This easy Crock Pot Ham Bone and Bean Soup is a delicious and simple way to use up that leftover holiday ham bone, and comes together entirely in the crockpot!
JUMP TO RECIPEUse up that leftover ham bone with this hearty soup, made entirely in the crockpot! This easy soup combines plenty of diced veggies, beans, spices, and a flavorful ham bone for a simple and tasty dinner that almost cooks itself! This classically comforting bean soup is a warm your bones meal the whole family will love, and is the perfect set-it-and-forget-it recipe!
One of the best soups for a cold or rainy day, this Crockpot Bean Soup with Ham is one of my favorite ways to use up a leftover ham bone from a holiday meal.
Table of Contents
- Why you'll love this easy soup recipe
- Ingredient Notes
- How to make Crock Pot Ham Bone and Bean Soup
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Variations
- What to serve with the soup
- Storing leftovers
- More great leftover ham recipes
Why you'll love this easy soup recipe
Minimal prep work. All you need to do is chop some veggies, and throw them into your slow cooker with some broth, a ham bone, spices, and beans, and let it cook! While I highly recommend soaking the dried beans overnight first for optimal flavor and texture, you can skip this step if you are in a hurry.
Simple ingredients. This recipe uses a simple dried spice blend, with classic inexpensive veggies and a leftover ham bone or ham hock, so you most likely have the ingredients already in your refrigerator and pantry!
The Crockpot does all the work! Aside from shredding the ham after it cooks down to fall-apart tender, the slow cooker really does do ALL the work, for a truly set-it-and-forget-it meal!
Ingredient Notes
Dried Great Northern Beans, or Navy Beans. For best results and texture, soak the beans in water overnight. Soaking gives the beans a creamier texture and helps reduce cooking time, so I do recommend it if you have time. If you are short on time, you can cook the dried beans as-is until tender, or swap them for drained and rinsed canned beans (about 4 cans) and add them in the last hour or so of cooking time.
A large smoked ham bone. If you don't have a leftover holiday ham bone, smoked ham hocks or a ham shank work beautifully, and are readily available in most grocery stores or Asian markets. The smoked ham bone gives a great depth of flavor to the soup, and as it cooks, the meat on the bones gets nice and tender, and is shredded into the soup!
Carrots, celery, and onion. Be sure to finely dice them so that the cook evenly in the crockpot. If the veggies are uneven or too large, they will take longer to cook.
Garlic. A whole 8 minced cloves for extra flavor!
A blend of dried spices: smoked paprika, dried thyme, oregano, bay leaves, and rosemary. These add a great depth of flavor to the broth.
Chicken stock. You could also use chicken broth, water and bouillon, or bone broth.
How to make Crock Pot Ham Bone and Bean Soup
This easy soup only takes a little bit of preparation, and then it's all done in the crockpot! Here's a visual guide on how to make it! For full instructions, see the recipe card below!
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Do I need to soak the dried beans?
You don't have to soak the beans, but I highly recommend it! Soaking the beans reduces the cooking time, as well as makes them easier to digest, and gives them a creamier texture. It also helps them retain their shape!
Can I use canned beans for this recipe?
You can. If you opt to use canned beans for this recipe, drain and rinse them well, and add to the crockpot in the last hour of cooking. You'll need 4 cans of beans.
Can this recipe be made on the stovetop, or in an Instant Pot?
Yes! I have a version of this Ham Bone Bean Soup in the Instant Pot, and it can also be made on the stovetop. To make on the stovetop, simmer for about 3 hours with a partially cracked lid, until beans are tender, and ham bone falls apart.
How can I make the soup thicker?
If you want a thicker consistency, you can use an immersion blender or potato masher to mash up some of the beans.
What can I use in place of a ham bone?
If you don't have a leftover meaty ham bone, you can use ham hocks or a ham shank from the grocery store. Not enough meat on your ham bone? Add in some diced ham steaks!
Variations
Try other dry beans, such as white beans, pinto beans, or cannellini beans (aka white kidney beans). You could also use a mixture of beans.
Try fresh herbs! Use sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary instead of the dried spices, and remove with the bay leaves before serving.
No chicken stock? You can use water, or water and chicken bouillon. Bone broth and chicken broth also work well for this recipe.
Trying to watch your salt intake? Use low-sodium chicken broth to cut down on the salt.
Easy Slow Cooker (Crockpot) Ham Bone Bean Soup
Equipment
- 7 Quart Crockpot or Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 3 medium carrots, finely diced
- 2 stalks celery, finely diced
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley, plus more for serving
- 1 lb dried Great Northern or navy beans, rinsed and picked over
- 1 large smoked ham bone, ham hock, or ham shank
Instructions
- Rinse and pick over beans, and transfer to a large bowl. Cover with water and soak overnight covered on the counter, or in the refrigerator. 2. Add broth, soaked (and drained) beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, spices and bay leaf to a slow cooker. Stir to combine. Add the ham bone and submerge in broth. Cover and cook on high until beans are tender, 6-8 hours. 3. Discard bay leaves. Remove ham bone and let sit until cool enough to handle. Once cool, shred ham meat and stir into the soup. 4. Season soup with additional salt and pepper, to taste (if desired). Note: If you want a thicker consistency, you can use an immersion blender or potato masher to mash up some of the beans.
What to serve with the soup
This soup goes great with some crusty bread, a side of cornbread, biscuits, or simple bread and butter. A nice side salad is a nice addition as well. I also love to add a bit of fresh parsley to the soup just before serving in each bowl.
Storing leftovers
To store leftover soup, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. This soup also freezes well! You can store in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months.
More great leftover ham recipes
If you love this Crock Pot Ham Bone and Bean Soup, you'll love these great leftover ham recipes, too!
- Split Pea and Ham Soup
- 15 Bean Soup
- White Bean and Ham Soup
- Ham and Bean Soup with Dumplings
- Ham and Cheese Croquettes
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Colleen says
I made this today!! This soup is amazing!! Delish & pretty easy! ❤️
Sharon Farnell says
Thanks so much, Colleen! So happy you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Kristin says
Can I make this in the insta pot instead?
Sharon Farnell says
This recipe ws developed for the slow cooker, but I have one coming soon for the Instant Pot!
Sharon Farnell says
Hi Kristin, the Instant Pot version is now available!
Anne AuClair says
Can I use canned beans instead of dried, and then should I add them later?
Sharon Farnell says
I think you could! I would add them in the last hour or so, and drain them well.
Susan says
Do you drain and rinse your beans after soaking them overnight? Want to make this tomorrow.
Sharon Farnell says
Hi Susan, Yes!
Gaby says
Can I use yellow split peas or pinto beans?
Sharon Farnell says
You could definitely use dry pinto beans!
Shawna says
Is that correct, cooking on high setting for 6 hours???
Sharon says
Yes, they are dry soaked beans, so they will take between 6-8 hours to cook.
rachel sutherland says
I love this recipe! It is so healthy and I have tons left over to put in the freezer. Yum!
Margie says
This was the best! I didn’t soak the beans and because my crockpot cooks more on the hot side I cooked it on low for 7 hours and it was the perfect consistency.
Sharon says
Thank you Margie! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!