This slow cooker ham and bean soup is a comforting and hearty dish perfect for chilly days. The combination of ham, white beans, and fresh vegetables creates a flavorful and nutritious meal that is easy to prepare. Simply toss everything into your slow cooker and let it work its magic while you go about your day.
If you don't usually keep dried white beans in your pantry, you might need to pick some up at the supermarket. These beans need to be soaked overnight before cooking. Additionally, make sure you have chicken broth on hand, as it forms the base of the soup's flavor. The rest of the ingredients, such as carrots, celery, onion, and garlic, are common kitchen staples.

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Ham And Bean Soup
Ham: Diced pieces of cooked ham add a savory and smoky flavor to the soup.
Dried white beans: These beans need to be soaked overnight and provide a creamy texture and protein to the soup.
Carrots: Diced carrots add sweetness and color to the soup.
Celery: Diced celery adds a subtle crunch and enhances the overall flavor.
Onion: Diced onions provide a base of aromatic flavor.
Chicken broth: This liquid forms the base of the soup and adds depth of flavor.
Garlic: Minced garlic adds a robust and aromatic element.
Dried thyme: This herb adds a subtle earthy flavor.
Ground black pepper: Adds a bit of heat and enhances the overall taste.
Salt: Adjust to taste to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
To enhance the flavor of your ham and bean soup, consider sautéing the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic in a bit of olive oil before adding them to the slow cooker. This step caramelizes the vegetables, adding a deeper, richer flavor to the soup.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
ham - Substitute with smoked turkey: Smoked turkey provides a similar smoky flavor and meaty texture.
dried white beans - Substitute with canned white beans: Canned white beans are pre-cooked and save time, though they may be softer.
carrots - Substitute with parsnips: Parsnips have a similar texture and a slightly sweeter flavor.
celery - Substitute with fennel: Fennel adds a slight anise flavor and similar crunch.
onion - Substitute with leeks: Leeks provide a milder, sweeter onion flavor.
chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth is a good alternative for a vegetarian option.
garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots have a milder garlic flavor and add a hint of sweetness.
dried thyme - Substitute with dried oregano: Dried oregano offers a different but complementary herbal note.
ground black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat without the black specks.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds umami and saltiness, enhancing the soup's depth.
Alternative Recipes Similar to This Soup
How to Store or Freeze Your Soup
Allow the ham and bean soup to cool completely before storing. This helps maintain the texture and flavor of the soup.
Transfer the cooled soup into airtight containers. For easy portioning, consider using individual serving-sized containers.
Label the containers with the date of preparation. This ensures you keep track of freshness and consume the soup within a safe timeframe.
Store the containers in the refrigerator if you plan to consume the soup within 3-4 days. The ham and vegetables will stay fresh and flavorful.
For longer storage, place the containers in the freezer. The soup can be frozen for up to 3 months without significant loss of quality.
When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen soup in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps retain the texture of the beans and vegetables.
Reheat the soup on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, heating in short intervals and stirring in between.
If the soup appears too thick after reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or water to reach the desired consistency.
Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed before serving. The flavors may mellow during storage, so a little extra seasoning can enhance the taste.
Serve the reheated ham and bean soup hot, garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme for an added burst of flavor.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method: Pour the ham and bean soup into a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating. Once it starts to simmer, reduce the heat to low and let it warm through for about 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary before serving.
Microwave Method: Transfer a portion of the soup into a microwave-safe bowl. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or a microwave-safe plate to prevent splatters. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure even heating. If it's not hot enough, continue to heat in 30-second increments until it reaches the desired temperature.
Slow Cooker Method: If you have plenty of time, you can reheat the soup in the slow cooker. Pour the leftover soup back into the slow cooker and set it on low. Allow it to heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. This method is great for maintaining the soup's texture and flavor.
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Pour the soup into an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminum foil. Heat in the oven for about 20-30 minutes, or until the soup is thoroughly heated. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Double Boiler Method: For a gentle reheating process, use a double boiler. Fill the bottom pot with water and bring it to a simmer. Place the soup in the top pot and stir occasionally until it is heated through. This method helps to prevent the soup from scorching or sticking to the pot.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Slow cooker: A countertop electrical appliance used for cooking food at a low temperature over a long period of time.
Cutting board: A durable board on which to place material for cutting.
Chef's knife: A versatile knife used for chopping, slicing, and dicing vegetables and meats.
Measuring cups: Tools used to measure the volume of liquid or bulk solid cooking ingredients.
Measuring spoons: Tools used to measure small quantities of ingredients, both liquid and dry.
Mixing spoon: A large spoon used for stirring ingredients together.
Garlic press: A kitchen tool used to crush garlic cloves efficiently.
Peeler: A tool used to remove the outer skin of vegetables like carrots and celery.
Colander: A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with holes in it used for draining food such as beans after soaking.
Ladle: A large, long-handled spoon used for serving soup.
How to Save Time on Making This Soup
Pre-dice ingredients: Dice the ham, carrots, celery, and onion the night before to save time in the morning.
Use canned beans: Substitute soaked dried white beans with canned beans to skip the soaking step.
Pre-mix spices: Combine the dried thyme and ground black pepper in a small container ahead of time.
Batch cook: Double the recipe and freeze half for a quick meal later.
Slow cooker liners: Use slow cooker liners for easy cleanup.

Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ham, diced
- 1 cup Dried white beans soaked overnight
- 1 cup Carrots, diced
- 1 cup Celery, diced
- 1 cup Onion, diced
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Thyme dried
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper ground
- to taste Salt
Instructions
- 1. Place all ingredients into the slow cooker.
- 2. Stir to combine.
- 3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- 4. Check seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- 5. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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