When the chilly weather rolls in, there's nothing quite like snuggling up with a big bowl of homemade ham and bean soup! During winter, I can't resist cozy comfort foods, and this soup really hits the spot every time. Our first go-to is usually chili, but as the season progresses, we dive into all kinds of delicious soups. On those cold days, a bowl of ham and bean soup brings so much comfort! Of course, it pairs perfectly with slipping into my favorite cozy pajamas or sweatpants while catching a football game or binge-watching a great show on Netflix. What could be better?
Good Old Fashion Ham and Bean Soup recipe!
My Dad was a dairy farmer, and he loved meat and potatoes. He really liked the flavor of the meat vs adding a lot of spices and oils. He used to always make sure the extended family and our Amish neighbors were taken care of. For the holidays, he would always take cases of oranges, apples, and ham for each family. I always thought it was so cool. He arranged for the butcher to bring all these hams to our house. Then, my Dad would deliver them to the neighbors.
My Mom would make a nice big ham for us. Then she would make tons of leftovers from ham scallop potatoes, hot and cold ham sandwiches, and of course ham and bean soup. This is why its one of my favorite comfort foods.
How to make this soup
This recipe is super easy to whip up and doesn’t take much time at all! I personally love using dried beans instead of canned ones, but both work great. Dried beans are usually cheaper, and I just think they have a tastier flavor!
NOTE: Soaking beans isn't a must for this bean soup recipe, but it can help them cook a little faster! If you choose to skip that step, just give them a good rinse and check for any small stones. Then, when you're ready to cook, just add a bit more cooking time to make sure they’re nice and tender.
Did you know that 1 pound of dried beans is about the same as four cans of beans? I absolutely love using dried beans because I can mix and match different types! Whether it’s navy beans, great northern beans, cannellini beans, baby lima beans, butter beans, or garbanzo beans, I enjoy switching things up based on my mood.
Sauté the onions in just one tablespoon of olive oil! I know it doesn't seem like much, but using a little less can help cut down on those calories. Every little bit counts, right? The great news is that this doesn't change the flavor at all! We think it's so much better to boost the flavor with spices instead of relying on butter and oils.
Once the onions have begun to soften up after about 2 minutes, go ahead and sprinkle in the spices. Give the white bean soup a little stir and sauté for another couple of minutes. Enjoy the aromas!
Add the Ham and Beans with the onions.
Pour in the broth and some water, then bring everything to a boil. Stir the white bean soup, then let it simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally. Enjoy the wonderful aroma as it cooks!
Simmer for at least an hour.
Enjoy this Old-Fashioned Ham and white Bean Soup recipe!!!!
We’ve gathered a few more recipes that you’re sure to love! Enjoy exploring them!
- 15 Bean soup recipe - Craving a delicious and hearty soup? This 15-bean soup is perfect for a rainy and cold day. Enjoy the taste without compromising your diet.
- Homemade Potato Soup - Easy Homemade Potato Soup recipe topped with bacon, cheese and onions. This soup will warm you from head to toe and is a perfect cozy meal!!
- Black beans and rice - This easy Black Beans and Rice with Ham dish is loaded with flavor and spices for a nutritious and delicious main or side dish.
- Delicious, easy, cheesy potato soup - Treat yourself to a bowl of cheesy Potato soup. The air fryer can make this classic comfort food even easier to prepare.
- Cozy beef vegetable lentil soup - For a hearty fall dinner recipe, try this healthy and delicious Beef Vegetable Lentil soup with green beans and carrots.
Ingredients
- 20 ounces White Beans We used Navy and Lima beans
- 2 pounds Ham
- 1 Onion
- 2 teaspoon Cumin
- 2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons Chicken Bouillon Powder
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 32 Ounces Chicken Broth
- 2 Cups Water
Instructions
- Place the Beans into a large bowl covered with cold water. Cover by about 4 inches with the water. Let the beans soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. Drain the soaked beans in a colander. Discard the soaking water. Rinse the beans with cool water.
- Chop onion and chop the ham into bite-size pieces.
- Add Olive oil to a stock pot and sauté the onion and spices for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ham and sauté for one additional minute.
- When the Onions have softened and are translucent, add the beans and ham.
- Add the chicken broth and water, and pour them into the stockpot along with the ham and beans. If you have a ham bone on hand, toss it in for an extra burst of flavor—it makes a difference! Cover the beans and ham with about an inch of liquid. Then, let the soup come to a boil over medium-high heat. Tip: if you notice that the liquid is looking low, feel free to add a splash more water or chicken broth to keep everything nicely covered
- Reduce the heat to simmer, cook uncovered, for one hour, stirring occasionally. Serve!
- Enjoy!!!!
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