Easy Ham Bone Bean Soup

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!

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This easy soup combines plenty of finely diced veggies, beans, a savory blend of spices, and a meaty leftover ham bone for a flavor-packed warm your bones soup that's the perfect set-it-and-forget-it recipe!

I grew up on tasty, homemade soups. In my family, we never let a tasty leftover ham bone go to waste! This recipe calls for a leftover ham bone, ham hock, or ham shank, and all 3 work great at imparting amazing flavor to the finished broth. Finely dicing the veggies and soaking the beans ensures everything cooks evenly for a rich and satisfying soup with ultra-creamy beans.

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)
• What to serve with the soup
• Storing leftovers
• More great leftover ham recipes

Why you'll love this easy soup recipe

The Crockpot does all the work! This recipe uses a simple dried spice blend, with classic inexpensive veggies and a leftover ham bone (or ham hock) thrown right into the slow cooker.

Smoky and rich.  The low and slow cook time allows the smoked ham bone to infuse the broth with tons of flavor, all while the meat clinging to the bone gets fall-apart tender. Smoked paprika backs up that smoky flavor in the ham, while dried thyme and rosemary add a floral, earthy background note that enhances the broth. I recommend using a 2-3 lb ham bone so you get more flavor, and more ham to shred into the soup.

Creamy Beans. I highly recommend soaking the dried beans overnight so they get super creamy and hold their shape while they cook, but you can skip this step if you are in a hurry.

I made this today!! This soup is amazing!! Delish & pretty easy! ❤️ "
- Colleen
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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 meat on the bones gets nice and tender as the soup cooks, and is then shredded into the soup at the end of cooking.

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. As they simmer, they add concentrated flavor and aroma to the soup.

Chicken stock. You could also use chicken broth, water and bouillon, or bone broth.

Optional Tweaks

Try other dry beans, such as pinto beans or cannellini beans (aka white kidney beans) for even more creamy texture.

Try fresh herbs! Use sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary instead of the dried spices for a fresher and bolder flavor. Be sure to adjust to add a bit more, as dried herbs are more potent than fresh. Add them whole in a bouquet, and remove after a few hours so they don't turn bitter.

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.

Can I use canned beans for this recipe?

You can. If you opt to use canned beans, you'll need 4 cans of beans. See Ingredient Notes for when to add them.

Can this recipe be made on the stovetop, or in an Instant Pot?

If you don't have a slow cooker, I also have a version of this Ham Bone Bean Soup in the Instant Pot, which comes together in under 2 hours! This recipe 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!

I just made this soup with pinto beans, and it is DELICIOUS! I stirred a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt into my bowl, and that made it even better. "
- Paula
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What to serve with the soup

Crusty bread, a side of cornbread, biscuits, or simple bread and butter goes great with the soup to soak up the delicious broth.

To cut through the richness, add a simple side salad with a acidic vinaigrette, or top the soup with a bit of fresh parsley or a dollop of yogurt when serving.

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!

Make my classic Split Pea and Ham Soup for a hearty and filling way to use up a leftover ham bone.

Use up leftover ham with my cheesy and delicious Ham and Cheese Croquettes!

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