Home » Main Dishes » Pork » Ham and Bean Soup

Ham and Bean Soup

Ham and Bean Soup is a hearty and delicious soup that can be on the table in under an hour. Made with plenty of vegetables, white beans and chunks of leftover ham for a filling meal. 

We love serving homemade soup up with a pan of Cornbread or crusty bread for a comforting and delicious dinner.

NEW Save the Recipe

Send Me The Recipe

Enter your email below and we will send it straight to your inbox!


Ham and Bean Soup in a bowl, slice of cornbread.

Soup has become one of my favorite comfort foods and this is just a good solid soup recipe. It is perfect for using up leftover ham and goes together quickly for a great weeknight dinner.

Ingredients Needed

  • Bacon Grease
  • Onion
  • Bell Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Ham
  • White Beans: Navy Beans or Cannellini
  • Chicken Broth
  • Granulated Garlic
  • Dried Thyme
  • Kosher Salt
  • Fresh Ground Pepper
  • Fresh Parsley

Step By Step Directions

Diced vegetables on a board, diced ham in a bowl.

PREP THE INGREDIENTS: Dice the vegetables and ham.

Collage of step by step making ham and bean soup.

1 Add bacon grease to a large pan or dutch oven and place over medium heat. When the drippings are hot, add the diced vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened and start to caramelize, about 10 minutes.

2 Add the diced ham and stir to combine.

3 Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4 Rinse and drain 2 cans of beans. Add to the ham and vegetable mixture.

5 Next, add the chicken broth, stirring to combine.

6 Stir in the garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Continue to cook until soup reaches a low boil. Lower to simmer. Stir occasionally, cooking for 20 minutes or until ready to serve.

Ham and Bean Soup in a bowl on a wood plate with cornbread, spoon.

Serve immediately, garnishing with parsley.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Freeze up to 3 months.

Reheat: Place soup in a pan and cook over medium heat, stirring often until heated through. Add additional broth or water if soup is too thick.

Variations: Soup is a great dish to use any vegetables that you have on hand. Okra, corn or spinach are great additions.

Closeup of bowl of ham and bean soup.

More Soup Recipes to Try:

Easy Stuffed Pepper Soup has become one of my all time favorites. It’s so flavorful and a quick and easy ground beef dinner. 

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup is a hearty soup that everyone loves. My kids ask for this on a weekly basis. I use homestyle noodles and it’s so delicious.

Tuscan Sausage and Potato Soup is quick, easy and incredibly delicious. It has a spicy kick from the sausage and you just won’t believe how amazing this soup turns out with just a few ingredients. 

Creamy Ham and Potato Soup is another great soup recipe for leftover ham. This is probably the soup I make the most often. It’s good any time of year. 

Ham and Bean Soup served in a bowl with cornbread on the side.

If you are looking for a delicious recipe to use up leftover ham, this Ham and Bean Soup is always a family favorite.

If you love this recipe as much as we do, please leave a comment and a five star review. Help us share on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!

Bowl of ham and bean soup.
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Ham and Bean Soup

Ham and Bean Soup is a hearty and delicious soup that can be on the table in under an hour. Made with plenty of vegetables, white beans and chunks of leftover ham for a filling meal. 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Soups
Cuisine: American
Keyword: leftover ham recipes, soup, white bean and ham soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 501kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons bacon grease
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 cups diced bell peppers
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 2 cups diced ham
  • 2 cans 16 ounce navy beans rinsed and drained
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • fresh parsley for garnish optional

Instructions

  • Dice the vegetables and ham.
  • Add bacon grease to a large pan or dutch oven and place over medium heat. When the drippings are hot, add the diced vegetables. Cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables are softened and start to caramelize, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the diced ham and stir to combine.
  • Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Rinse and drain 2 cans of beans. Add to the ham and vegetable mixture.
  • Next, add the chicken broth, stirring to combine.
  • Stir in the garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Continue to cook until soup reaches a low boil. Lower to simmer. Stir occasionally, cooking for 20 minutes or until ready to serve.
  • Serve immediately, garnishing with parsley.

Notes

Storage: Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Freeze up to 3 months.
Reheat: Place soup in a pan and cook over medium heat, stirring often until heated through. Add additional broth or water if soup is too thick.
Variations: Soup is a great dish to use any vegetables that you have on hand. Okra, corn or spinach are great additions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 1773mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 3g

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love how brothy and gorgeous this soup is! When I think of a ham soup, I usually think of a pureed pea green version. This seems lighter and more elegant. Yum! And hooray for being in the cabin, too. Can’t wait to see your new kitchen!

  2. Congrats on completing the big move!!! This quick, yummy soup is perfect for tomorrow when the snow moves in! I love the depth of flavor from the beer!

  3. You worked hard on your cabin! Congratulations on the move and I cant wait to see the new kitchen where all your magic happens! This soup is just my kind of soup. chunks of ham, beans and a thin boozy broth! Love it.

  4. 5 stars
    I’m sure your new kitchen and home will inspire many incredible meal – so happy for you! I am having to wipe my chip while looking at your beautiful photos. It’s been way too long since I made ham and bean soup and now I am totally craving it! Fantastic choice for these cool days.

  5. Looks delicious. I bet a person could even add some diced potato in with this which would make my hubby very happy having some potato in his soup.

  6. Wow Sounds so good!
    You can’t go wrong withPetit Jean Ham and Shiner Bock
    If I didn’t know better,I’d think we’re kin.

  7. So happy your home is finish! I know a lot of great memories and wonderful cooking will be made there! Can’t wait to try this recipe, know my family will love it.

  8. Can’t wait to see the cabin and the new kitchen – what fun! And this soup is perfect for a cold night – whether in your cabin int he country or my “city house.” I love the idea of adding beer to soup. Can’t wait to try it – with barley I think.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating