Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (2024)

This Southern-style Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup will bring back childhood memories and warm you up from the inside, out. Plus, there's no need to soak the beans in this recipe, so in just a few minutes of prep you can have dinner in the crock pot.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (1)

I’m convinced there’s nothing better on a cold, rainy or snowy day than to come home to warm soup cooking in the crock pot.

We partnered withHurst’s® HamBeens® to bring you the perfect cold-weather dinner. This slow cooker ham and bean soup brought back so many fond memories of my childhood – coming in after playing in the snow or walking home from school on a cold afternoon to a warm bowl of soup and a side of cornbread.

The soup is hearty without being too heavy, and the best part of all? It can feed a large crowd for a reeeaaallllyyyygood price (especially if you’re using leftover ham!).

This soup only takes a few minutes to throw together, and then it simmers in your crock pot all day until you’re ready to eat.

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Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (3)

We usedHurst’s® HamBeens® 15 Bean Soup® as the main ingredient in this recipe. You can find these in the dry bean section of your local grocery store.

Each package of beans comes with a vegetable-based seasoning packet that adds the perfect kick of flavor to any soup.

For just a few dollars, these beans are incredibly cost effective. They make the soup very filling and provide great nutrition, too (they’re full of fiber, plant protein, and even more vitamins and minerals).

PLUS – there’s NO SOAKING REQUIRED. I know that can be a drawback for using dry beans while cooking, but usingHurst’s® HamBeens® 15 Bean Soup®, you don’t need to soak them!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (4)

This slow cooker soup is the ultimate comfort food and it’s great for family get togethers (we know Christmas and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner).

We used leftover ham in this recipe, but you could also use the entire ham bone, or purchase ham hocks from your local butcher for an even more robust flavor.

How to freeze and store

We made a double batch of this soup (and it feeds a lot in the first place). To store, you can refrigerate in an air-tight container for 3-5 days.

To freeze, let the soup cool, then transfer to a freezer-safe gallon-size ziploc bag. Lay flat in your freezer and store for up to 60 days. To reheat, thaw in your refrigerator for 24 hours, then heat over the stove until warm when you’re ready to serve.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (5)

How to make slow cooker ham and bean soup:

Step 1: Remove the seasoning packet from beans and set aside for later. Sort any unwanted debris from beans, then rinse and drain.

Step 2: Place celery, carrots, onion, ham (or entire ham bone if you’re using one), chicken broth, garlic, paprika, and beans in a 6-quart slow cooker. Make sure the celery, carrots, and onion are cut as uniformly as possible to ensure even cooking.

Step 3: Cook on high 5 hours (or on low for 7-8) or until the beans are tender. Keep in mind that removing the lid of the crockpot during cooking time will take even longer. (Each slow cooker cooks at different rates, so check the beans for doneness before moving on to the next step).

Step 4: Once tender, remove the bay leaf (and the hambone if used – chop any meat left on the bone and add it back to the pot.) Stir in Ham Flavor packet.

Step 5: Cook for additional 30 minutes, then serve warm.

We love this dish served with homemade cornbread or cornbread muffins.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (6)

Other soup add-ins or substitutions

This is a great recipe to add your own spin to and really make it your own.

  • Chopped bacon
  • Diced tomatoes (add it at the end of cooking)
  • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
  • Lemon juice (add it at the end of cooking)
  • Chili powder
  • Chicken or sausage (in place of ham)
  • Hot sauce
  • Crushed red pepper
  • Served over rice

Have you tried our Slow Cooker Honey Baked Ham? It is so easy to make and is our Grandma’s famous recipe!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (7)

Serves: 12

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

This Southern-style Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup will bring back childhood memories and warm you up from the inside, out. Plus, there's no need to soak the beans in this recipe, so in just a few minutes of prep you can have dinner in the crock pot.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 hours hrs

Total Time 5 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces Hurst’s HamBeens 15 Bean Soup (dry beans)
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 3 carrots diced
  • 1 onion diced
  • 16 ounces cooked ham diced
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped

Instructions

  • Remove seasoning packet from beans and set aside. Sort any unwanted debris from beans, then rinse and drain.

  • Place celery, carrots, onion, ham, chicken broth, garlic, paprika, bay leaf, thyme, and beans in a 6-quart slow cooker.

  • Cook on high 5-7 hours (or low for 7-8) or until beans are tender. (Crock pots all cook at different rates, so check the beans for doneness).

  • Once tender-remove the bay leaf.

  • Stir in the Ham Flavor packet.

  • Cook for additional 30 minutes, then serve warm.

Video

Notes

You can also use a leftover ham bone with ham on it in place of the diced ham.

Nutrition

Calories: 237 kcal · Carbohydrates: 4 g · Protein: 8 g · Fat: 3 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 28 mg · Sodium: 1111 mg · Potassium: 317 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 1 g · Vitamin A: 2614 IU · Vitamin C: 23 mg · Calcium: 24 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

  • Ladle

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (8)

*This post was sponsored byHurst’s® HamBeens®, but all views and opinions are my own. We love promoting products and brands we use and love, and supporting other family businesses is important to us.*

Join The Discussion

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  1. Robin Olson says:

    I can’t find the bean soup at my local supermarket. Any suggestions?

  2. Cyd says:

    They sell it on Amazon and at Wal Mart. You could use another dry bean soup mixture. Some have 13 beans. Something similar will work great too.

  3. Jj says:

    I do not have a ham flavour package, what spices could I use?Thank you

  4. Cyd says:

    Here is a link to see how to make your own. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/140879/brown-sugar-and-spice-dry-ham-rub/

  5. Esther says:

    This sounds good, BUT how do I convert this to the instant pot?

  6. Cyd says:

    Here is a post we did on converting recipes to the instant pot. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/how-to-convert-recipes-into-instant-pot-recipes/

  7. Kelly says:

    Can you mix it all together and freeze uncooked? I'm trying to make up a bunch of freezer meals to dump in the crockpot and cook at a later time.

  8. Cyd says:

    I'm sure this will freeze just fine. The prep time is 10 minutes, so we have not made it as a freezer meal.

  9. Dacia says:

    I made this last night with cornbread. Soooo good! I used about half a tsp of dried thyme since it's not my favorite spice. Total success! It took about 6 hours in my crock pot to get the beans tender. I just kept an eye on them so they didn't get mushy. They were perfect! I will definitely make this again! Glad I found this recipe! Thank you!!

  10. Judy Ellen Davidson says:

    My mom has been in the hospital since November 14, 2019. She finally came home a week ago. But, she can't cook for herself so my sister and I are taking turns. I made the Ham and Bean Soup today. I would eat it myself but I am fasting, doctor's orders. I did taste the broth, so yummy!

  11. Cyd says:

    Hi Judy. Thanks for your sweet comment on our Slow Cooker Ham and Bean soup. Best wishes on a speedy recovery for your mom. Sending love!!

  12. Judy says:

    Can you use regular dry navy beans ?

  13. Cyd says:

    We used the bag of Hurst's HamBeens. It's a bag of mixed dry beans.

  14. Pat says:

    Sorry, I’m not sure what happened, but I followed recipe to the letter. It smelled wonderful, but had a sour-like flavor. Even my dog would’nt eat it.

  15. Angela T. says:

    This was very good! Will definitely make again. Thank you!

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (9)

About The Author:

Steph Loaiza

Steph lives in Southern California with her husband, Andrew, and her five kids: twin girls and 3 boys. She going to Disneyland with her family and reading in her spare time.

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Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken ham and bean soup broth? ›

You can use flour, cornstarch, arrowroot or potato starch as a thickening agent; whisk up to 4 tablespoons with a cup of hot broth and add it to the pot. You can use a slurry in conjunction with a roux but in that case, choose a starch for the slurry other than flour.

How to cook ham beans in a slow cooker? ›

directions
  1. Add onion and celery to crock pot.
  2. Place ham bone or hocks on top of onion and celery.
  3. Pour rinsed beans around ham and sprinkle with pepper.
  4. Add bay leaves and garlic.
  5. Add chicken stock and stir to combine all ingredients cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Why is my ham and bean soup watery? ›

Add More Beans

One of the simplest ways to thicken up your ham and bean soup is by adding more beans. The beans will naturally release starch as they cook, which will help to thicken the soup.

Can you put a tin of beans in the slow cooker? ›

Delicious homemade slow cooker baked beans even better than the ones you grew up on! This easy baked beans recipe uses three types of canned beans, is perfectly sweet with a kick of heat if you'd like, and is easily made vegetarian.

Can you use instant mashed potatoes to thicken bean soup? ›

This soup-thickening hack couldn't be easier. Unlike using flour, which requires either making a little roux before you start cooking or a beurre manié afterwards, or using a cornstarch slurry that can create a gloppy texture, the instant mashed potato flakes can simply be sprinkled into the finished dish.

What makes bean soup thicker? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

What beans should not be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

Turns out cooking dried red kidney beans and cannellini beans in your slow cooker can make you sick. Find out how to eliminate the toxin that can make you ill and how to safely prepare and cook these commonly used legumes.

Do beans need to be soaked before slow cooking? ›

If you're the impatient, bean-hungry type, you can cook your beans from dry without any soaking at all. Here's the thing: Beans that have not been soaked ahead of time will always take longer to cook, but they will, indeed, cook.

Do you soak beans before slow cooker? ›

How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker
  1. Wash hands with soap and hot water.
  2. Place dried beans in a bowl.
  3. Add water to cover beans by 3 to 4 inches.
  4. Let beans soak overnight or 6 hours covered on the counter.
  5. Use colander to drain and rinse beans before cooking.
  6. Place soaked beans in crock pot.

What to add to bean soup for more flavor? ›

Note: Optional embellishments (singly or in combination): Fruity extra-virgin olive oil or a flavored oil such as sage, basil, rosemary or truffle oil, drizzled over each serving; chopped fresh mild herbs such as basil, cilantro, chives, flat-leaf parsley, sprinkled over each serving; hard aged cheese, such as ...

How do I give my bean soup more flavor? ›

Garlic and onions will bolster the taste of bean soup. Be sure to take a portion of the beans and mash or purée them for extra texture. Aromatics like celery or carrot will add more complex flavor notes. Despite being expensive, both mushrooms and Parmesan cheese will add some real umami (i.e., mouth feel) to the soup.

What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›

That's what my gram used to do:
  • Gently fry a mixture of paprika, cumin and crushed garlic in olive oil in a small pan. Watch out it doesn't burn. Pour on top of soup when soup is already in serving bowl.
  • Prepare a mixture of freshly squeezed lemon juice and crushed garlic. Texture of the mixture should be pretty thick.

How do you thicken soup bean soup? ›

Mashing a Portion of Beans: Gently mash a portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot. This releases starches, naturally thickening the broth. Be careful not to overdo it; you still want to maintain the soup's texture.

How do you make soup bean juice thicker? ›

To thicken your broth, consider the following methods:
  1. Reduce the soup. Simmering your soup over low heat on the stovetop or in a slow cooker will cause the water in the soup to evaporate and the soup to naturally thicken. ...
  2. Add a thickening agent. ...
  3. Purée the beans. ...
  4. Prepare a roux. ...
  5. Add puréed vegetables.
Jan 25, 2022

How do I thicken my ham soup? ›

Return broth to soup and stir. If you find yours is too runny, you have several options for making it thicker. Try adding breadcrumbs, cream or pureed vegetables to make a heartier ham and beans. If you don't have any extra ingredients, you can add a vegetable-based starch.

How do you make bean liquid thicker? ›

You can add a pinch of flour to thicken the sauce. Add a thickener. Depending on your requirements, you can use a roux*, some potato flour, tapioca flour, some (but not solely) tomato paste or xanthan gum (a corn-derived thickener) to bind up some of the extra liquid and give body to your sauce.

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