered with Hurst’s HamBeens® 15 BEAN SOUP® to bring you this belly-warming bean soup recipe.
Hearty Homestyle Goodness
- A hearty family meal, this slow cooker Ham and Bean Soup recipe is easy to prepare.
- This simple soup requires few ingredients, starting with Hurst’s® HamBeens® 15 Bean Soup®, onions, and ham – no soaking required.
- Budget-friendly, this soup can be made with leftover ham or a ham bone from Christmas or Easter dinner. You can also use smoked turkey or a ham hock.
- This soup freezes perfectly and reheats well.
Ingredients for Ham and Bean Soup
- Beans – This ham and bean soup starts with a blend of dried beans. I use Hurst’s® HamBeens® 15 Bean Soup® as it has a great variety of beans including great northern beans, navy beans, and more. They are sold in the dry bean section of almost any grocery store or online.
- Seasoning – Hurst’s 15 Bean Soup includes a seasoning packet to flavor. If you don’t have the seasoning packet add a cube of bouillon (any flavor). You can also add dried herbs or bay leaves if you’d like. You can add a little bit of thyme or some minced cloves of garlic if you’d like.
- Ham – If you have a leftover ham bone from baked ham add it to the soup while it’s cooked for extra flavor. If you don’t have a ham bone, ask the butcher or deli for either ham bones (they’re usually inexpensive) or ham hocks. If you don’t have either, leftover chopped ham works beautifully in this recipe, too.
- Broth – As the ham adds a lot of salt, I prefer a reduced sodium broth in this recipe.
- Vegetables – Canned tomatoes are great in this recipe and can be replaced with canned tomatoes with chilis (like Rotel) to add a little bit of spice. Sliced celery or carrots can be added.
How to Make Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
- Rinse beans and add to the slow cooker with onions, ham, broth, and seasonings (per the recipe below).
- Cook on high for 5 hours (or low for 7-8) or until beans are tender.
- Stir in the remaining ingredients and cook for an additional 30 minutes.
Easy peasy! Serve warm with cornbread for dipping.
Important: Do not add acidic ingredients, like canned tomatoes, until the beans are soft.
Tips for Bean Soup
- Rinse the beans well and check for any debris. No soaking is needed when using a slow cooker.
- If you have already soaked the beans, you can reduce the liquid in the recipe by 1 cup.
- IMPORTANT: Add acidic ingredients (such as canned tomatoes or lemon juice) after the beans have softened (these ingredients can sometimes interfere with rehydration).
- For a thinner consistency, add one extra cup of broth or water to your slow cooker. For a thicker bean soup, remove a cup or so of the beans, blend them, and add them back into the soup.
Storing Leftovers
Fridge: Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer: This ham and bean soup recipe makes a large batch and it freezes well. I divide it into individual portions so it’s easy to thaw as many portions as needed. Thaw in the fridge overnight and heat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
More Favorite Bean Soups
Did your family love this Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package HamBeens® 15 BEAN SOUP® with seasoning packet
- 8 cups reduced sodium chicken broth or chicken stock
- 1 meaty ham bone or ham hocks, diced ham or 1 lb. cooked sausage
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder optional
- 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices, 1 can
- 1 lemon juiced
- hot sauce or red pepper flakes to taste, optional
Instructions
- Rinse the beans and drain. Sort any unwanted debris and set seasoning packet aside.
- In a 6qt crockpot, add the beans, broth, ham bone (if using), onion, garlic, and chili powder in a 6qt slow cooker. Do not add lemon or tomatoes until the beans are softened.
- Cook on high for 5 hours (or low for 7-8) or until the beans are tender.
- Once the beans are tender, remove the ham bone (if using), chop any meat left on the bone, and add it back to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, ham seasoning packet, and lemon juice.
- Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pork, Slow Cooker, Soup
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I am excited to have partnered with Hurst’s HamBeens® 15 BEAN SOUP® to bring you this belly-warming recipe. While I was compensated for this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Working with great brands I love allows me to keep bringing you the great recipes you love!
only had enough chicken broth for 4 cup added 4 cup of water hope it turn out on in the crock pot now thanks for the recipe
Let us know how it turns out Joyce!
Good Morning Holly, I’m wanting to try this recipe but I’m wondering can it be adaptable to an InstantPot? I want it today and I need to run to the store after the beans and don’t want to give it hours to cook. What is your opinion on this? Thanks, Janet
Hi Janet,
I haven’t yet made this in the instant pot although I do think it would work perfectly. I would suggest using the bean setting on your IP.
If I chose the water and bouillon cubes route. Do I add the cubes towards the end?
Hi Caylin, you will want to add them in when you would have added the broth into the recipe.
How can I do this in my instant pot?
I haven’t yet made this in the instant pot although I do think it would work perfectly. I would suggest using the bean setting on your IP.
I have made this before and it is sooooooo good. I messed up and did not buy broth and used water and it’s just not as good. I’m so sad.
Oh no! Sorry to hear that Amy :( The broth really does add a lot of flavor.
I’m making this today, beyond excited too. First time making ham and bean soup, came across this recipe and sounds delicious. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤
You are very welcome Sasha! Enjoy!
Love the soup!!
Yay! So happy to hear that.
Awesome recipe! I didn’t have ham, so used Conecuh Sausage cut in rounds. Served over rice. Thanks for the recipe.
Mmmm, that sounds delicious Sandy!
Sounds delicious!
I hope you love it if you get to make it Kat!
Mom and Dad would make this and this is exactly like I remember! Bread dipping good!
That’s so awesome Vickie! I love recipes like that, nothing like the memories of being back in moms & dads kitchen!
I’ve tried 2 of your recipes. Both were big hits.
Many thanks Karen! So glad you enjoyed them!
I will be trying this recipe, looks good.
Let us know what you think Joann! Enjoy!
My husband could seriously eat this once a week! My neighbor moved away and before she left, gave us a ham she had in her freezer. The first thing my husband asked was if I was going to make this recipe. Thank you for such an easy and delicious recipe!!
That is so awesome Amanda! So happy to hear he loves it!
I LOVE mixed-bean and ham soup. After using many other brands of beans, my favorite is Hurst’s. I moved and can’t find it locally now. However, I like the quality so much that I order them through Amazon. They might cost more, but I think that they are 100% worth it!
I agree Heather, they’re our favorite too!
This sounds delicious. Where would I buy the pkg of beans, I live in Ontario Canada & have never seen this pkg in any of our grocery stores. Thanking you in advance for your reply, please e-mail me.
These beans are not available in Canada, you could try another bean blend and add in a couple of bouillon cubes in place of the seasoning.
Tried it and loved it! I’m sharing a link back from my blog on being a sports parent. It fits perfectly with an article I’m writing on planning/scheduling meals around sports schedules. It’s so easy to put together, crock pot friendly, economical and reheats well. What more could I ask for?
I’m so glad to hear how much you love this ham and bean soup! Thank you for sharing it Sheri!
I made this today with leftover Easter ham. I cut the recipe in half because I have a smaller crockpot. I didn’t soak my beans over night but did cook on high for 7 hours. It came out perfect and was so delicious. Definitely will be making again!!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and found good use for your leftover ham!
Am going to try. My Mother-in-law used to make a hm, bean and sauerkraut soup. Thought about replacing tomatoes with this…any thoughts? Never got her recipe and it was one of my husband’s favorites
I think that sounds tasty Linda! If you try it, please let me know how it turns out!
I’d leave the tomatoes in and just ad the sauerkraut in addition
I have all the ingredients for this. I’m making it with my leftover Easter ham tomorrow. I’ll have to do it in a stockpot though because my slow cooker is out of commission. Do you suggest I sail the beans tonight?
If you’re doing it on the stovetop, soaking the beans is a good idea if you’ve got time!
This was delicious! THANK YOU!!! I did end up boiling my beans just in case and it still turned out great.
Oh, I’m so happy to hear that Tami! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely LOVED this recipe! I cooked some brown basmati rice (I use chicken broth, EVOO, and shallots to cook my rice) and added it to the soup when I added the tomatoes and seasoning and sprinkled the soup with shredded cheese. The family absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for sharing, I will have to check out more of your recipes!
Great additions Wendy! We are so happy your family loved it!