• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Family Dinners

Delicious Dinners Families Love

  • Browse Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
      • Cake
      • Cheesecake
      • Cookie
      • Pie
    • Drinks
      • Alcoholic Drinks
      • Non-Alcohol
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dish
    • Salads
    • Soup
  • Ingredient
    • Apple
    • Bacon
    • Beans
    • Beef
    • blueberry
    • Cheese
    • Chicken
    • Chocolate
    • Cranberry
    • Egg
    • Lemon
    • Pasta
    • Peanut Butter
    • Pork
    • Potato
    • Pumpkin
    • Seafood
    • Tomato
    • Turkey
    • Vegetables
  • Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Fried
    • Grill
    • Instant Pot
    • No Bake
    • No Cook
    • Oven
    • Slow Cooker
    • Stovetop
  • Kitchen Tips
  • About Us
Home » Course

Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

Pin RecipeRate Recipe

November 10, 2022

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for details.

Amazingly flavorful soup loaded with chopped ham, white beans and vegetables. It's an ultimate comfort food that the whole family will love.
Jump to Recipe
close up of a ladle scooping ham and bean soup
Crockpot ham and beans in a bowl.

In case you are a big fan of soups, then this easy and delicious crockpot ham and bean soup recipe is perfect for you. It comes together in only 5 minutes and cooks to perfection all by itself in the slow cooker. This flavorful soup is packed with ham, white beans, carrots and celery is one of the best homemade soups you will ever eat. Additionally, this ham and beans recipe is the perfect way to put leftover holiday ham or turkey to good use. This soup is a real family favorite in our house and best served with crusty white bread or cornbread.

Bowl of ham and beans soup in front of a crockpot.

Table of Contents

  • What is Slow Cooker Ham and Beans?
  • Ingredients
  • Recommended Tools
  • Instructions
  • Make Ahead
  • Recipe Tips
  • What To Serve With Slow Cooker Ham and Beans Soup
  • More Soup Recipes
  • How To Store
  • How To Reheat
  • Common Questions
  • Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

What is Slow Cooker Ham and Beans?

This delicious crockpot ham and bean soup recipe combines chicken broth with beans, carrots, celery and diced ham for a flavorful soup that everyone loves. The addition of rosemary, thyme and a hint of garlic make this ham and bean recipe especially irresistible.

Bowl of ham and bean soup.
  • Notable: flavorful soup full of tender ham, beans and vegetables that makes a perfect weeknight dinner
  • Main Ingredients: chicken broth, Great Northern beans, carrots, celery, yellow onion, garlic, ham and spices
  • Cooking Method: Crockpot
  • Nutrients: low in carbohydrates, high in fiber and protein
  • Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time, 6 hours cooking time
  • Pairs well with: crusty bread, cornbread, garlic bread
  • Diets: gluten free, dairy free
  • Special Equipment Needed: slow cooker, knife and cutting board, ladle
Stef says….

This delicious one-pot soup is perfect for busy weeknight dinner time. Set it in the morning and come home to an amazing home cooked meal.

ham and bean soup in a crockpot
ladle scooping ham and bean soup

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this crockpot ham and bean soup recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this slow cooker ham and beans you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Ingredients

  • 6 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 pound dried Great Northern beans (rinsed)
  • 3 large carrots (diced)
  • 3 celery stalks (diced)
  • 1 small yellow onion (diced)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced, 4 teaspoons)
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 large meaty ham bone (3-5 lbs.)

Optional Garnish

Fresh parsley

Variations and Substitutions

Ham: Instead of ham bone you can also use ham hock, ham shank, leftover holiday ham or diced ham steaks.

Beans: Instead of Great Northern beans you can substitute navy beans, cannellini beans, pinto beans or bean mix such as Hurts’s hambeens, for example.

Potatoes: If you like you can add diced potatoes or sweet potatoes to this hearty soup.

Bacon: For some extra flavor add some cooked bacon to this slow cooker soup.

ingredients for crockpot ham and bean soup

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this ham and bean recipe, try our Easy Chili. You’ll love it because this is a hearty ground beef chili with beans and tomatoes and just the right amount of spice.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Crockpot — This recipe requires a slow cooker. We use a 6 qt. basic Crockpot brand slow cooker. It works wonderfully. If you’re planning to take your Crockpot to potlucks you’ll want to check out this one that has a locking lid. A slow cooker has an inner pot called the crock. Neither the crock nor the lid are oven safe on most machines. Do not put them in the oven.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook ham and beans soup in the slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly, in a large crockpot, layer broth, white beans, diced carrots, diced celery, chopped onions, minced garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf. Then, stir to combine. Afterwards submerge the ham bone in the broth and beans.

pouring broth over the soup ingredients
submerging ham in broth and vegetables

COOK: Then, cover and cook on high until the beans are tender, about 6-8 hours.

FINISH: Remove the lid and discard the bay leaf. Afterward let the ham bone cool for a moment. Once cool enough to handle, dice any ham meat and stir it into the bean soup.

diced ham on top of soup
finished crockpot ham and beans soup

SERVE: Finally, season soup with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Then ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love scrumptious meat and bean dinners then you’ll love our Frito Pie With Ground Beef. This yummy, quick and easy comfort food combines perfectly seasoned beef and beans with melty cheese and crispy Frito chips.

Make Ahead

You can in fact make this soup up to 3 days ahead of time. This will give the flavors time to develop and blend even better so the soup might actually taste better the next day. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best crockpot ham and bean soup recipe.

  • Tip: Use dried beans, not canned beans, because they give the broth much more depth of flavor that cannot be achieved with canned beans.
  • Tip: Cut all the vegetables into approximately the same size so they are cooked through at the same time.
  • Tip: Use a ham bone if possible, since it enriches the soup with a ton of flavor.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Ham and Beans Soup

We love to eat crockpot ham and beans all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve easy crockpot ham and beans with  Garlic French Bread made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought French bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots, or homemade Cornbread Muffins. Additionally, Andrea’s Copycat Lion House Rolls also go perfectly with this dish.

Salad: Pair white bean soup with a fresh salad. A green salad like our fabulous Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing. Or even a Caprese Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. 

Low carb: This bean and ham soup would also taste great with Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks in case you want to keep it low in carbohydrates.

  • cornbread muffin open on plate with butter

    Cornbread Muffins

  • 2 halves of a french bread open and toasted with garlic and parmesan

    Garlic French Bread

  • Homemade italian salad and homemade Italian salad dressing mixed in a glass bowl with wood serving utensils.

    Easy Italian Salad Recipe With Homemade Salad Dressing

  • slice of cauliflower breadsticks

    Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

More Soup Recipes

Especially during the colder months there is nothing better than a steaming bowl of delicious soup. Try one of our other amazing soup recipes that work great for lunch or dinner:

  • Chicken soup in a gray mug.

    Instant Pot Chicken Soup

  • chicken tortilla soup in a bowl

    Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

  • Bowl of white chicken chili with tortillas strips and cheese on top.

    Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

How To Store

Refrigerate: Let soup cool completely. Then store leftover ham and beans in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Store ham and bean soup leftovers in an airtight, freezer safe container. If you’re storing in a zip top plastic bag, try to get as much air out as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to defrost your crockpot ham and bean soup is in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

You can reheat this delicious soup in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Andrea says….

For best results, use dry beans and ham bone. They add incredible flavor to this great recipe.

Bowl full of ham and bean soup.

Common Questions

Can I make this soup with leftover ham?

Of course, this easy ham and bean soup works perfectly with any kind of leftover holiday hams, such as bone-in ham for example. Moreover, instead of juicy ham, you can also try this soup with leftover thanksgiving turkey.

Is it possible to make this soup on the stove top?

Yes! You can combine the ingredients for this easy soup in a dutch oven or large soup pot and simmer on the stovetop over medium low heat. However, the cooking process will still take at least 3-4 hours.

How do I give this easy slow cooker ham and bean soup a bit of spicy kick?

In case you like your soup a bit more on the spicy side, add some red pepper flakes or chili powder to this easy recipe. Additionally you can add some of your favorite hot sauce to adjust the spiciness.

close up of a ladle scooping ham and bean soup
No ratings yet

Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup Recipe


Course Main Dish, soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Print
Pin
Rate
6 servings
Amazingly flavorful soup loaded with chopped ham, white beans and vegetables. It's an ultimate comfort food that the whole family will love.
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • crockpot
  • knife and cutting board
  • ladle

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 lb dried Great Northern beans rinsed
  • 3 large carrots diced
  • 3 celery stalks diced
  • 1 small yellow onion minced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced, 4 teaspoons
  • ½ tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 large meaty ham bone 3-5 pounds

Optional Garnish:

  • fresh parsley

Instructions

  • In a large crockpot, layer broth, beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
    pouring broth over the soup ingredients
  • Submerge the ham bone in the broth and beans. Cover and cook on high until the beans are tender, about 6-8 hours.
    submerging ham in broth and vegetables
  • Remove the lid and discard the bay leaf. Remove ham bone and let sit until cool for a moment.
    cooked ham bone in soup
  • Once cool enough to handle, dice any ham meat and stir it into the bean soup.
    diced ham on top of soup
  • Season soup with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve.
    finished crockpot ham and beans soup

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 906mg | Potassium: 1232mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 5115IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 163mg | Iron: 5mg

Did you create this?

Share it on Instagram and follow us on Pinterest for more cleverly simply recipes.

Email Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
Pin
Share
Tweet

posted in: American, Beans, Course, Cuisine, Dairy Free, Diet, Fall, Gluten Free, Ingredient, Main Dish, Method, Occasion, Pork, Slow Cooker, Soup, Vegetables, Winter

Previous
Salsa Recipe with Canned Tomatoes
Next
Easy Mozzarella Cheese Stuffed Meatballs

Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply! Cancel reply

Share your thoughts!
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Stef and Andrea - Authors of Family Dinners.

Meet Stef + Andrea

We are women who love to cook! Our goal is to make life easier for other parents by sharing our tried and true recipes, meal plans and kitchen tips.

More About Us

Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

When you subscribe to all the latest recipes!

    Featured Recipes

    • stacked chocolate chip cookie bars.
      Better Than Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
    • opened breakfast biscuit bite with egg, bacon and cheese inside.
      Air Fryer Breakfast Biscuit Bites
    • stack of cherry cheesecake hand pies
      Cherry Cheesecake Hand Pies
    • easy lasagna recipe
      Easy Lasagna
    • air fryer fried fish on a plate.
      Air Fryer Fried Fish
    • Plate full of air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs cooked perfectly.
      Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    Spoon scooping bbq meatballs.
    cooked bbq chicken nachos with all toppings and garnish

    Easy Family Dinners

    It’s been a busy week and you need dinner on the table? We have you covered. Browse hundreds of favorites straight from our table to yours.

    Browse Dinners
    Family Dinners Logo

    Browse Recipes

    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Dish
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto Friendly
    • Air Fryer
    • Fried
    • Instant Pot
    • Oven

    Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

      ©2023, Family Dinners. About Privacy Policy Back To Top
      Design by Pixel Me Designs
      ×

      Newsletter

      Family Dinner Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

      When you subscribe to all the latest recipes!

        10 shares