Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
155 Comments Dec 17, 2019
Updated Apr 26, 2025
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There’s nothing better than a warm bowl of Slow Cooker Ham and Beans on a chilly day. This easy recipe turns leftover ham, veggies, broth, and simple seasonings into a comforting meal the whole family will love.
This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s HamBeens though all opinions are mine alone.
Are you a Ham and Bean soup fan? My family sure is. There is a little diner we go to that has Ham and Beans on the menu daily and I have to get it every time we go. You won’t believe how easy it is to make restaurant-quality ham and beans at home easily by throwing everything in your slow cooker and WITHOUT soaking the beans.
Key Ingredients
Here is what you need to make this EASY ham and beans recipe. The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images.
- Hurst’s Hambeen’s Great Northern Beans – These beans can be found at most grocery store (especially Walmart) the pack of beans come with a ham flavoring packet. The ham flavor packet is that it is vegetarian, so if you are not wanting real ham in your soups but want the flavor, you can get it!
- Vegetables – Carrots, celery and onion which is a mirepoix and perfect for making soups in the crockpot.
- Diced Ham – This is a great way to use leftover ham from the holidays.
- Other Ingredients – Chicken broth, dried thyme, salt and pepper.
Ham and Beans Video
How to make Crockpot Ham and Beans
Step One: Place the beans in a colander and sort out any debris, rinse beans in cold water and add to the slow cooker.
Step Two: Add the ham, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, pepper and chicken broth, stir. Wait to add the ham flavor packet.
Step Three: Cover and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Step Four: When the cooking time is done, add the ham flavor packet and stir. Add salt to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Variations
Here are some ways to change up this meal.
- If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you can use 4–5 chicken bouillon cubes instead. Just unwrap them and add them directly to the slow cooker with 8 cups of water — they’ll dissolve as the soup cooks.
- For a different flavor, you can use 1–2 ham hocks or shanks instead of diced ham. After cooking, remove the hock, shred off any meat, and stir it back into the soup. To remove excess grease, lay a paper towel over the surface of the soup and lift it away.
- Smoked sausage or cooked bacon are also great additions if you want even more flavor.
- Want to change it up even more? Try using a 15-bean mix instead of Great Northern beans for a heartier and more colorful soup.
How can I make this into a freezer meal?
This meal makes a GREAT freezer meal, here is how I do it:
- Place raw veggies, diced ham, dried thyme and pepper into a ziplock bag. Don’t add the beans or chicken broth, leave those in your pantry until you are ready to use your frozen meal.
- Freeze the veggies, ham and seasonings for up to a month.
- When ready to cook, add the contents of the freezer bag, beans, and pour in 8 cups of chicken broth into the slow cooker. Wait to add the ham packet.
- Cook as the normal recipe states, add ham flavor packet at end of cooking time.
Recipe FAQs
No! this recipe works great without soaking. Be sure to cook on HIGH, and keep the lid on the entire time.
You can store the ham and beans in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.
I recommend using dry beans for this recipe — they slowly soak up all the delicious flavors while they cook. Canned beans can break down too much in the crockpot and end up mushy.
Featured Comment
“Made this tonight with leftover Christmas ham. Ingredients are simple and most probably have on hand. Added a little shredded Parmesan on top. It’s a yes for me.”
– Cheryl
Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
How to Video
Ingredients
- 20 oz. pkg. Hurst’s Hambeens Great Northern Beans with Ham flavoring, (save the ham flavor packet for the end of the cooking time)
- 2 cups diced ham, leftover ham works great
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 celery ribs, diced
- 2 tsp. dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 8 cups chicken broth
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the beans in a colander and sort out any debris, rinse beans in cold water and add to the slow cooker.
- Add the ham, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, pepper and chicken broth, stir. Wait to add the ham flavor packet.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is done, add the ham flavor packet and stir. Add salt to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- Place raw veggies, diced ham, dried thyme and pepper into a ziplock bag. Don’t add the beans or chicken broth, leave those in your pantry until ready to use. Freeze the veggies, ham and seasonings for up to a month.
- When ready to cook, add the contents of the freezer bag, beans, and pour in 8 cups of chicken broth into the slow cooker. Wait to add the ham packet.
- Cook as the normal recipe states, add ham flavor packet at end of cooking time.
- If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you can use 4–5 chicken bouillon cubes instead. Just unwrap them and add them directly to the slow cooker with 8 cups of water — they’ll dissolve as the soup cooks.
- For a different flavor, you can use 1–2 ham hocks or shanks instead of diced ham. After cooking, remove the hock, shred off any meat, and stir it back into the soup. To remove excess grease, lay a paper towel over the surface of the soup and lift it away.
- Smoked sausage or cooked bacon are also great additions if you want even more flavor.
- Want to change it up even more? Try using a 15-bean mix instead of Great Northern beans for a heartier and more colorful soup.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More crockpot dried bean recipes
Here are more from scratch recipe to use up your dried beans.
- Creamy and buttery with just the right amount of seasoning, these Slow Cooker Lima Beans make the perfect cozy side or main dish.
- Tender pinto beans and flavorful ham come together for a comforting Southern-style dinner in this Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Ham recipe.
- Bold buffalo flavor, hearty beans, and tender chicken make this 15 Bean Buffalo Chicken Soup a fun and spicy twist on traditional slow cooker soups.
- Bean soups are one of the best things to make in the crockpot, when we have leftover ham we make these ham and beans 15 bean soup or black-eyed peas.
This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s HamBeens though all opinions are mine alone.
Made this tonight with leftover Christmas ham. Ingredients are simple and most probably have on hand. Added a little shredded Parmesan on top. It’s a yes for me.