Crockpot Ham and Beans Slow Cooked to Perfection!
It’s time to pull the crockpot out today! This super easy Crockpot Ham and Beans is Slow Cooked to Perfection and is a family favorite. This hearty meal has all the comfort food you need to feed your hungry family…And it’s easy!
Made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry! YUM. This is another delicious no-fail Crockpot recipe!
On busy days when we have sports, work or just plain a day full of activities…it’s so wonderful to come home to a house that smells SO good and a meal that’s already made! I’m a busy Mom so can I just say…I love my Crockpot!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
For this recipe, you can use your leftover holiday ham if you bought a bone-in ham (this is a great way to use your leftovers and not waste!). Or you can buy a ham hock at the meat section of your local grocery store. Ham Hocks are very flavorful and are usually smoked…but honestly, you can use either with this ham and bean soup recipe. I used a leftover meaty ham bone this time.
Tips you’ll want to know for making this recipe:
- You don’t have to soak your beans, but if you want to there are instructions at the end of this post…it’s super simple!
- Make sure all of your beans are covered by broth so they cook properly.
- Try not to lift the slow cooker lid, as this lets precious heat out and could alter your cook time.
- Don’t forget to rinse your beans.
- You can substitute bean types.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below for all the details!
Easy Slow Cooker Ham and Beans Recipe
Ingredients:
- Meaty ham bone – either a Ham Hock or leftover ham bone
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- bag of dried Great Northern beans
- Garlic Cloves, minced
- Vegetable or Chicken broth
- Bay Leaf
- Salt
- Pepper
Directions:
Spray your Crockpot with cooking spray or use a Crockpot Liner, both make for easier cleanup.
Chop your onion, carrots, and celery. Hate chopping? I use my Ninja Chopper when I don’t feel like chopping because it just makes my life easier! Today I chopped…LOL
Rinse your white beans under running water in a strainer. Sometimes there are little tiny rocks in them. After rinsing them add your rinsed bag of beans to the crockpot.
Place your Ham Hock or Leftover Ham Bone into the slow cooker.
Add your chopped vegetables and stir in seasonings.
Add your broth. I always use Better than Bouillon … because it’s better!! You can also use vegetable broth if you prefer.
Important: Make sure all of the beans are covered with your broth or they will not cook properly.
Now cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Cooking time can vary a little but shouldn’t vary more than a half hour or so…depending on your slow cooker.
Try to resist lifting the lid as this lets precious heat out.
At about the 7th hour…check your beans for doneness.
Here’s how I decide what’s next :
If the beans are almost done but a bit underdone…I will just keep the crockpot temperature the same and continue cooking for the last hour.
If the beans are still a bit hard but cooking, I’ll turn my crockpot to high for the last hour.
When your Crockpot Ham and Beans are done, remove the bay leaves and the ham bone before serving. Pick the ham from the bone, cut into bite-size pieces and put it back into your Crockpot.
Now Serve and enjoy!
Always store your leftover Ham and Beans Soup in an airtight container. I usually save the soup for 4 days. After that, I freeze it for a month or throw it out.
More Crockpot Recipes
Love your Crockpot too? Whether you are just getting started with your Crockpot or simply need some new recipes…I got you! You’ll find some super easy and family friendly recipes here!
Perfect Side Dishes for Crockpot Ham and Beans:
Variations you might like to try:
- Variations you might like to try:
- You CAN use different kinds of beans. Cannellini beans are another great bean for this recipe.
- After your soup is done you CAN make a Cream soup…you know like the canned Ham and Beans soup but OH so much better! Simply use a potato masher or if you have one, an immersion blender to mash up the beans. Blend until you have the creamy beans texture you want!
- Want a more soupy mixture? Simply add a little more broth or water…always taste to make sure it still tastes yummy. Add more seasoning if you need to
How to soak your beans:
You do not need to soak your dry beans with this recipe as the beans will be cooking for a good long time and should be just fine. I’ve made this many times and never soaked overnight. Whenever I cook dried beans I take into consideration the WAY that I will be cooking them. If I am cooking them on the stovetop in a large soup pot of water, then I will soak them overnight in cold water.
If you are set on soaking your beans but forgot the night before, all you have to do is cover your beans in water in a large pot and boil them for about 2 to 3 minutes. Then turn your stove off and let the beans sit for an hour. Then you can simply follow the directions as follows.
The most important thing is NOT to overcomplicate this great recipe, it’s so easy!
Pin for later friends!
Crockpot Ham and Beans Slow Cooked to Perfection!
Equipment
- 1 Crockpot
Ingredients
- 1 Meaty ham bone – either a Ham Hock or leftover ham bone You can buy a Ham Hock at the Grocery Store
- 1 Onion , diced
- 3 Celery Stalks, diced
- 2 Carrot, peeled and diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 16 oz bag Great Northern Beans Can use Cannellini Beans also
- 6 Cups Chicken Broth or Vegetable Broth
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
- 2 Bay Leaves
Instructions
- Chop all of your ingredients
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to combine, making sure all beans are covered by broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until the beans are tender.
- Before serving, remove the bay leaves and the ham bone.
- Pick the ham from the bone and cut into bite size pieces. Return to the slow cooker and stir into the soup.
Sherry:
This recipe looks great I’m making it now.
I had leftover ham on a bone and am using it to make the ham and bean soup.
I know it says cook for 8 hours, but is that on high or low?
Maria
Hi Maria! Yes this is a deeelish recipe! I cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Then I check how much the beans are cooked through. If they seem too hard for my liking I turn my crockpot up to high to finish. I’d love to hear how your Ham and Bean Soup turns out! Have a blessed day!
This recipe sounds really good, I love the ham hocks in beans !! Yummy
Hi Sherry! Yessss we LOVE Crockpot Ham and Beans here! You can use a nice ham hock OR leftover ham…either way it is delish! Thanks so much for stopping by! Blessings to you!