Crockpot White Bean and Ham Soup (Easy & Hearty)
This Crockpot White Bean and Ham Soup is the ultimate comfort food for busy days. With tender beans, smoky ham, and hearty vegetables, it’s a nourishing one-pot meal that’s easy to prepare and full of flavor. Just toss everything into your slow cooker, let it simmer, and enjoy a warm, filling bowl that tastes like home.Perfect for using up leftover ham and ideal for meal prep, this soup delivers delicious results every time.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried great northern or navy beans or 3 cans, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ pounds ham bone, ham hock, or diced leftover ham
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste add at the end, depending on the saltiness of the ham
Optional:
- 1 cup chopped kale or spinach for added greens
Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
- If using dried beans, rinse and soak them overnight. Drain before cooking.
- Dice the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.
Layer the Ingredients in the Crockpot
- Add the soaked (or canned) beans to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the ham bone, ham hock, or diced ham on top.
- Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
Add Seasonings and Broth
- Sprinkle in the thyme, black pepper, and bay leaf.
- Pour in the chicken broth until all ingredients are submerged.
Cook the Soup
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until beans are tender and ham is falling apart.
Finish the Soup
- Remove the ham bone or hock. Shred any meat and return it to the pot.
- Discard the bay leaf.
- Mash some beans with a spoon or use an immersion blender for a thicker consistency, if desired.
Season and Serve
- Taste and adjust with salt or additional pepper as needed.
- Serve warm with bread, salad, or your favorite side dish.