Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup

Description

A hearty, comforting soup loaded with tender beans, smoky ham, and flavorful vegetables simmered low and slow until rich and satisfying. Perfect for chilly nights and easy meal prep.

🛒 Ingredients (Serves 6–8)

🔹 Main Ingredients

• 2 cups dried navy beans (or great northern beans)
• 2 cups cooked ham, diced
• 1 ham bone or ham hock (optional for extra flavor)

🔹 Vegetables

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

🔹 Broth & Seasoning

• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste

🍳 Equipment

• Slow cooker (Crockpot)

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

🔸 Step 1: Prep Beans

• Rinse and sort dried beans
• Optional: soak overnight for faster cooking

🔸 Step 2: Add to Slow Cooker

• Add beans, ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, broth, thyme, bay leaf, and pepper

🔸 Step 3: Slow Cook

🔹 LOW Setting:

• Cook for 7–9 hours

🔹 HIGH Setting:

• Cook for 4–5 hours

✔ Beans should be tender

🔸 Step 4: Finish

• Remove ham bone or bay leaf
• Shred any meat from bone and return to soup

🔸 Step 5: Adjust Texture

• Mash some beans for a creamier soup if desired

🔸 Step 6: Serve

• Serve hot with bread or cornbread

🍽️ Serving Ideas

• Crusty bread 🥖
• Cornbread 🌽
• Side salad 🥗

💡 Pro Tips

✔ Ham bone adds deep smoky flavor
✔ Don’t add too much salt early—ham is salty
✔ Soup thickens as it sits
✔ Leftovers taste even better next day

🔄 Variations

🌶️ Spicy

Add cayenne or smoked paprika

🥬 Extra Veggies

Add spinach or potatoes

🦃 Turkey Version

Use smoked turkey instead of ham

🍲 Creamier Soup

Blend part of the soup

❓ FAQs

Can I use canned beans?
Yes—reduce cooking time significantly.

Can I freeze it?
Yes—freezes very well.

Why are my beans still hard?
Older beans may take longer to cook.

⚖️ Approx. Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: ~250–320
• Protein: ~18g
• Carbs: ~28g
• Fat: ~7g

⚖️ WW Points (Estimated)

🔹 Traditional Version

👉 3–5 WW Points per serving

🔻 Lean Ham Version

👉 2–4 WW Points

✅ Ultra Low-Point Version

(Extra beans + lean ham)
👉 1–3 WW Points