This hearty ham and bean soup is a perfect recipe for the Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Stove Top. It’s made with navy beans and delicious bites of ham in a thick and flavorful broth!
Ham and Bean Soup
Let me tell you, this has to be one of the most satisfying soup recipes there is. It’s hearty, thick, flavorful, and super easy to make in the Crock Pot, Instant Pot, or Stove Top! (and there’s no need to rinse those dried beans overnight, see more info on that below!)
This is such an economical meal too. It freezes perfectly and use a great way to make use of leftover ham!
Ingredients
Note: The bacon pictured below is an optional garnish.
How To Make It (Summary of Stove Top Method)
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions, including Crock Pot and Instant Pot instructions.
Rinse the beans under cold water. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onions. Cook for 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the carrots, diced ham and the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Simmer with the lid partially cracked for 3+ hours, or until it’s thickened to your desired consistency. The longer it simmers, the thicker it will become and the softer the beans will get. Stir occasionally as the beans will settle to the bottom of the pot. (PRO Tip: Consider adding the carrots during the last 40-45 minutes of cooking for a firmer consistency.)
Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems. Serve and enjoy!
Using a Ham Bone
- Using a nice meaty, uncleaned ham bone is what gives this soup it’s amazingly rich and savory flavor.
- The more meat on the ham bone, the better. Bits of tender ham will work it’s way into the soup.
Ham Bone Substitutes
- Smoked ham shanks or ham hocks are a great alternative and also add tremendous flavor. (A shank is meatier and more preferable for this recipe.)
- Salted pork and/or a few strips of uncooked smoked bacon can also be substituted. (But try for a shank or hock first.)
- If you’re unable to use a ham bone or any of the substitutes: Use 8 cups of chicken broth instead of 4.
Soaking Navy Beans
- I rinse, but I don’t soak, and you don’t need to for this recipe.
- The necessity of soaking beans overnight is a widely debated topic. After some research and testing, I’ve found that soaking navy beans overnight makes little difference in texture and cooking time.
- Soaking beans overnight has been said to aid in digestion as it removes some of the sugars from the beans.
- Huff Post provides more information about soaking your beans overnight and why it might not be necessary.
Using Different Kinds of Dried Beans
- Dry Pinto Beans, Great Northern Beans, or a bag of 15-Bean Mix can also be used.
Using Canned Beans
- Although canned beans are a time-saver, you won’t achieve the same depth of flavor in the broth as you do with dry beans. The broth also won’t be nearly as thick.
- Dry beans are also less expensive and don’t have added sodium as canned.
- My Ham Soup, White Bean Soup and Pinto Bean Soup recipes are great alternatives if using canned beans!
What to Serve with Ham and Bean Soup
Storing Leftovers
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. This soup does freeze and reheat well.
- I use these 16 oz. storage containers to store/freeze my soups. They have 8 oz. sizes as well. They’re stackable, leak proof, and dishwasher/microwave safe.
Try These Next
Get My Free Meal Plan
I’ve got a Free Meal Plan with 7 of my super popular recipes (complete with grocery list)! Sign up for my email list and I’ll send it over now along with weekly dinner recipes!
And follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups ham, diced. (equal to two 8 oz. ham steaks.)
- 2 cups carrots, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 4 cups water
- 1 ham bone, see notes for alternatives
- 1 lb. dried Navy beans, rinsed
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 sprigs thyme
Instructions
Stove Top
- Rinse the beans under cold water.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large soup pot over medium heat and add the onions.
- Cook for 5 minutes, until soft and translucent.
- Add the carrots, diced ham and the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth, water, ham bone, navy beans, 2 tsp onion powder, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer with the lid partially cracked for 3+ hours, or until it's thickened to your desired consistency. The longer it simmers, the thicker it will become and the softer the beans will get. Stir occasionally as the beans will settle to the bottom of the pot. (PRO Tip: Consider adding the carrots during the last 40-45 minutes of cooking for a firmer consistency.)
- Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems. Serve and enjoy!
- *Add a little additional water or broth if the soup ends up thicker than you’d like.
Slow Cooker
- Note: Crock Pots can vary greatly in terms of heat. Refrain from opening the lid during cooking to ensure the beans have enough heat to cook down in a sufficient amount of time. Note that high altitudes also require more cooking time.
- Rinse the navy beans under cold water. Add all of the ingredients to a large Slow Cooker (5 quarts or larger).
- Cook on high for 6+ hours. It's ready to serve once the beans are tender and the soup is thickened to your desired consistency.
- Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems and serve!
Instant Pot
- Rinse the navy beans under cold water.
- Add the olive oil and butter to the Instant Pot and hit the “Sautee” button. Add the onions and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the diced ham and the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the remaining ingredients and secure the lid.
- Press the ‘cancel’ button, followed by the ‘Pressure Cook’ button.
- Set the timer to 45 minutes. The Instant Pot will take some time to get up to pressure.
- Once finished, let 10 minutes pass before you trigger the quick release valve. This will allow most of the pressure to release naturally, allowing the soup to cook a little bit longer.
- Remove the ham bone/hock, the bay leaves, and thyme stems and serve!
Notes
Ham Bone Substitutes
Smoked ham shanks or ham hocks are a great alternative and also add tremendous flavor. (A shank is meatier and more preferable for this recipe.) Salted pork and/or a few strips of uncooked smoked bacon can also be substituted. (But try for a shank or hock first.) Bacon also makes a nice optional garnish on top of this soup prior to serving. If you're unable to use a ham bone or any of the substitutes: Use 8 cups of chicken broth instead of 4.To use Canned Beans: My Ham Soup, White Bean Soup and Pinto Bean Soup recipes are great alternatives if using canned beans! If you enjoy this recipe, then you have to try my split pea soup recipe. (It's also Stove Top, Slow Cooker, and Instant Pot friendly!)
Do you think dried butter beans would work with this soup???
Hi Susan! Yes, that should work fine! 🙂
Used 15 bean mix and it was great! I did add more broth thoughout the cooking process. Also added celery.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup Rhonda! Thanks so much for the great comments and for taking the time to leave a review!❤️
Made a couple of slight variations, using four small-medium chopped carrots and adding two stalks of chopped celery. Also only used one tsp. of onion powder. Absolutely loved the soup! Plan on making it again the next time I cook a ham!
I’m so happy you loved the soup Kathleen! Thanks so much for sharing your variations and for taking the time to leave a review!❤️
Easter ham was the perfect reason for making this soup, and it was delicious! I used the slow cooker method – the consistency was perfect and I will make it again!
Excellent Mary! Such a good use for leftover Easter ham! I’m so happy you enjoyed this one, thanks so much!😀
I have very little experience cooking with beans because I don’t like them, but my husband mentioned that he’d like to have some ham and bean soup from our leftover Easter ham. The day after Easter was cold and rainy so I thought what a better day to make a nice warm soup…especially when my husband is out in the weather all day! I followed the recipe exactly. The house smelt sooo good while it cooked! My husband was pleasantly surprised when he got home. He loved the soup! And went back for seconds! I even tried it and for something with beans in it…not bad!!! It has wonderful flavor! I will definitely be making this again! Thanks so much!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the Soup Beth, I really love how you appreciated the way it made your house smell, that’s one of my favorite parts! To me it doesn’t get much cozier! Thanks so much for the great comments and for taking the time to leave a review!❤️
Been making this for years. If possible, forget the broth, and use ham gravy you hopefully made. Just cover the bone in carcass with water, then add the gravy. Oh, and soak your navy beans in pot of water overnight.👍 The ones that float are no good.
This soup was amazing! I did the instant pot version with our leftover ham bone from Easter dinner.
It was easy and delicious!!
That’s so great to hear CJ! It’s such a great way to use leftover ham bone😋. Thanks so much for the great review, much appreciated!
Absolutely delicious! I made this in the Instant Pot with some leftover ham and the ham bone and it had so much flavor. Since the Instant Pot usually makes soups a little thinner I took about two cups out at the end of cooking to puree with my immersion blender and added that back for a little thicker texture that (for me) was perfect. Thanks so much for another great recipe!
Yayyy! I’m so happy you enjoyed this. Thanks so much for the great review Anna!😍
Outstanding! Used a 15 bean mix and added some chopped celery, but otherwise followed the stove top version as written. Wonderful on this chilly Minnesota day!
I’m so happy this added some comfort to your chilly day Peg! Thanks so much for the great comments, I’m so happy you enjoyed it!❤️
I used dry Great Northern beans and cooked the pot for about 4 hours. The beans were a very acceptable tenderness and the soup was a total hit. My dad said “now, that’s a good hillbilly meal!” Coming from my dad, that’s the highest praise that can be bestowed on a dinner!
🤣🤣🤣 That’s so funny Cheryl! Sounds like you got your fathers approval, well done! thanks so much for the great review!