Thisham and bean soup recipeis the definition of cozy comfort food – thick, hearty, and packed with smoky flavor. Perfect for using up that leftover holiday ham or just warming up on a chilly evening.

A rustic blue ceramic bowl brimming with a hearty ham and bean soup recipe, featuring succulent chunks of meat and diced carrots, is served with a spoon. The scene is completed by pieces of cornbread resting on a striped cloth atop the textured blue surface.

There is nothing better than warming up with thishearty soup on a cold day. Made with simple pantry ingredients like dried navy beans, carrots, onions, and chunks of ham, this soup develops incredible depth of flavor as it simmers away on the stove. The beans become tender and creamy while soaking up all that savory ham goodness.

While it does take a few hours to cook, most of that time is completely hands-off — just an occasional stir while you go about your day. Serve it with some crusty bread for dunking and you’ve got a satisfying meal that tastes like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen. Make a big batch and keep it in the freezer to warm up when the craving hits.

A bowl of bean chili with a spoon rests on a blue-striped cloth beside cornbread pieces, reminiscent of a hearty ham and bean soup. In the background, the pressure cooker with labeled buttons stands ready for its next culinary adventure.

Why You’ll Love This Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

Ultimate Comfort:This ham and bean soup iscomforting, delicious, and packed with hearty goodnessthanks to the ham bone, beans, and vegetables.
Hands-Off Cooking:Once you’ve done the initial prep work, you can letyour Instant Pot or slow cookerdo all the heavy lifting while you tackle other things –the perfect “set it and forget it” meal.
Budget Winner:Despite being incredibly economical to make,this soup tastes great with its rich, developed flavorsand satisfying texture.
Meal Prep Magic:Double thebatch and freeze portions for later – this soup reheats beautifully and makes the perfect quick dinner on busy weeknights.
Versatile Base:Use whatever vegetablesyou have on hand or switch up the beans– this forgiving recipe adapts to what’s in your pantry while always delivering amazing results.

🍲 I have quite the collection ofhearty cold weather soup recipes— I could probably make a different soup every day of winter without repeating!

Recipe Ingredients

Olive oil or butter
Onion
Hurst’s Hambeens Great Northern Beans—You can use another brand but it may not come with the seasoning packet used in this recipe.
Celery
Seasoning packet—That comes with the Great Northern Beans.
Broth—Either chicken or vegetable is best in this soup.
Carrots
Garlic
Ham bone—or ham hocks or shanks
Salt and pepper

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Ingredients for ham and bean soup are laid out on a cutting board: packaged white beans, chopped onions, celery, whole carrots, and garlic. Nearby sit a plate with ham hocks, a bowl of broth, and an Instant Pot ready for action.

How to Make Classic Ham and Bean Soup in an Instant Pot

Put your Instant Pot on the browning/sauté setting and sauté the onion in the butter or olive oil until the onion is tender. Then add the garlic and sauté for about a minute.
Place the rest of the ingredients (except the salt and pepper) in the Instant Pot, lock the lid and seal the vent, and cook on high pressure for 40 to 50 minutes.
Use the quick pressure release and remove the lid carefully. Take out the ham pieces, bones, and any extra meat.
Toss any inedible pieces, return the ham meat to the pot, and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

How to Make Classic Ham and Bean Soup in the Slow Cooker

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make the ham and bean soup in a slow cooker.

Sauté the garlic and onion as directed in a pan on the stovetop.
Then add everything to your slow cooker.
Cook on low for 7 to 8 hoursor until the beans are tender.

How to Make Classic Ham and Bean Soup on the Stovetop

Sauté the onion and garlic as directed.
Then add everything else to the pot.
Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Cook covered, stirring often until the beans are tender, about 4 hours.

Recipe FAQs

Do you have to soak the dry beans before using?

You don’t have to soak the dry beans with this recipe. But if you do, soak them in water overnight or for 8 hours before using. If you soak your beans, reduce the broth in the recipe to 7 cups.

How can I make ham and bean soup on the stovetop?

To make this recipe on the stovetop, sauté the onion and garlic as directed and then add everything else to the pot. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook covered, stirring often until the beans are tender, about 4 hours.

How do I make this soup in a slow cooker?

To make ham and bean soup in a slow cooker, sauté the garlic and onion as directed in a pan on the stovetop and then add everything to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until the beans are tender.

What if I don’t have a ham bone?

You can use any ham or pork product of your choice such as ham hocks or shanks. Or the next time you make a ham, toss your ham bone in a zipper-topped freezer bag after dinner and keep it there until you’re ready to make soup.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yep! All the ingredients are all naturally gluten-free, including the seasoning packet that comes in Hurst’s Hambeens great northern beans. Just be sure to verify the ingredients you use are gluten-free.

An image of the cooked ham and bean soup in the Instant Pot with a soup ladle in it.

Expert Tips

Bean Prep:It’s important tosort and rinse dry beansbefore cooking, as they occasionally contain small rocks or debris that could ruin your soup.
Seasoning Success:This recipe was tested with and without seasoning packet, and ithas a great smoky flavor with the packet.
Salt Control:If you’resensitive to salt,start with half the seasoning packet and adjust to taste. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away.
Texture Tip:For athicker soup, blend it for just a few seconds with an immersion blenderor blend 2 cups of the soup in a traditional blender and then return it to the pot. This creates a perfectly thick broth while maintaining some texture.
Storage Smarts:Let thesoup cool completely before storing and leave some headspace if freezing– the soup will expand slightly when frozen.

A bowl of hearty ham and bean stew with white beans and chunks of meat sits on a striped cloth. A spoon rests inside the bowl. Two pieces of cornbread lie beside it on a weathered blue surface, surrounded by scattered crumbs.

How to Store Leftovers

This hearty ham and bean soup keeps beautifully in the fridgefor up to 4-5 dayswhen stored in an airtight container.

For longer storage, let the soup cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion. The soup will maintain its best qualityin the freezer for up to 3 months.

When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until piping hot.

Other Delicious Bean Soups To Try

If you love comforting, and hearty soups, you’ll definitely enjoy these flavorful recipes. Each one is packed with delicious ingredients and perfect for cozy nights.

Sausage Bean Soup with Spinachis a protein-packed dish with savory sausage, tender beans, and fresh spinach for a nutritious and satisfying bowl.
For an easy, hands-off meal, trySlow Cooker Vegetable Bean Soup, a wholesome, veggie-loaded option that simmers to perfection while you go about your day.
If you’re craving something classic,Italian White Bean Soupdelivers rich flavors with garlic, herbs, and creamy white beans for a rustic, comforting experience.
Finally, for a unique fall-inspired dish,Sausage Black Bean and Pumpkin Soupblends smoky sausage, hearty black beans, and velvety pumpkin for a slightly sweet and savory delight.