This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s HamBeens though all opinions are mine alone.
This recipe for the best Slow Cooker Ham and Beans is creamy and delicious. Great for leftover ham, just add veggies broth and seasonings.
Bean soups are one of the best things to make in the crockpot, when we have leftover ham we make ham and beans, 15 bean soup or black-eyed peas.
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.
I use Hurst’s HamBeens Great Northern Beans with Ham Flavor. These beans are great quality, you can see that in my video below. The beans cook up big and tender.
This package of Great Northern Beans and many other bean mixes from Hurst’s Hambeens come with a ham flavor packet. It’s a little powdery mix that tastes like smokey ham.
One thing I have not mentioned yet on the blog about this little 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! You can find where to buy these bean mixes here. I have found the most variety at Walmart in my area.
How to make Slow Cooker Ham and Beans:
You will need these ingredients:
- 1 bag Hurst’s Hambeen’s Great Northern Beans with Ham Flavor
- Diced Ham
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onion
- Dried thyme
- Chicken broth
- Pepper
- Salt to taste
Directions:
- Sort through the beans and discard any debris. Place the beans in a colander and rinse in cold water. Add the beans to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Add the diced ham, carrots, onion, celery, dried thyme and pepper with the beans in the slow cooker. Pour over the chicken broth. Wait to add the ham flavor packet.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- After the cooking time is up add the ham flavor packet, stir. Add salt if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Do I need to soak the beans?
No! this recipe works great without soaking. Be sure to cook on HIGH, and keep the lid on the entire time.
Can I use a ham hock?
- Yes! You can use 1-2 ham hocks or shanks instead of diced ham.
- Remove the ham hock after cooked and remove any meat, add to the slow cooker.
- Degrease the soup by laying a paper towel over it and removing.
Can I use chicken bouillon cubes instead of chicken broth?
- Yes! I use 4-5 chicken bouillon cubes when I forget to buy chicken broth.
- Just unwrap and throw them in with water (8 cups), they will dissolve and dissipate in the soup.
How can I make this into a freezer meal?
- 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.
More dried bean recipes here on The Magical Slow Cooker:
- Slow Cooker Cajun 15 bean Soup with Leftover Turkey
- Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with Ham
- Slow Cooker 15 Bean Buffalo Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Pinto Beans and Bacon
Christmas is just around the corner and I know a lot of us will have leftover ham and this recipe is perfect for that. Be sure to save this recipe for later and enjoy a big pot of Ham and Bean Soup with your family. If you love this recipe you can find more like it over at Hurst’s HamBeens.
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Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
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 stalks 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!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
- Yes! Use 1-2 ham hocks or shanks instead of diced ham.
- Shred the meat at the end of the cooking time, add to the soup.
- Degrease the soup by laying a paper towel over the soup and lifting quickly.
- Yes! Use 4-5 chicken bouillon cubes instead of chicken broth (and 8 cups of water).
- Unwrap and throw in, they will dissolve and dissipate on their own.
- 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.
Nutrition:
This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s HamBeens though all opinions are mine alone.
Just got everything in the crock pot. Apt starting to smell yummy! I added 5 cloves of fresh garlic diced too! Should be done by 6. I can not wait! All the recipes I have tried from here are awesome! Thank you!
I found this recipe last fall (2020) when trying to figure out how to use up a ton of Northern beans, so I haven’t used the HamBeens brand with the packet. It has amazing flavor even without the packet. My husband and I just LOVE this recipe and have made it several times over the past year. We just made some again and he is insisting I can some for future meals. Ham n bean soup is his favorite and he says this is the BEST one he’s ever had. So kudos on this recipe!
I had already soaked my beans over night. can I just cook them on low for the same amount of time? thanks. Susan R.
Yes, you may decide to cook them for less time since you soaked them. They will turn out fine.
Can I use a 16-oz bag of dried navy beans instead of the Great Northern Beans with Ham flavoring?
Thanks!
Yes, that will work fine!
Can I just use water not chicken broth for hamhock beans slow cooker
Yes! That will work fine.
I have beans but no package flavoring, have leftover honey baked ham, what can I put for flavoring ?
I use chicken bouillon. Lots of it.
Can the leftovers be frozen?
Yes, they do great.
Can I add diced potatoes to beginning
Yes, that will work fine.
Can it cook longer than 6-7 hours? I leave early and I am at work for no less than 10 hours
Yes! Try on low for 10 hours.
During this cold season the market ran out of all packaged beans! lol. I did buy Great Northern Beans in cans. Will it come out ok if I drain them and follow the recipe? Does the cooking time shorten up. Bachelor Doug! I’m no cook but crock pots seem to work for me. I just googled up and found your recipe.
Thanks
Hi, it’s hard to say without trying. You won’t need as much liquid or need to cook as long.
Thanks a lot. I’ll give it a shot.
Super easy and so delicious!!
It turned out awesome! I added paprika, garlic powder, and basil as well. My crockpot has a 10hr and warm setting so I cooked it for 10 hrs. I added a some water since the liquid was half gone after 10 hrs and let it warm until dinner time. It came out creamy and perfect. The best ham and beans I’ve made so far.
I’m making this now and questioning using the Ham packet flavor. Did you use the flavor in yours?