Ham and White Bean Soup
Leftover Ham and White Bean Soup is the best way to use up a holiday ham bone. Whether you need a slow cooker recipe or a quick stovetop dinner, this hearty soup delivers. Loaded with Great Northern beans, tender carrots, and savory ham, it's a classic comfort food meal that freezes perfectly for meal prep. Get the easy instructions for using dried or canned beans.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried Great Northern beans or navy/cannellini, sorted and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 3 celery ribs diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth plus more as needed
- 1 ham bone or 2 ham hocks or 1 smoked ham shank
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cups diced cooked ham add near the end
- ½ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
- 1 –2 tablespoons lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to finish
- Salt to taste (often minimal, depending on ham)
- 2 cups chopped spinach or kale optional
- Chopped parsley for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Sort and rinse the beans. If soaking, soak overnight (or quick soak), then drain and rinse.
- Heat olive oil (or butter) in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 6–8 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Add beans, broth, ham bone/hocks/shank, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a steady simmer.
- Simmer partially covered until beans are tender: 60–90 minutes for soaked beans, or 2–2½ hours for unsoaked beans. Add more broth/water if needed.
- Remove ham bone/hocks, pull off meat, chop, and return meat to the pot. Discard bones/skin.
- Stir in diced ham and simmer 10–15 minutes to warm through.
- Optional thickening: mash or blend 1–2 cups of beans/broth, then stir back into the pot.
- Remove bay leaves. Season with black pepper and salt if needed. Stir in lemon juice or vinegar. Add greens (optional) and cook 2–3 minutes until wilted. Serve hot.
Notes
Low-sodium broth helps you control salt since ham varies a lot.
For thicker soup, mash more beans or blend a larger portion.
Add diced ham late so it stays tender.
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