Name: Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 130 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ham bone leftover from a cooked ham.; 1 teaspoon thyme (dried).; Salt and black pepper, adjust to your taste.; Fresh parsley to sprinkle on top.; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped.; 4 sticks of celery, cut into small pieces.; 2 chopped carrots, peeled first.; 1 small onion, diced.; 1 pound Great Northern beans, dried.; 6 cups broth (chicken or vegetable).; 2 cups ham, diced and leftover.; 2 bay leaves.

Close-up of a hearty bean soup bowl, featuring ham chunks, veggies, and a parsley garnish. | chefemmakitchen.com

This bowl of ham and bean soup really hits the spot when you need some comfort food. The smells that fill your home while it's cooking are just incredible. It amazes me how a few simple ingredients like beans, ham, and vegetables can come together to make such a filling meal.

A Tasty Way To Use Leftover Ham

I always can't wait to whip up this soup after holiday meals with the extra ham. Sure, you could make sandwiches, but turning those leftovers into a thick, satisfying soup that really warms you up is something entirely different.

What You'll Need From Your Pantry

Great Northern Beans: Give them an overnight soak for that super soft, creamy texture.
Ham Bone: The secret to making your soup base truly fantastic.
Diced Ham: Leftover holiday ham works great, or you can buy some ready-cut.
Yellow Onion: Gives the soup a wonderful natural sweetness.
Carrots and Celery: They add nice color and deepen the flavor profile.
Fresh Garlic: Can't beat the taste it adds to the mix.
Chicken Broth: Makes the whole pot so flavorful and satisfying.
Bay Leaves and Thyme: These herbs work perfectly in this dish.
Salt, Pepper, and Parsley: Add to your liking and top with some greenery.

Let's Cook This Soup

Begin With Beans: Clean your beans thoroughly and leave them soaking overnight. In a rush? Try a quick soak method by boiling them briefly and letting them sit for about an hour.
Soften Your Vegetables: Heat some olive oil in your pot and throw in the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until they're soft and your kitchen smells amazing.
Combine Everything: Now toss in your beans, ham bone, cut-up ham, broth, and all those herbs. Everything needs to go into the pot at this point.
Let Everything Cook: This is when all the flavors blend together. Let it bubble slowly for around 2 hours until the beans feel perfectly soft.
Ready To Eat: Take out the ham bone, grab any meat that's still on it, then check if you need more salt or pepper. Sprinkle some parsley on top for a nice look.

A bowl of hearty bean and vegetable soup, garnished with fresh parsley, sits on a wooden surface. | chefemmakitchen.com

Customizing Your Soup

What I really like about this dish is how easy it is to change. Sometimes I cook a large pot when relatives visit or just a small amount for quiet evenings at home. You can use any type of white beans in this soup, and feel free to throw in more ham if you don't have a bone handy.

The Key To Deep Flavor

That ham bone will transform your soup completely. Cook everything on low heat for a long time and you'll get that rich, fantastic broth. If your soup gets too thick after sitting, just add a splash more broth when you heat it up again.

Perfect Pairings For This Dish

A piece of hot cornbread or a fresh roll goes so well with this soup. I usually add a basic green salad on the side too. It's such a great combo, especially when it's cold outside.

Storing For Later Meals

This soup stores really well. Just put it in a sealed container and it'll stay fresh in your fridge for about 3 days. Want to freeze it? Divide it into smaller portions first and it'll be good for a couple months.

A flat lay of various fresh ingredients for cooking, including diced carrots, celery, chicken, herbs, spices, garlic, and oil arranged on a wooden table. | chefemmakitchen.com

The Best Way To Reheat

Don't use the microwave for this soup. Warming it slowly on the stove keeps all the flavors intact. You might need to add a bit more broth to get the right thickness.

Try Some Variations

Don't be afraid to swap different beans or try new herbs. I sometimes add rosemary or mix in some potatoes. That's the fun part of cooking, you can always tweak things to suit your taste.

Boosting The Taste

A tiny bit of smoked paprika or some hot sauce works great if you like a kick. Sometimes I top mine with crumbled bacon or a spoonful of sour cream for extra richness.

Why This Soup Works So Well

All the magic happens as the soup slowly cooks and the flavors meld together. The ham bone creates that deep, savory broth while the beans soak up all those wonderful tastes.

A blue pot filled with ham, white beans, and herbs sits on a wooden table, alongside bowls of salt and pepper. | chefemmakitchen.com

Picking Your Bean Type

I really like Great Northern beans in this soup because they get so smooth. But you can't go wrong with navy or cannellini beans either, they each bring their own special quality to the soup.

Ideal For Post-Holiday Meals

Making this soup has become my go-to after big holiday dinners. It's such a comforting way to use up ham leftovers and everyone always looks forward to it.

Ready Meals In Your Freezer

I always make more than needed so I can freeze some. Just put single servings in containers, mark them with dates, and you've got homemade food ready whenever you want it.

Healthy And Satisfying

This isn't just tasty comfort food, it's full of good stuff too. The beans pack plenty of protein and fiber, and all the vegetables add tons of vitamins.

A person uses tongs to lift a piece of ham out of a pot of beans and vegetables, surrounded by bowls of spices. | chefemmakitchen.com

Total Comfort Food

There's just something about watching this soup bubble away on the stove that makes everything feel cozy. It's the kind of dish that gets everyone gathered around the table.

Works In Any Season

Though I cook this most often in cold months, it's actually great all year long. I just change up the veggies based on what's fresh at the moment.

A Hit With The Little Ones

Even my fussy kids dig into this soup. I let them add their own toppings like shredded cheese or crushed crackers, which makes mealtime more exciting for them.

A Family Tradition

This soup means more than just dinner in our house. It's one of those special recipes that's part of our family heritage. My mom taught me how to make it, and now my children help me cook it too.

A blue pot filled with hearty soup containing beans, diced vegetables, and pieces of meat is displayed on a wooden surface, surrounded by herbs and a decorative item. | chefemmakitchen.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why is soaking beans important?: It softens the beans for even cooking, speeds up the process, and makes them gentler on your stomach. Short on time? Use the quick-soak trick.
→ What can I use instead of a ham bone?: Try smoked ham hocks or just extra chopped ham. The bone adds more taste but isn’t absolutely needed.
→ How do I keep leftovers fresh?: Pop them into a tight container in the fridge for no more than 3 days. If it thickens, just add broth while reheating.
→ Is it freezer-friendly?: Yep! Cool it down first and store in airtight bags or containers. Enjoy it within 3 months.
→ Why sort through the dry beans?: Sometimes tiny rocks or bits sneak in with the beans. Sorting keeps unexpected surprises out of your soup.

Ham and Bean Soup