If you’ve never made Ham and Bean Soup in the Crock Pot, this recipe is a must-try! While ham isn't usually my go-to, this soup is my favorite way to eat it. It’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” meal that I can prepare in the morning, and it’s ready to eat by dinnertime.
The broth takes on a lot of the salty ham flavor as it cooks in the Crock Pot. The spices in this recipe help balance the saltiness along with the sweetness of the cooked vegetables.
If you like slow cooker soup recipes, you will love Crockpot Hamburger Soup, 15 Bean Soup in the Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Tomato Soup and Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup.
Why You’ll Love This Ham Soup Recipe
- Quick prep time: The only preparation required is chopping the veggies and ham. After that, everything goes straight into the slow cooker!
- Versatile recipe: Make this soup using ham steaks or leftover ham. It’s a great way to use up leftovers, but also makes a delicious separate meal.
- Budget-friendly: These ingredients are very affordable, which makes this recipe perfect for a tight budget.
Ingredients
Bean and ham soup in the Crock Pot is easy to put together. You will notice it is full of common ingredients and pantry staples. I know that I typically have a lot of these items on hand!
- Ham: Try this recipe with leftover ham — it’s a great way to use it!! Diced ham and ham steaks work well, too.
- Beans: I use canned great northern beans, but you can use any variety or combination you like. This soup is fantastic with navy beans, pinto beans, and white beans.
- Veggies: Mirepoix, which is a combination of onions, celery, and carrots, is often used in soups and stews for depth of flavor. I use shredded carrots and diced onions and celery for this recipe.
- Garlic: I love fresh garlic in this recipe. It adds a sharp flavor and pairs well with the vegetables.
- Spices: I chose Italian seasoning, black pepper, bay leaf, and fresh parsley for color and freshness..
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Vegetarian: Instead of making bean soup with ham and chicken broth, add in some root vegetables like turnips and potatoes, and use vegetable broth for a hearty vegetarian version.
- Spicy Southwest: Sliced jalapenos, corn, and tomatoes are great additions for a spicy version. I also recommend trying black beans instead of northern beans.
- Sweet and smoky: Add brown sugar, cooked bacon, and liquid smoke for a sweet and smoky flavor.
How to Make Ham and Bean Soup in the Crock Pot
This is a super easy ham and bean soup recipe! Once all of the ingredients are nestled into the Crock Pot, let them cook to perfection!
Step 1: Add ingredients to the slow cooker. Add the broth, ham, beans, chopped veggies, roasted garlic, and seasonings to the slow cooker. Give it a good stir to combine all the ingredients.
Step 2: Cover and cook. Add the lid and cook the soup in the slow cooker for about 3 hours on high.
⭐ Hint: To cook the soup low and slow, set your Crock Pot to low and let it cook for about 6 hours.
If you love recipes like this one, you may also enjoy Old Fashioned Ham and Bean Soup, Crockpot Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, Thai Carrot Soup or our Bourbon Glazed Ham recipe.
Storage
- Refrigeration: Store ham soup with beans leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Pour the soup into a small saucepan and simmer over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. For the microwave, place it in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for about 2 minutes or until warmed through.
- Freezing: My favorite method is placing the cooled bean and ham soup into a large freezer bag. Flatten it before you seal it to save space in your freezer, and then freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw the soup in the refrigerator before you reheat it.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread: Serve this ham soup with beans alongside soft bread to sop up the broth. Some great options are Air Fryer Dinner Rolls, Air Fryer Garlic Bread, and Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread.
- Sandwiches: A soup and sandwich is a great easy dinner or lunch option. Try Provolone Grilled Cheese Sandwiches or Roast Beef Sandwiches.
- Salad: I like to serve salads with soup. Make a quick garden salad or this Classic Pasta Salad for a fun twist.
Recipe Tips
- Add a ham bone: Place a ham bone into your Crock Pot to add more ham flavor to the slow cooker bean soup.
- Soak dried beans: If you choose to use dried beans instead of canned, soak them overnight before you cook them so they have the perfect texture.
- Add salt to taste: Taste-test your soup before you add too much salt. Adjust it to fit your preference.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Add all of the ingredients to the pot, set it to the “Soup/Broth” setting, and cook for 20-30 minutes.
I do not recommend using sliced deli ham in slow cooker ham and beans soup because it becomes mushy if it cooks for too long.
Of course! Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before you add it to the slow cooker to make your soup.
More Delicious Ham Dishes
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Equipment
- Crockpot
- large spoon for stirring
Ingredients
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 15-ounce cans great northern beans drained but not rinsed
- 2 ½ cups shredded cooked ham not lunch meat
- 1 sweet onion about 2 cups, diced
- 4 celery ribs about 1 ½ cups, chopped
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1 bay leaf
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Fill the slow cooker with the beans, ham, onion, celery, carrots, roasted garlic, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, and bay leaf, and then add the broth. Stir well to combine and meld the flavors completely.
- Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Stir again and remove the bay leaf.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
- Add a ham bone: Place a ham bone into your Crock Pot to add more ham flavor to the slow cooker bean soup.
- Soak dried beans: If you choose to use dried beans instead of canned, soak them overnight before you cook them so they have the perfect texture.
- Add salt to taste: Taste-test your soup before you add too much salt. Adjust it to fit your preference.
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