Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup
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Looking for a hearty weeknight dinner meal that you can set and forget? Try my Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup. Featuring a mixture of beans, smoked ham bone, and vegetables, it’s comfort food at its finest!
Now, I know I run this food blog, but I’m only human — there are some days when I want a really good dinner without a lot of fuss and work. On weeknights like those, out comes my trusty slow cooker! I love using it for recipes like my savory slow cooker pot roast, these flank roast street tacos, or (one of my personal favorites) slow cooker carnitas.
I was having one of those days when I came up with this crockpot ham and bean soup recipe. It was raining, and I knew that I had a ham bone in my freezer, so I decided that soup was on the menu. I’m thrilled with how it came together — it’s so hearty and satisfying! Plus, it makes quite a bit, enough for 12 servings or more. We ate it two nights in a row in my house, and it was so good that I froze the rest for another time.
My advice? Enjoy my ham and beans crockpot soup with some crusty sourdough bread or cornbread and a splash of Tabasco. Soups on!
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
- Dry Bean Mix – I recommend that you use a mixture of black beans, lentils, green split peas, pinto beans, small white beans, red lentils, yellow split peas, small red beans, Adzuki beans, and pearl barley. You shouldn’t use more than 2 cups (while dry) in total. Make sure to soak for at least 8 hours before you get started. If you forgot, check out my post on what to do if you forgot to soak your beans.
- Ham Bone – You can pick up a ham bone at your local butcher or in the meat department of the supermarket. It adds a meaty and smoked flavor I just love.
- Bay Leaves – This dried leaf adds another layer to the flavor of your soup. It’s slightly floral and spicy.
- Onion – No soup would be complete without this ingredient! It adds more moisture without any excess liquid.
- Chicken Stock – Use this instead of water for more flavor. You can also use vegetable stock.
- Carrots – For more vegetable goodness.
- Celery – The celery pairs wonderfully with the beans, ham, and carrots!
- Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce – This ingredient is optional, but I personally love adding a bit of kick to my ham bean soup.
- Parsley – For a garnish.
HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT HAM AND BEAN SOUP
- Prepare The Beans. Make sure to soak all of your dry beans overnight. They should be covered by an inch of cold water. The next day, rinse them and set them aside.
- Assemble The Ham Bean Soup. Add the ham bone, chopped onions, bay leaves, soaked beans, and chicken stock to your slow cooker. Cook on high for 6 hours.
- Add The Veggies. Place the chopped celery and carrots into the mixture at the 4-hour mark. If using, you can add 1 tablespoon of Tabasco Garlic Pepper sauce here too. Stir well and then cover. Let your crockpot ham and bean soup cook for 2 more hours.
- Chop The Ham. Once your ham and beans crockpot soup is finished cooking, remove the bay leaves and ham bone. Chop the ham meat, then discard the bone and the bay leaves. Add the chopped ham back into the slow cooker and mix well. Taste and season as needed.
- Garnish & Serve. Chop up some fresh parsley as a garnish and serve with your bread of choice! If you like cheese you can also add a bit on top of each bowl.
How Do You Thicken Homemade Ham Bean Soup?
If you’d like to thicken your crockpot ham and bean soup, there are several different thickening agents you can use: all-purpose flour, cornstarch, or even potato starch. One trick of the trade is to add whatever thickening agent you use to a hot cup of broth and then add it to the soup. Try it!
How Long Do You Soak Beans For Ham and Beans Soup?
You should soak your beans overnight for the best results. If you don’t have enough time to do that, they must soak for at least 8 hours. Make sure to rinse them under cold water and sift through them in case of small stones or bad beans.
Can You Put Canned Beans In A Slow Cooker?
You can use canned beans in a slow cooker, but I suggest that you use dry for this ham and beans crockpot recipe. The extra long cook time could leave you with really mushy results.
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This recipe post, originally published on Kevin Is Cooking October, 2016, has been updated with new content, photos and/or video in August, 2022.
Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried Bean Mix (See Note 1)
- 2 lb smoked ham bone (See Note 2)
- 5 leaves bay
- 1 onion chopped
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 3 carrots chopped
- 4 celery stalks chopped
Adds
- 1 tbsp Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce
- chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Soak the beans overnight in cold water, covered by an inch. Rinse the next day and set aside.
- In a slow cooker add the ham bone, chopped onion and bay leaves. Add the soaked beans and cover with chicken stock.
- Cook for 6 hours on HIGH. At the 4 hour mark I like to add the chopped celery, carrots and one tablespoon of Tabasco Garlic Pepper Sauce. Stir as best you can to mix in and cover again. Continue cooking in slow cooker for remainder of time.
- Remove bay leaves and ham bone. Discard the bay leaves and bone. Chop ham meat and add back to the slow cooker. Mix to incorporate and season if needed.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with fresh cornbread.
Notes
- Feel free to use all or a mixture of Black beans, Lentils, Green Split Peas, Pinto Beans, Small White Beans, Red Lentils, Yellow Split Peas, Small Red Beans, Adzuki Beans and Pearl Barley as long as they are 2 cups dry total. Soak for at least 8 hours and drain or read my post if you Forgot to Soak Your Beans for a quick fix.
- I typically get my ham bones with meat on them from The Honey Baked store or ask your local butcher.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
LOVE a good ham and bean soup, but it’s so hard to get one that doesn’t bore. Thank goodness this recipe looks anything but that– so many flavors in there! Definitely trying this recipe soon!
Tasty goodness awaits you Karly! 😉
Oh my goodness, that smoked ham bone looks amazing. Could you please close your eyes for a sec – I’m going to steal it:) And this soup is so comfort and delicious – like everything you need in one bowl on a chilly day!
Haha Ben! Wish we were neighbors, I’d share! 🙂
My youngest dog is a Newfie mix and is a world class sloberer (is that even a word?) with one heck of an appetite – we feed him dinner and he’s hungry 30 minutes later, drooling and slobbering as he watches us eat our dinner – and tonight I know how he feels! Kevin, my daughter and I just had dinner and I’m drooling at this flavor packed soup! I have yet to pull out my slow cooker – so thanks for the inspiration to do so!
Funny Shashi, when ever I come home from Costco with a rotisserie chicken they sit patiently on the carpet just outside the kitchen giving me the stare down. Waiting. An waiting. They kill me, then I cave. What can I say, they are so fun! 🙂 Break out that slow cooker, just not and Christmas decorations yet… Thanksgiving time first! 😉
YES! Hooray for slow cooker season! Not only that, but ham bone soup is one of my favorite comfort foods. I’ve been compiling a list of easy recipes that I can make once the baby comes, and even make before-hand and freeze. This will be perfect! Thanks for another great recipe, Kevin!
Thanks so much Kathleen. YES, this freezes well and makes a large batch so you’ll be set!
It’s the season of the slow cooker as I taste and test other recipes and know dinner will be a good tried and true one waiting for us later. 🙂
Kevin, this soup looks so incredibly hearty and comforting! I have not made homemade bean soup with a ham bone in quite a while, so you are inspiring me to break out the old slow cooker and get a move on! Thanks for sharing!
Glad I was there for the assist Mary Ann. Dust that slow cooker off and take a look around here. I have plenty for you to try, your tummies filled and happy. 🙂
When it comes to make dinner, I’m all about NO fuss – I’ve recently started using my slow cooker to it’s full potential, and this is definitely going on my list of recipes to try this winter! Looks so warm and hearty – not that we need it in our San Diego weather, but it’s fun to pretend it gets cold here, right?! 😉
Yes, this unpredictable San Diego can be dark and cloudy one day with a slight drizzle and you see UGG boots everywhere and people drive crazy, or it’s 94°F the next. This however was the perfect companion when it actually rained the other day… albeit for an hour. Ha! Thanks Rachel, enjoy! 🙂
That looks so good. The pictures are excellent too, they really capture the soup and make me sooo hungry. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks so much Ronnalyn! This is one of those soups to warm the soul, enjoy!
Hey Kevin! Ham and bean soup is my favorite of all soups! Our best friend always gifts us a large ham before
Christmas and the meaty bone always ends up in a soup pot! I use a 16 bean mix that I get at my local store and you are so right that you need a nice crusty loaf of bread! It’s gotten really chilly here lately and we’ve closed the windows (but haven’t turned on the heat yet)!
Now that’s a nice gift from your best friend Dorothy! Does your friend raise and smoke them? I can’t find my usual 16 bean mix any more in the market and just make my own up. I love barley in the mix, one of my favorite grains. Thanks too, because while reading your comment it reminded me to feed my sourdough starter! Bread might be happening today or tomorrow! 🙂
Talk about the perfect recipe for the cold weather! My family has been making “lima beans with ham” for as long as I can remember. This smoked ham bone soup with beans and barley is the perfect update to a classic, so thanks, Kevin! I also love the added Tabasco. Good call, for sure. Have a great week, friend.
Thanks Sally, this is perfect for this time of year and family get togethers right? Happy holidays! Oh, don’t forget some crusty bread to help slurp this all up! 🙂
Now THIS is what I call cozy, stick-to-your-ribs soup!! This soup looks absolutely delicious and jam PACKED with flavor Kevin! Love all the beans, barley and OF COURSE that ham bone! My dad used to make a soup like this, but I haven’t had it since he passed away. I can’t WAIT to try yours, buddy… with a loaf of crusty bread and a million dashes of Tabasco of course! Pinned! Cheers!
It’s so good and the peas and beans start to break down and thicken it. I’m honored you’d try it since the last was your dad’s version. Splash on that Tabasco and raise that spoon to dad! Cheers and keep good thoughts.
P.S. Whenever I see those commercials on TV I think of you and your dad’s story you posted. Thanks again for sharing that part of yourself. You still are a great daughter! 🙂