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Hearty Ham and Bean Soup from a Leftover Ham Bone

A close-up of a white bowl filled with rich Ham and Bean Soup, topped with shredded ham.
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Use your leftover holiday ham bone to make this soul-satisfying, homestyle ham and bean soup. It is a practical, nourishing meal that tastes like comfort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large leftover ham bone (with meat attached)
  • 1 pound dried navy beans or Great Northern beans, rinsed and picked over
  • 8 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup diced leftover cooked ham (optional, for extra meat)

Instructions

  1. If you have time, soak the dried beans overnight in water to reduce cooking time. Drain the soaked beans before starting. If not soaking, proceed to the next step.
  2. Place the ham bone, rinsed beans, water or broth, onion, carrots, celery, and bay leaves into a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
  3. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer.
  4. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are completely tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  5. Remove the ham bone from the pot. Once cool enough to handle, shred any remaining meat from the bone and return the meat to the soup. Discard the bone and bay leaves.
  6. Stir in the dried thyme, black pepper, and any optional diced ham. Simmer uncovered for another 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
  7. For a slightly thicker soup, mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the pot with a spoon, then stir them back in.
  8. Taste the soup and add salt only if needed, as the ham bone usually provides enough sodium. Serve hot with cornbread.

Notes

  • Soaking the beans overnight helps them cook more evenly and reduces the total simmer time needed for tender navy beans.
  • If you do not have a ham bone, you can substitute 1 pound of dried beans with 4 cups of broth and 1 cup of diced ham, adding 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke for a smoky flavor.
  • This leftover ham bone soup freezes well for future easy meals.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mayaplate.com/ham-and-bean-soup-leftover-ham-bone/