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: 1 pound dried navy beans, rinsed and sorted; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 large yellow onion, chopped; 2 stalks celery, sliced; 2 large carrots, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups cooked ham, cubed; 1 meaty ham bone, optional; 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth; 2 dried bay leaves; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; Salt and black pepper to taste; Fresh parsley for garnish

This cozy soup is the perfect way to transform leftover ham into a comforting meal that warms you right up.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 21, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes plus overnight soaking

Cook

2 hours

Total

2 hours 15 minutes

Serves

There is something so special about a big pot of soup simmering on the stove. This ham and bean soup is a staple in my kitchen because it is simple to throw together and tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to settle.

My favorite trick for this recipe is to save the ham bone if you have one. Adding it to the broth while the beans cook creates a depth of flavor that is truly hard to beat, though chopped ham works perfectly fine if that is what you have on hand.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound dried navy beans, rinsed and sorted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 large carrots, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cooked ham, cubed
1 meaty ham bone, optional
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 dried bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Soak the dried beans in a large bowl of water overnight, then drain and rinse them well before you start cooking.
2
Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
3
Add the onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté them for about 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
4
Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until it smells fragrant.
5
Add the soaked beans, ham, ham bone if using, broth, bay leaves, and thyme to the pot.
6
Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then turn the heat down to low and cover the pot.
7
Simmer the soup for about 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the beans are tender. Stir occasionally to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom.
8
Remove the ham bone and bay leaves before serving. Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed.
9
Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with fresh parsley if you like.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. This soup also freezes beautifully for up to three months, so feel free to make a double batch for those busy weeknights.

#soup #dinner #comfort food #ham #healthy

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