Do you want to finally make use of your slow cooker? Are you hoping to try something new? If that’s the case, this is the perfect recipe to try.Whether you turn your ham and beans into a soup or eat it as is, this recipe is sure to be a winner amongst family members and guests! Plus, it’s really easy to make. Just a little prep is required, and your slow cooker will do all the work!
Why You Should Try This Recipe
There’s nothing more comforting than a helping of beans, especially if it’s cooked to perfection with ham!
Nonetheless, many people are afraid to prepare dried beans. That is why this slow cooker technique is so great. There’s no soaking required. It streamlines the process and yields soft, buttery, yet smoky Great Northern beans that are reminiscent of home.
Let’s not forget the nutritional value of legumes and protein – both of which are in abundance in this dish! It’s also versatile, so whether you want to prepare a soup, serve your ham and beans as is, or add it to a pasta dish for a boost of flavor, this recipe is definitely one to store in your recipe book!
Plus, ham and bean soup is great for cold winter nights when you crave comfort food.
Tips
- We recommend using a leftover ham bone if you have one. Ham hocks can add additional flavor. However, if you don’t have a ham hock, then regular ham will do. Once the beans have cooked, simply remove the ham bone, shred any remaining meat, and add it to the dish.
- There’s no need to soak the beans before cooking them. However, if you do, be sure to use two cups less water.
- Canned beans are a great alternative if you’re in a hurry.
- You can turn leftovers into ham and bean soup for another meal!
How to Serve Beans and Ham
This dish is versatile! You can enjoy it as-is or add it to your favorite pasta dish for a flavorful twist. Beans and ham also go really well with sourdough bread and can be added to toast for a simple but flavorful meal.
We also like to turn this into a soup and top it with chopped green onions during winter!
What to Do with Leftover Ham
You can store this dish in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze them for a maximum of two months (yes – you can freeze ham!). When you’re ready to eat it, simply remove it from the freezer, allow it to defrost, and heat it using the microwave or on a stovetop.
Of course, you can turn leftovers into a soup and enjoy it with crusty bread as the ultimate comfort food on a chilly winter’s night!
Preparing a Hearty Soup: Our Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
Once your slow cooker ham and beans have cooked until tender, you can use them to make a hearty ham and bean soup. Simply remove the ham hock and allow the ham and bean soup to cook for an additional hour or until the beans lose their shape.
Then, turn off the heat, transfer the slow cooker ham and beans to a blender, and blend until smooth and creamy. You can also use a stick blender to make the job a little easier. Serve your slow cooker ham and bean soup hot.
Variations and Alternatives
If you want to try something new or don’t have the ingredients in our crock pot ham and beans recipe on hand, here are a few alternatives you can try:
Pinto Beans or White Beans
Suppose you don’t have Great Northern beans. In that case, pinto beans (see my crock pot pinto beans recipe) or white beans make a great substitute. They are creamy and offer lots of great flavor. Plus, they cook well in a slow cooker, so you won’t end up with soup (until you blend the ham and beans, of course!).
Use a Ham Bone for More Flavor
If you’re making crockpot ham, we highly recommend adding ham hocks. A meaty ham bone, like smoked ham hocks, generally takes longer to cook, so adding them to your crockpot and allowing them to cook over several hours is the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. We also recommend trying out a crockpot spiral ham.
Add More Vegetables
Do you want to turn this simple bean and ham dish into a full meal? Why not add more veggies? Green beans, potatoes, and peas can all be used in addition to dried beans for the ultimate dish!
Final Thoughts
Preparing beans and ham in the slow cooker is a great way to enjoy great soup cuisine without the hassle of having to soak your beans overnight or spend hours cooking them on the stovetop. This recipe makes it much easier to enjoy this comfort food, and you get to finally use your slow cooker!
Looking for more slow cooker recipes? We love using our crock pot, so you will find many great crockpot recipes on our website!
Crock Pot Ham and Beans
Whether you turn this into a soup or eat it as is, this crock pot ham and beans recipe is sure to be a winner amongst family members! Plus, it's really easy.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dried Great Northern beans
- 8 c. water (or low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth, if preferred)
- 1 large white onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 2 c. diced ham
- 1 ham flavor packet
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. salt or more to taste
Instructions
- Rinse beans well and remove any debris or damaged beans.
- Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and turn on the heat, setting it to low heat.
- Add all the ingredients except the ham seasoning packet and salt to the crockpot and cover.
- Allow the ham and beans to cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours or on high heat for five to six hours.
- Once the beans are tender, add the seasoning packet and salt.
- If you prefer creamier beans, remove some beans and crush them up before returning them to the slow cooker.
- Stir well to combine.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 99Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 536mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 3gSugar: 1gProtein: 11g
