Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Meal

There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup to soothe the soul. This recipe is the epitome of comfort food: hearty, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make. Just toss a few simple ingredients into your crockpot, and let it work its magic. In a few hours, you’ll have a rich, savory soup that tastes like it’s been simmering on the stovetop all day. It’s the perfect, fuss-free meal for a chilly evening and the absolute best way to use up leftover ham.

This recipe transforms a humble bag of beans and a leftover ham bone into a truly spectacular meal. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together beautifully, creating a broth that’s both smoky and deeply savory. It’s a classic dish that never goes out of style for a good reason.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Crockpot Recipe

• Set It and Forget It: With just 15 minutes of prep time, this is the perfect recipe for busy days. The slow cooker does all the work, filling your home with an irresistible aroma.
• Budget-Friendly: Using dried beans and a leftover ham bone makes this a very economical meal that can feed a crowd without breaking the bank.
• Incredibly Flavorful: Slow simmering the ham bone with aromatics creates a rich, smoky broth that is simply delicious.
• Hearty and Satisfying: Packed with protein and fiber, this soup is a complete meal that will keep you full and satisfied for hours.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

This recipe relies on simple, wholesome ingredients to create its signature flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Dried Great Northern Beans: These are a classic choice for their creamy texture. You’ll need to sort and rinse them before using.
• Meaty Ham Bone or Ham Hocks: This is the star of the show! A leftover ham bone from a holiday meal is perfect for infusing the soup with incredible smoky flavor.
• Diced Ham: Adds extra meaty texture to every bite.
• Yellow Onion, Celery, and Carrots: This classic mirepoix creates the aromatic flavor base for the soup.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a pungent, savory depth.
• Chicken Broth: Use a low-sodium version to better control the saltiness of the final dish.
• Bay Leaves: Adds a subtle, earthy note that complements the other flavors.
• Black Pepper: For a touch of warmth and spice.

For a delicious side to soak up all that broth, try these incredible Butter Swim Biscuits. They are a game-changer!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup is as simple as it gets. Just follow these easy steps for a perfect result every time.

1. Prepare the Beans: First, sort through your dried beans, removing any small stones or debris. Give them a good rinse under cool water.
2. Combine Ingredients: Place the rinsed beans, meaty ham bone, diced onion, celery, carrots, and minced garlic into the basin of your slow cooker.
3. Add Liquids and Seasoning: Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the bay leaves and black pepper, giving everything a gentle stir to combine.
4. Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6 hours. The soup is ready when the beans are tender and creamy.
5. Shred the Ham: Carefully remove the ham bone and bay leaves from the slow cooker. Once the bone is cool enough to handle, shred the meat off it, discarding any fat. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker along with the extra diced ham.
6. Serve and Enjoy: Stir the ham into the soup and cook for another 10-15 minutes to heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with a side of crusty bread.

Tips for the Best Ham and Bean Soup

• Don’t Skip the Ham Bone: The ham bone is essential for building a deep, smoky flavor. If you don’t have one, two smoked ham hocks are a great substitute.
• Soak or Not to Soak?: While many recipes call for soaking beans overnight, it’s not strictly necessary for this slow cooker version. Cooking them low and slow for 8-10 hours will result in perfectly tender beans. However, if you’re short on time, soaking can help them cook a bit faster.
• Thickening the Soup: This soup will naturally thicken as it cools. For a thicker consistency right away, you can mash about a cup of the beans with a fork and stir them back into the soup.

If you’re a fan of hearty, comforting soups, you might also love this classic Lentil Soup recipe.

Delicious Recipe Variations

While this classic Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup is fantastic as is, it’s also easy to customize. Here are a few ideas:

• Use Different Beans: Feel free to substitute with navy beans, pinto beans, or a 15-bean soup mix for a different texture and flavor.
• Add Some Greens: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or kale during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a nutritional boost.
• Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce for a little kick.

For another great slow cooker meal, check out these delicious Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans. They are always a crowd-pleaser!

Frequently Asked Questions

The Perfect Comfort Meal Awaits

This Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup recipe is a true testament to the magic of simple ingredients and slow cooking. It’s a comforting, satisfying, and incredibly easy meal that you’ll want to make again and again. Give it a try, and don’t forget to share your creations and save this recipe to Pinterest for later!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Meal

Discover the ultimate comfort food with this easy Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup recipe. Hearty, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients, it's the perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal for any night of the week.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 350

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb dried Great Northern beans sorted and rinsed
• 1 meaty ham bone or 2 ham hocks
• 2 cups diced cooked ham
• 1 large yellow onion diced
• 3 carrots peeled and diced
• 3 celery stalks diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

• 1 Slow Cooker A 6-quart slow cooker is recommended.
• 1 Cutting Board
• 1 Knife

Method

 

Instructions

1. Sort through the dried beans to remove any debris, then rinse them under cool water.
2. Place the rinsed beans, ham bone, diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
3. Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the bay leaves and black pepper. Stir gently to combine.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours, until the beans are tender.
5. Carefully remove the ham bone and bay leaves. Let the bone cool slightly, then pull the meat from the bone, shredding it. Discard the bone and fat.
6. Return the shredded ham to the slow cooker along with the extra diced ham. Stir and cook for another 10-15 minutes to heat through. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary before serving hot.

Notes

Soaking Beans: While not required for this slow cooker recipe, you can soak the beans overnight in water to reduce cooking time slightly.
Storage: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.