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.
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
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.
I already soaked the beans… what adjustments should I make?
You won’t have to cook quite as long. I would still do the same amount of liquid.
Tried the Ham and Bean recipe and it was a huge hit. My husband is not a veggie lover, so I didn’t add carrots, celery or even onions(!!), but I did add potatoes . Wonderful. Jon went back for seconds.
Thank you.
Yummy and easy! I add a hunk of butter also lol….mom always did ya’ll…lol
I want to add potatoes, should I wait till the end?
I would add them at the beginning.
I mixed in the ham packet at the beginning as I always have. Why add to the end of cooking time?
The salt can prevent the beans from softening.
As per some of the other comments, I am reducing the amount of thyme. It’s in the crockpot now! Super easy to prep. Am excited to try this!
What is a serving size?
I apologize we do not measure that for you.
I have a 8qt ninja foodie how much of each should I use
This recipe as is can be made in your ninja foodie.
Can u use the glass jar beans instead of the bags i dont like the bags
I used smoked sausage, didn’t have ham or flavoring, it worked out yummy
Soup looks good, but where did you find those great soup crocks??? I looked on the Hurst web site and didn’t see any products in their online store except beans.
Oh my gosh, I would LOVE to know as well. As an Indy family, Hurst’s is near and dear to us and those crocks are so sweetly nostalgic!
I scoured the website as well. Is there perhaps a factory store I can stop at?
I found mine at a local krogers.
Can I use a couple drops of liquid smoke flavoring and generic brand beans
Yes, both will be fine.
There is only 2 of us
.
Can the recipe be cut in half orfreeze leftovers?
Yes to both! It freezes well.
Can you give measurements of veggies in cups ? My 3 diced carrots look like double yours. I’m sure size makes a difference. In the video, it looks like maybe a cup ?
I made this recipe with generic beans (no “ham flavor packet”), a leftover baked ham bone & diced ham. The only reason I hesitate to give it a 5th star is that 2 teaspoons of dried thyme was a bit overwhelming to me, definitely the dominant flavor. Next time I will cut the thyme in 1/2. Otherwise, delicious…
I always automatically cut any recipe that includes thyme in half if I use at all. It definitely has such an overpowering impact on any dish..
What is this ham flavored packet? Your not talking about a smoked ham are you? Cause they have a packet that is sweet.
This packet is dry and ham smoked flavored, not sweet. Comes with the beans.
What are the actual ingredients in the flavor packet??
You can find that info here: https://hurstbeans.com/products/hursts-great-northern-ham-beens
I use baco & pork hocks here in New Zealand, but break them down in the SC first. That way I can be rid of the fat, skin and connective tissue.
What if you do onto have beans that can’t omen with the ham season8ng? What to use?
I add extra chicken bouillon! Works great.
How much extra bouillon cubes ? If I don’t hv ham seasoning?
I would do 3 extra
Can I use my pressure cooker?
When I make bean soup, I use 1/2 pinto beans and 1/2 white Northern Beans. Always turns out great!! I also use ham style favoring which is dissolved in water before adding to soup. Yummy!!!!