Slow Cooker Ham Bean Soup (Printable)

A comforting slow-cooked soup with ham, creamy beans, carrots, and celery, rich and full of flavor.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 pound cooked ham, diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Beans & Legumes

06 - 2 cans (15 ounces each) cannellini or great northern beans, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

07 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

08 - 1 bay leaf
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - Salt to taste

# Directions:

01 - Add diced ham, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and drained beans to the slow cooker.
02 - Pour chicken broth over ingredients. Add bay leaf, thyme, parsley, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine.
03 - Cover and cook on low for 7 hours until vegetables are tender and flavors are fully developed.
04 - Remove bay leaf from soup. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
05 - Ladle soup into bowls and serve hot with crusty bread or crackers if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It practically cooks itself while you go about your day, filling your kitchen with that unbeatable savory aroma.
  • One pot means cleanup is a breeze, which feels like a gift when dinner needs to happen fast.
  • The ham and beans create this naturally creamy texture without any cream at all, making it feel indulgent but honest.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the canned beans—this one step keeps your broth clear and lets you taste every individual flavor instead of a murky version of all of them.
  • If your soup tastes too thin by the end, you can mash some of the beans right in the pot with a potato masher to create a naturally creamy consistency without adding anything else.
03 -
  • Slice your vegetables the night before and store them in containers—this turns the morning prep into a five-minute assembly instead of a fifteen-minute chop session.
  • If you find the soup too thick at the end, don't add more broth immediately; instead, remember that mashing a handful of beans creates creaminess and body without diluting all your carefully built flavors.
Go Back