Hearty Ham Bone Soup

A close-up, top-down view of a hearty bowl of ham bone soup, garnished with fresh rosemary, on a speckled countertop.

Olivia

A comforting and hearty ham bone soup made with leftover holiday ham bone, beans, vegetables, and savory seasonings — perfect for slow cooker or stovetop.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 6

Total Time 6 20

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dinner, Soup

Cuisine: American

Calories: 350

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

Soup Base

1 large meaty ham bone with leftover meat attached
3 cups diced leftover ham
2 cups white beans (canned, drained) or use soaked dried beans
6 cups low sodium chicken broth

Vegetables

1 large yellow onion chopped
3 carrots peeled and sliced
2 celery stalks sliced

Seasonings & Herbs

2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1 garlic cloves minced
to taste black pepper
to taste salt add at end as ham bone adds saltiness

Equipment

Slow Cooker
Large Pot (for stovetop)

Method

Prepare ingredients: chop the onion, carrots, celery, and mince garlic.
For slow cooker: Place the ham bone, vegetables, beans, broth, bay leaves, thyme, garlic and pepper into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours or HIGH for 5–6 hours until vegetables are tender. Remove ham bone, shred any remaining meat, and return it to the soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For stovetop: In a large pot, combine ham bone, broth, beans, vegetables, herbs, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5–2 hours until vegetables and beans are tender. Remove the ham bone, shred the meat and return it to the pot. Adjust seasoning and serve hot.

Notes

This soup is a great way to use leftover ham bones and scraps. Add other vegetables or potatoes if desired. Season with salt at the end to avoid oversalting. Serve with crusty bread.