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!
I love 15 bean soup! We Love this recipe as well! It’s worth the time for certain and you’re using affordable beans and the ham leftovers, too. I use to make it for my father-in-law, was a treat for them, he called it 21 bean soup, haha.
Bean soup is one of my favorites for cold days! Thanks for stopping by to share a memory Brenda!
This was a hit in my family. I followed the recipe exactly and it came our perfect. It is hearty and full if flavor. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I am so glad your family enjoyed this soup Judi!
The beans NEVER softened! Total waste of ingredients. I even left them in the slow cooker twice as long as called for…still crunchy! Thought I could believe the shortcut of not soaking beans first but skipping that step ruined this meal and wasted these ingredients. SO DISAPPOINTED
Sorry this didn’t work out for you, I’ve made it several times and the beans are always softened. Did you add any of the acidic items before the beans were softened (tomatoes, lemon etc)?
so sorry they never softened. it could be that they were just old beans, which has happened to me, they were just never able to be softened, bummer after the work and expectations
Instant pot is my favorite. Beans are always tender and packed with flavor.
Just came across this. I’ve been using this mix as a starting point for a long time and it’s great. Definitely use broth instead of water. I also sauté celery and carrots in addition to onion and garlic. Add more cajun seasoning, and smoked hot paprika. Never seems to be enough beans, especially after they start to dissolve and thicken up the soup (yum), so I add a can or two of tri-bean blend. I could live off this soup.
Thank you for sharing! These sound like tasty variations for this soup!
Hello I just have a question I was wondering how much 1 serving is? I am making this for a meal swap and I have to make it for about 20 something people so I am trying to figure out how much to make.
A serving is one cup, so to serve 20, I would recommend doubling the recipe Courtney.
Hi Courtney, it just so happens, I’m making this today. according to the bag, 1 serving is 1/2 cup cooked.
Easy, excellent and tasty. Layers of flavor. Eill absolutely make again.
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe Beth!
What happens if you add the tomatoes at the beginning…?? I added everything at once since then realized I added the tomatoes too soon…
Acidity can sometimes cause issues with the beans rehydrating/softening. Hopefully it worked out well for you.
I make this at home but I go for a more country flavor. I add:
-1 (15.25 oz) Mushrooms, diced
-1 large onion, diced
-1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
-1 ham steak, diced
-1 stick of butter
-Season to taste with garlic powder, onion powder, liquid smoke (if desired), salt and pepper. (I never use the provided flavor packet)
I toss all of this in the crockpot and let it simmer on low for 8 hours while I am at work and serve it over wild rice. It makes for a great, hearty meal on cold nights or for our Sunday Soup nights.
I love your additions Kimmy, thanks for sharing!
Quick question, the beans I purchased have no flavor packet. You suggested to other posters to use bullion cubes as a substitute. How many?
I would add one or two cubes to this soup.
If you do not have a ham seasoning packet for the ham and bean soup, what do you use as the seasoning for this soup? Looks delicious but I need help with the seasoning packets
Most major US grocery stores carry Hurst’s 15 Bean Soup, you can double check in dry bean aisle. The seasoning packet can be replaced with bouillon cubes (your favorite flavor). If you ever get a chance to try the Hurst’s HamBeens, I’d highly recommend grabbing a couple of bags! They’re delicious.
We love the soup. I was just wondering can you can this soup and if so how. I love canning stuff for the winter or just a grab and go dinner.
I don’t have experience with canning so I’m not sure but hopefully another reader will have some suggestions for you!
I’ve got this doup in the crock pot got tonight’s dinner. Can’t wait! Hubbycanhave popovers or cornbread with it, his choice. Smells great!
Yummy!! Enjoy!
I have a raw ham steak that I was thinking of using for this recipe. Should I cook it on a skillet first and then cut it up and put it in the crockpot OR should I just put it in raw and let it heat through for the 5 hours?
We get some cuts from my in-laws and to be honest, sometimes I am unsure the proper way to cook them!
A raw ham steak should cook just fine in the slow cooker. You’ll want to ensure the pork reaches a temperature of 160°F.
I made this soup for a crow at my church, was a hit, everybody loved it, thanks a lot for sharing!
You’re welcome, so glad everyone loved it!
Its in the crockpot, making corn bread after I get home from wrk. Looking forward to a yummy meal.
Let me know how you like it Barbara!
I’ve added fire-roasted diced tomatoes to my version of this recipe. Except for the type of tomatoes, I made this as is. Have you added vegetables and potatoes to this?
I haven’t tried adding potatoes Art. Let us know how it goes if you do!
I am making this tomorrow. I am using turkey ham since my husband doesn’t eat pork. Will that be ok? I also bought regular broth instead of low sodium. Will it he too salty?
Yes both of those will work perfectly! Enjoy the soup, it’s one of our favourites!
Yesterday I made your 15 bean soup. It was so delicious. My whole house smelled so good. I have great leftovers and the ham bone from Christmas go used up. Truly yummy!
So glad you loved the soup!
I want to make this soup, but discovered I’m out of lemons/lemon juice. Will it still turn out ok?
Lemon is added for flavor, you can omit it. Enjoy Stacy!
Oh my goodness! This recipe you shared for the 15-Bean and Ham soup is SO delicious!! It’s just finishing up in my crock pot and the house smells wonderful. This is the 2nd time I’ve made this recipe in 3 weeks. The first time I made it was for company, and I wondered if it was a mistake to make a soup for company that I had never made before. Well, after only one bite, we were ALL raving about it!
I couldn’t find this brand of beans locally, so ordered them online. It’s so worth it. The best part is the minimum order is for 3 bags of the beans, so I just HAD to make it again. And this time, my hubby & I don’t have to share it with anyone. YUM!!!
I am so glad you loved it Sally! We love this soup so much too!