Hearty Ham and Bean Soup

Name: Hearty Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 2 h
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups dried navy beans, soaked overnight; 1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups diced cooked ham; 1 large onion, chopped; 2 carrots, sliced; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 2 bay leaves; Salt and black pepper to taste

A cozy and comforting classic that turns your leftover holiday ham into a delicious family meal.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 American· July 20, 2026

dailyrecipesbook.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

2 hours

Total

2 hours 15 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of ham and bean soup on a chilly day. This recipe is a favorite in my house because it is so filling and uses up those extra pieces of ham that might be sitting in your fridge after a holiday dinner.

To make this soup even better, try to use dried beans that you have soaked overnight for the best texture. If you are in a rush, canned beans work just fine, but the dried version creates such a wonderful creamy base that is worth the little extra time.

Ingredients

2 cups dried navy beans, soaked overnight
1 meaty ham bone or 2 cups diced cooked ham
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1
Drain your soaked beans and give them a quick rinse under cold water.
2
In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the beans, ham bone or diced ham, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.
3
Pour the broth over the mixture and add the thyme and bay leaves.
4
Bring the pot to a boil, then turn the heat down to low and cover it.
5
Let the soup simmer for about two hours or until the beans are tender.
6
Remove the bay leaves and the ham bone if you used one.
7
Shred any meat off the bone and stir it back into the soup.
8
Season with salt and pepper to your liking and serve hot.

💡 Tips

This soup tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld together in the fridge. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to four days or freeze them for a quick lunch later on. Serve with a slice of crusty buttered bread to soak up every last drop.

#soup #comfort food #leftover ham #easy dinner #healthy

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