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An overhead closeup of a rustic bowl of hearty crockpot ham and bean soup, showcasing the tender beans and chunks of ham.

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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
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.