Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

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.

ingredients for bean soup in a crock pot

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!

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

4.96 from 443 votes

Author Holly Nilsson

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

Author Holly Nilsson

Servings 12 servings

This Crick Pot Ham and Bean soup takes just minutes to prep and no soaking is required. It's a deliciously easy way to feed a crowd.

Save Rate Print

Servings 12 servings

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 6

Total Time 6 20

Equipment

6 QT Slow Cooker

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

It is important that acidic ingredients are not added until the beans are soft. Check that the beans are soft before adding the diced tomatoes and lemon juice.

Replace the chicken broth with water, beef broth, or vegetable broth.

Rinse 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.

Use a leftover ham bone in this soup. If you don’t have one, ask at the deli counter for ham bones (they are inexpensive) or ham hocks. Leftover chopped ham can be used as well.

For a thinner consistency, add one extra cup of broth or water to the slow cooker. For a thicker bean soup, remove a cup or so of the beans, blend them, and add them back into the soup.

4.96 from 443 votes

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

Cuisine American

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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!