Classic Ham & White Bean Soup

This classic ham and white bean soup is cozy, healthy, and absolutely delicious. It’s packed with lots of protein and healthy vegetables, and it’s a great way to repurpose leftover ham into something new and wonderful!

This ham and white bean soup has all the comforting, delicious elements that make a soup unforgettable. Tender ham, creamy white beans, hearty vegetables, a rich broth, and lots of Tuscan flavor. 

After trying this hearty soup with leftover holiday ham one year, I was hooked. The combination of aromatic vegetables and smoky ham is so comforting. Not to mention, it’s a great way to make sure that my leftovers don’t go to waste.

It’s definitely in my top 5 favorite soups, along with my Chicken Stew and Lentil & Ham Soup. I love to make up a batch for for quick and easy meal prep or simple dinner on a busy weeknight. 

While I love soups around the time of year when it’s cold, I tend to eat them year-round because sometimes I just need a dump and go dish. This large pot of soup goes a long way and I also feel like it’s hearty without being too heavy in the warmer months.

You’re going to love this white bean and ham soup recipe!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

If you’re looking for a great recipe to add to your soup rotation, this is it. There’s so many wonderful things about this flavorful soup:

• It’s so easy to make! Most of this recipe is hands-off. There’s only a tiny bit of prep work involved, and with everything cooked in just one pot, there’s less to clean up after.
• This recipe is a great way to use up leftover ham. Say goodbye to boring leftovers! This recipe turns your leftover ham into something truly special. And because this recipe is large enough to last more than one meal, it’s even better the next day. As the soup sits in the broth and spices, the flavor becomes stronger and makes for an even more delicious meal. 
• Ham and white bean soup is very budget friendly. Using leftovers and budget friendly ingredients like beans, carrots, and celery, and onion, this is a great way to stretch your ingredients. 

Ingredients

A great soup has lots of different elements in it so that every single bite is full of flavor. While there are quite a few ingredients in this recipe, its the best way to ensure depth of flavor. Here’s a list of everything that you will need:

• Cooked ham: Use any leftover ham, spiral ham, or ham steak, diced or pulled into bite sized pieces. I like a good smoky ham to add smoky flavor to my savory soup. 
• White beans: Cannellini beans, great northern beans, navy beans or any other white bean will work great! This adds tons of protein to the soup. 
• Vegetable broth or chicken broth: I love to use my own homemade vegetable broth, but any store bought brand you like will work great! For a richer flavor and more protein, feel free to use bone broth instead.
• Produce: Diced onion, chopped celery, chopped carrots, and minced garlic all add so much to this dish. I recommend using fresh veggies instead of frozen or canned.
• Seasonings: Season the soup with a mixture of dried thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and salt & black pepper. You can also use Italian seasoning in a pinch.
• Oil: Use a little avocado oil or olive oil to sauté the vegetables.
• Ham bone, optional: If you have a leftover ham bone, throw it in the soup while it simmers. It will add TONS of extra flavor! 

Optional ingredients: If you like extra veggies in your soup, feel free to add 1-2 cups total of vegetables like diced bell pepper, sliced mushrooms, diced potatoes, or diced cabbage.

How to Make Classic Ham and White Bean Soup

Follow these simple instructions and you’ll have a big pot of ham and white bean soup ready in no time. Here’s what you need to know:

In a large stock pot or dutch oven, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic. If you’re including any other optional vegetables, add them now. 

Sauté the vegetables for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all of the veggies are softened a bit. 

Then add the vegetable broth, beans, ham, seasonings (except for salt), bay leaves, and ham bone if using, to the large soup pot then stir to combine. Bring the soup to a simmer, then cover and allow it to cook for 20-30 minutes. 

To test if the soup is done, simply open the lid and check to see how soft the carrots are. If they’re still crisp, cook for another 5 minutes and then test them again. If the carrots are soft, the soup is done! Simply season to taste and enjoy! 

Slow Cooker Adaptation

Did you know you can actually make this recipe in your slow cooker? It’s really easy to do:

Add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and use a large spoon to stir everything together. 

Then set the lid on, and turn your slow cooker to low heat for 4-5 hours, or high heat for 2.5-3 hours. Give the soup a stir after the cooking time has passed, and it’s ready to enjoy!

Instant Pot Adaptation

For an extra quick version of this recipe, make Instant Pot ham and white bean soup:

Set your Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add the oil, and sauté the diced onions, celery, garlic, and carrots for about 4-5 minutes. Then add all of the other ingredients and stir together well.

Close the Instant Pot, then set to High pressure for 5 minutes. Once it’s done cooking, allow the pressure to naturally release, which usually takes about 10-15 minutes.

Once the pressure valve drops down, the lid will unlock. Carefully open the lid, stir and enjoy! 

How to Store Leftover Ham and White Bean Soup

Transfer the cooled soup to an airtight container or zip top bag, and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze your leftovers!

Allow it to cool completely, then transfer the leftover soup to an airtight container, zip top bag, or freezer bags. Squeeze as much air out as possible, then set in the freezer. Use within 2-3 months for best taste. Defrost it by sitting the bag on a plate in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat on the stovetop and enjoy!

What to Serve with Ham and White Bean Soup

Ham and white bean soup will pair nicely with crusty bread, crackers, jasmine rice, or a cucumber and tomato salad. I personally love a big slice of cheesy garlic bread alongside a hearty bowl of this soup. However, ham and white soup is a complete meal all on its own, so sides are entirely optional!

Tips for Success

Check out these simple tips so that you soup turns out perfect every single time:

• Be sure to taste the soup before you add any salt to it. Ham can add a lot of salty flavor to the soup, so you may only need a little salt or even none at all once it cooks together.
• Don’t skip sautéing the veggies! It will bring out their flavor and add so much depth to this dish.
• Feel free to change up the flavor with different spices and herbs. Add kick with red pepper flakes, finish the soup with a garnish of parsley or add some paprika for a change of pace.

FAQ

How do you make ham and white bean soup less salty? 

If your soup ends up too salty, slice a potato and stick it into the pot for about 30 minutes. It will help bring out some of the excess salt and then you can discard the potato. It is also important to add salt to taste once the soup is completely done cooking. This will also help keep it from being too salty.

  Are ham and white beans good for you? 

There are plenty of different health benefits to ham and white beans! Not only is this dish packed with protein, but white beans are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is important to try and keep the sodium content of this dish down since some ham can be pretty salty.