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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup

    Published: March 31, 2020 · Updated: March 31, 2020 · By: Krissy · 7 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup is the easiest and most flavorful soup your family will love. This recipe is made in the slow cooker using a leftover ham bone, vegetables, chicken broth, and a can of white beans.

    bowl of soup with ham and beans

    Why this recipe works:

    First of all, it is incredibly easy to make. Other than chopping the vegetables, it's basically a dump-and-go recipe because all of the ingredients are added to the slow cooker. No browning or sauteing required.

    I always make this soup after I make a bone-in whole ham. Even if it seems like you got all of the meat off the bone, don't ever throw it away because the bone, along with any leftover meat and fat, make an outstanding soup.

    Similar to making roasted beef broth or chicken broth, a leftover ham bone also makes a rich delicious broth.

    Here's how to make it:

    • This recipe starts by adding the standard soup ingredients to your slow cooker: onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and a bay leaf. Additionally, the leftover ham bone along with any meat and fat are added.
    • Now, I could have easily used water, but I wanted to give this soup even more flavor. Why? Because one of the main ingredients is beans and, in my opinion, they can be very bland, so any additional flavor was worth it.
    • The other ingredient that gives this soup a tad more flavor was some chili powder.
    • This mixture needs to cook on low for at least 4 hours, however it can cook as long as overnight on the low setting.
    • Pull the ham bone out and add any pieces of ham back to the soup. Add the drained beans and enjoy!

    looking down at a white bowl with ham, bean, carrot soup with basil on top

    Cooking tips for perfect results:

    • The trick to extracting as much flavor and goodness out of that ham bone is to be sure to add every last scrap, including any fat and liquid that are leftover from cooking the ham, to the crockpot.
    • When the soup is done, before you add the beans, there will be a lot of fat. If you want to remove the fat, the easiest way is to refrigerate the soup so that all of the fat congeals at the top. At that point you can remove all of the fat and then add the beans.
    • Based on the amount of chicken broth I used, this recipe only makes two really large or four small bowls of soup. Feel free to double all of the ingredients using the same ham bone if you want.

    spoonful of slow cooker leftover ham soup with beans

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment to let me know what you think!

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup is the easiest and most flavorful soup your family will love made with a rich broth in the slow cooker from your holiday ham bone.

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup is the easiest and most flavorful soup your family will love made with a rich broth in the slow cooker from your holiday ham bone.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
    Scale: 4 small bowls
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 2 medium carrots (chopped)
    • 2 ribs celery (chopped)
    • 1 small onion (chopped)
    • 1 quart chicken broth
    • 1 leftover ham bone (along with any meat, fat, and juices that are left)
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 15.5 ounces great northern beans (one can, rinsed and drained)
    • freshly ground pepper (to taste)

    Instructions

    • Add carrots, celery, onion, chicken broth, leftover ham bone, chili powder, garlic, and bay leaf to your slow cooker and cook on low at least 4 hours.
    • Remove bay leaf and ham bone along with any fat you don't want to eat. Pick off any pieces of meat and add them back to the soup.
    • Add drain beans to the soup and heat to serve.

    Notes

    Cooking tips for perfect results:

    • The trick to extracting as much flavor and goodness out of that ham bone is to be sure to add every last scrap, including any fat and liquid that are leftover from cooking the ham, to the crockpot.
    • When the soup is done, before you add the beans, there will be a lot of fat. If you want to remove the fat, the easiest way is to refrigerate the soup so that all of the fat congeals at the top. At that point you can remove all of the fat and then add the beans.
    • Based on the amount of chicken broth I used, this recipe only makes two really large or four small bowls of soup. Feel free to double all of the ingredients using the same ham bone if you want. 

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 167kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 914mg | Potassium: 804mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5333IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 3mg
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    This recipe was originally published in April 2015 and has been updated with helpful information and recipe tips.

    Leftover Ham Bean Soup is the easiest and most flavorful soup your family will love made with a rich broth in the slow cooker from your holiday ham bone. Leftover Ham Bean Soup is the easiest and most flavorful soup your family will love made with a rich broth in the slow cooker from your holiday ham bone.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Calvin N Rutledge

      April 13, 2020 at 9:14 am

      don't necessarily need the ham bone...is why they sell smoked ham hocks and big chunks of fatback at the store, lower middle class staples

      Reply
      • Krissy

        April 13, 2020 at 1:15 pm

        Agreed! That's how I make my split pea soup too.

        Reply
      • Joyce

        April 12, 2022 at 11:49 am

        Hi Calvin
        I use the hock always and any left over ham goes in too. Great stuff!! Joyce Canada

        Reply
    2. SHANIKA

      December 24, 2019 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      This soup looks so flavorful and well seasoned! I'd so turn my leftover ham into this recipe on any day!

      Reply
    3. Claudia

      December 24, 2019 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      This is a great comforting recipe for the colder days!

      Reply
    4. Dannii

      December 24, 2019 at 12:06 am

      What a great way to use leftover ham. It looks super comforting.

      Reply
    5. Anita

      December 23, 2019 at 7:25 pm

      5 stars
      This soup is such an amazing way to use leftover ham bone. It's so flavorful and perfect to warm up in the cold weather. 🙂

      Reply

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