Crock Pot Bean Soup with Ham is a comforting hearty dish that’s perfect for slow cooking. This soup combines tender beans smoky ham and aromatic vegetables all simmered together in a rich flavorful broth. It’s an excellent way to use leftover ham and is ideal for cold days when you want a warm nourishing meal. With the convenience of a crock pot you can set it and forget it allowing the flavors to meld together over several hours. The result is a satisfying soup that’s packed with protein fiber and savory goodness making it both healthy and delicious.
Ingredients
1 meaty ham bone
2 cups navy beans or mixed beans, washed, sorted, and soaked overnight
8 cups of water
1 to 1 1/2 cups
chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
1
bay leaf
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar, or to taste
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Put the beans in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Pick over and discard any malformed or damaged beans and look for small stones.
Combine beans, ham bone, water, chopped onion, garlic or garlic powder, and the bay leaf in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
Turn to low and cook 6 to 8 hours longer, or until beans are tender.
Season with lemon juice, honey or brown sugar, salt, and pepper, to taste.
Remove ham bone; chop meat and return to crockpot.
Remove bay leaf before serving.
Enjoy!
Recipe Modifications
For extra flavor try adding 1/2 cup of chopped celery and 1/2 cup of diced carrots when you sauté the onions. If you don’t have a ham bone substitute with two ham hocks or 2 cups of cubed cooked ham for a meaty touch. Pro Tip: To soak the beans overnight mix 5 teaspoons of kosher salt with 8 cups of water. Submerge the dried beans in this solution and let them sit overnight. The next day rinse them thoroughly then transfer the beans to the slow cooker and cover them with 8 cups of fresh water. You can also stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt or season to taste after cooking.
