This is the best Ham and Bean Soup recipe! There’s no better comfort food than an easy and classic soup, and this definitely makes the cut. I love this hearty soup when the weather turns cool. This classic ham and bean soup is easy to make and something the entire family will love!
Homemade Ham and Bean Soup
Ham and Bean Soup is a classic and hearty soup recipe that everyone will love. It’s easy, it’s flavorful, and it’s the best ham and bean soup recipe ever!
Now that Christmas is behind us, it’s time to move on to all the cold weather comfort food our stomachs can handle. Delicious hearty soups are at the top of my list, and this Easy Ham and Bean Soup is a family favorite.
There’s just something so nice about cooking up a pot of amazing soup to feed the entire family. This Ham and Bean Soup isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a classic. The flavors have gone together like cheese and The Cookie Rookie for years and years.
If your’e looking for a recipe your entire family will love on these cool winter nights, you’ve come to the right place. So pull up a chair and dig into the best ham and bean soup recipe!
Best Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
This post is gonna be short and sweet, because there’s not much I need to say about this amazing Ham and Bean Soup. I don’t feel like I need to sell you on it, because it’s just that good. You can feel good about feeding it to your family, and it’s just so darn easy to throw together. I’m on a soup kick lately, and I just cannot get enough of this one.
It’s a good thing to have some classics in your repertoire. They’re almost always easier than you think! This is the best ham and bean soup recipe, and it’s so easy to make any time.
What beans do you use for ham and bean soup?
We recommend using Great Northern Beans for this recipe, but you can also substitute Navy or Cannellini Beans.
What can I serve with this ham and bean soup recipe?
Just like any good soup, garnishes are key. Be sure you top this Ham and Bean Soup with some delicious crusty bread and some hot sauce. A little spice goes a long way, but really tops off this delicious soup.
Prefer to use a slow cooker? Follow the instructions in this Crockpot Ham and Bean Soup recipe!
Stay warm this winter with all the soups, starting with the best Ham and Bean Soup recipe. You won’t regret it!
Here are some of the best soup recipes from my site for you guys to check out too:
- The Best Creamy Chicken Soup
- Hearty Vegetable Soup
- Pesto Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Hash Brown Potato Soup
- Easy Beef Tortilla Soup
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy!
Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Great Northern Beans Navy or Cannellini beans can be substituted
- Water to cover beans while soaking
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 cups water
- 2 lb ham hock or ham bone
- 2 lb ham shank
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 sweet yellow onion peeled & diced
- 5 carrots peeled cut into 1/8” slices
- 2 ribs celery cut into 1/8” slices optional
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Parisien Herb or dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt possibly but taste first
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 bay leaves
- 4 strips bacon
- Hot sauce – optional
- Garnish: Chopped parsley or cilantro
- Corn bread for serving optional
Instructions
- Rinse beans (remove any that are discolored). Fill a large pot half full with water and bring the water to a boil. Remove water from heat and add the beans. Place the lid on the pot and allow the beans to soak 2 hours, then drain the water.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil & 2 tablespoons butter in Dutch oven or soup pot.
- Add carrots, onions and celery and sauté until tender.
- Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Add all soup ingredients except the beans to the vegetables and bring to a boil, then reduce temperature to LOW and simmer 1 hour. Stir periodically.
- Add the beans to the soup. Bring to a boil, then reduce temperature to LOW and simmer 2 hours or until the meat begins to fall away from the bones. Stir periodically.
- Remove the meat from the bones then place the meat back in the bean pot. Discard the bones.
- When ready to serve, remove bacon strips and bay leaves.
- If desired, add a dash or two of hot sauce.
- Serve with corn bread and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley. Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Nutrition Information
This was AMAZING! I am in my 30’s and am starting to find my way around the kitchen and have never made a soup with a ham bone or anything like this. It was so easy and delicious! When I pulled the bacon out of the soup, I put the bacon in the oven at the same time as the cornbread to get it crispy, and then crumbled it and put it on top of the soup…so good! Thank you for this recipe!
You sound just like me when I started this blog, and this is the exact reason I started it!! I’m so happy it was helpful in your cooking journey!
Best ham and bean recipe I’ve tried! However, I am a little heavy handed on the spice and also doubled the garlic. It came out fantastic! We also crumble bacon on top and used an instant pot to speed up the cook time. Thank you for the recipe! This will be added to our recipe collection for sure 💚
That looks delicious, Kathleen! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I can’t find a printable version of your ham and bean soup, or for that matte the recipe at all. Just pictures.
Hey Rose, if you follow the link to my Mom’s site you can click “print” on her recipe card for a printable version. Here is a link to that printable version. Enjoy!
http://www.simplysated.com/easyrecipe-print/4529-0/
I have stopped looking for the recipes. It is too hard to find them and is so annoying . I looked for the ham and bean soup to see if it had gotten any easier, but it has gotten worse! Not worth it!
Hi Susan, almost all of my over 800 recipes on the site have recipe cards at the bottom of each post. There is a print button on each on for a print friendly version. This recipe is special because I was trying to highlight my mom’s blog, so I linked to her rather than putting the full recipe here (which would mean no one would click over to see her recipe, and I wanted to give her full credit. We do this as our full time jobs and the only way to make money is people coming to our actual sites.) I’m sorry you’re frustrated, but this is a free site and is my space on the internet. Please always feel free to email becky@thecookierookie.com if you need help finding a recipe, I can always send a pdf of the recipe. There is a clear link in bold at the bottom of this post with where the recipe can be found: http://www.simplysated.com/classic-ham-bean-soup/ Hope you love the recipe if you try it. Thanks.
Why is it so very difficult to find the recipe. I like the pictures, but finding how to make it—-almost impossible.
So how do I find the recipes?
Hi Barb, almost all of my over 800 recipes on the site have recipe cards at the bottom of each post. There is a print button on each on for a print friendly version. This recipe is special because I was trying to highlight my mom’s blog, so I linked to her rather than putting the full recipe here (which would mean no one would click over to see her recipe, and I wanted to give her full credit. We do this as our full time jobs and the only way to make money is people coming to our actual sites.) I’m sorry you’re frustrated, but this is a free site and is my space on the internet. Please always feel free to email becky@thecookierookie.com if you need help finding a recipe, I can always send a pdf of the recipe. There is a clear link in bold at the bottom of this post with where the recipe can be found: http://www.simplysated.com/classic-ham-bean-soup/ Hope you love the recipe if you try it. Thanks.
i LOVE YOUR SITE AND YOUR RECIPES BUT I CAN NOT FIND AN EASY WAY TO PRINT THEM OFF – AM I MISSING SOMETHING OR DO I NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE – THANKS
Hi Dick, please follow the bold link at the bottom of the recipe, this is my Mom’s recipe so I wanted to show people her site. The link is also here: http://www.simplysated.com/classic-ham-bean-soup/
I can’t seem to find the recipe for your bean and ham soup.
Hi Cheri, please follow the bold link at the bottom of the recipe, this is my Mom’s recipe so I wanted to show people her site. The link is also here: http://www.simplysated.com/classic-ham-bean-soup/
I can’t seem to ind the recipe for your Bean Soup on this page. You have all the great oics but no easy obtainable instructions with the pics.
Hey Dixie-
The last line of the post has the link for the recipe. Its a post on my mom’s blog, so I wanted to make sure people saw her actual site. Here is the link: http://www.simplysated.com/classic-ham-bean-soup/
Enjoy!
You At the bottom of the last photo you’ll see this: Hop over to SIMPLY SATED (click on the link) where my Mom has the recipe. Thanks Mom!
Click on the SIMPLY SATED> :)
But thats a different recipe!
Hey Rose Marie- It’s the same exact recipe, my Mom’s recipe, she just took her own pictures. My pictures and post are new, but I used her recipe exactly.
Thank you Stacey :)
Your photos are gorgeous, Bec, and make me want a bowl of Classic Ham & Bean Soup this second. :-) Thanks so much for sharing!!
Well it’s your awesome recipe!!!! :) Thanks so much for sharing it!