Ham Bone Soup

Can ham can get any better? Sure it can… when it gets transformed into out of this world delicious Ham Bone Soup!

What do you do with your leftover ham bone after you cook a ham? Whatever you do, this time DO NOT throw it out, but put that ham bone to good use. Some ham chunks and a good old ham bone is an amazing base for an amazing future pot of soup.

And one more good news… All this simmers away in your slow cooker (but we have also included stove top and instant pot directions). Sound good? Read on…

Turning leftovers into a whole new delicious meal is like magic. Secondary meals are always so much easier and customizable to whatever you feel like creating.

This ham bone soup is an excellent example of a leftover meal out of your holiday ham.

You will be amazed how much flavor it creates in a soup base if you simmer that ham bone with the usual classic soup ingredients, along with a few leftover ham scraps. I love to cook it low and slow in my crock pot, so I don’t have to give another single thought to it for a long time.

In the end, you will end up with a light, yet flavorful brothy soup with ham chunks and veggies floating merrily…

Why this Recipe Works

• Flavor Explosion: Combining a ham bone with herbs like thyme and rosemary infuses the broth with an unparalleled depth of flavor. You’re not just eating soup, you’re embarking on a culinary journey!
• Ease of Preparation: Whether you’re a slow cooker fan or an Instant Pot enthusiast, this recipe has you covered. No need for culinary acrobatics, simple steps lead to incredible results.
• Great Use of Leftovers: This recipe is an amazing way to utilize that extra ham and transform it into a comforting, nourishing meal. Talk about sustainability and flavor meeting in one dish!
• Nutrient-Rich: With beans, veggies, and protein-packed ham, this dish is a balanced meal that will nourish your body and satisfy your taste buds.
• All-Seasons Friendly: While this dish screams comfort food, perfect for chilly nights, the burst of chili flakes and herbs makes it equally appealing for any season.

Ingredients for Ham Bone Bean Soup

• Leftover ham bone – Make sure you leave some meat on it. You can freeze leftover holiday ham bone in a freezer friendly bag. Make sure to squeeze out all the air to avoid the freezer burn. I thawed it before putting it in the crock, but it’s common to put frozen ham bone straight in crock pot. If you don’t have any ham bone left from the holiday dinner, you can buy it from the butcher for next to nothing.
• Ham chunks – This soup is the reason to save some ham and repurpose it.
• Veggies – Onion, carrots, celery, corn, potatoes and diced canned tomatoes.
• Cannellini beans – We used canned beans to saving time and for convenience.
• Herbs – Fresh rosemary and thyme (you can used dried herbs if you don’t have fresh).
• Flavor enhancers – Garlic, bay leaves, chili flakes, chicken broth.

How to Make Ham Bone Soup (Slow Cooker Method)

Your crockpot makes it for you… It’s as easy as dump everything in the crock and let it simmer and do its own magic.

Place all the ingredients except diced ham in the crock pot (as it’s already cooked, we will add it in later). Cover the lid and cook for 5-6 hours on high, or until all veggies are cooked, or 8-9 hours on low.

Add in diced ham 2 hours before the total cook time.

Remove the ham bone and scrape any meat from the bone (it’s delicious), add the meat back into the soup and discard the bone.

Do not add any salt in the beginning, as ham and ham bone have plenty, but always taste and adjust the salt according to your preference when the soup is ready. Serve immediately.

Instant Pot Method

1. Place ham bone along with chicken stock and bay leaves into pressure cooker. Seal lid and pressure cook on High for 30 minutes.
2. Quick release pressure. Remove the ham bone and scrape any meat from the bone and add it back to the soup.
3. Add all remaining ingredients into the pressure cooker. Seal lid and pressure cook on High for 7-8 minutes. Quick release pressure.
4. Serve immediately.

Stove Top Method

1. Start by sautéing onion, carrots and celery in a little oil.
2. Add in all the ingredients and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and let it simmer for 60-90 minutes.
3. Add 1-2 cups of additional water if the soup is becoming thicker than you prefer. Discard the ham bone and add in any scraps of ham from it back to the soup.
4. Serve immediately.

Alpana’s Tips and Notes

• Corn Options: Fresh corn kernels can replace frozen ones during corn season. The sweetness will add another layer of complexity to your dish.
• Herb Freshness: If you can, opt for fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs over dried. If using dried, remember that they are much more potent, so stick with the measurements in the recipe card.
• Pressure Cooker Caution: When quick-releasing the pressure in the Instant Pot, be careful to avoid any hot steam. Safety first, flavor second!
• Time It Right: Add the diced ham 2 hours before the slow cooker’s total cook time ends to keep it succulent and avoid overcooking.
• Final Touch: Before serving, remove the bay leaves and give the soup a good stir. For an added touch, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley or chives on top for color and extra flavor.

Can I Make Ham Bone Soup With Dried Beans?

Sure you can. Dried beans are very economical, and you don’t need to soak them overnight if you are cooking them in a crock pot.

If you are using dried beans for the stove top method, it’s better to soak them overnight to reduce the stove time. Place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover with three inches of water. Drain when ready to use.

Tip: If you don’t have time to soak the dried beans overnight and you happen to have an electric pressure cooker like an Instant Pot, you can pressure cook the beans instead of soaking them overnight to speed up the soup making.

Variations of Ham Bone Soup

1. You can have a different flavor profile by using different types of beans. Mix and match, like cannellini with kidney beans, navy beans or black beans. This is great recipe to use those dried 15 bean or 20 bean mixes. They come with a seasoning packet. You can use that too, to add different flavors to the soup.
2. Some don’t add tomatoes, but we love the color and flavor they add to the soup.
3. Add in other veggies like green beans, peas or sweet potatoes.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. The flavors get accentuated as it sits for a few days.

Ham bone soup can be frozen up to 4-5 months in an air tight container. Defrost overnight in the fridge overnight.

Reheat on stovetop over medium heat.

Well there you go, now you know exactly what to do with all that ham from holidays. And if you didn’t save your ham bone, Easter is just around the corner.

This cozy, comforting and super tasty bowl is perfect for some cold chilly nights that follow the holidays. Make that crock work for you and enjoy the bowlful of this delicious Ham Bone Soup with your near and dears. Take care…

Ham Bone Soup, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

Try these other cozy soups from around the world!
Albondigas Soup
Tuscan Bean Soup
Sopa de Fideo
Jambalaya Soup
Caldo de Pollo
Italian Sausage Soup
Fasolada