Hambone Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker) - About a Mom (2024)

This slow-cooker ham bone soup is a great way to use up any leftover ham from Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time! The meat and veggie combo offers a main course loaded with nutrition, too!

Ham is a traditional meat served at many holidays. It’s also great for any family dinner, especially when you have a guests — so several mouths to feed!

We really like to have our Slow Cooker Apple Cider Hamevery now and then. It is delicious and can be served with so many sides, like our Crock Pot Mac and Cheeseor Crock Pot Green Bean Casserole. Plus, it leaves everyone at the table feeling satisfied.

I especially like it when leftovers from dinner lend themselves to a new recipe. We usually have a bit of ham leftover when I serve it, so it’s easy to make this slow cooker ham bone soup to serve for the next few lunches or dinners.

Hambone Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker) - About a Mom (2)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Serves: 16

Ingredients

  • 1 meaty ham bone
  • 3 potatoes, diced
  • 2 cups carrots, sliced
  • 2 small onions, diced
  • 2 (15 oz) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 8 cups chicken broth or water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp thyme leaves
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large slow cooker.
  • Stir everything around the ham bone to combine.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 9-10 hours or cook on the high setting for 4-6 hours.
  • Before serving, remove the ham bone and bay leaves. Remove the meat from the bone, cut the meat into bite size pieces, and return to the soup.
Hambone Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker) - About a Mom (5)

Variations

As with most soups and stews of this nature, you can add/remove/substitute any ingredient you like. The ingredients I have listed here work well for my family but you can adjust to suit you and yours however you like. Some popular items to add include pasta (bow-tie would work well here), kale or collard greens, cabbage, corn (frozen corn kernels), or rice. Most of these additions can go into the pot with 30 minutes left but check up on them regularly to ensure you don’t overcook them.

FAQs

Can I make this without using a slow cooker?

Yep. In a large pot, saute the vegetables for several minutes, then add everything else. Bring it to a boil then turn it down and let simmer for a couple of hours. That’s basically it. For the finer details, adapt the steps from the recipe above.

How can I thicken the soup?

You can mash a couple of potatoes and add it to the soup. Rice will work similarly. You can also puree some vegetables and add to the soup. You can also add cornstarch (mix it with cold water first) or mix flour (2 tbsp), melted butter (2 tbsp), and 1 cup of the soup broth together, then add it to the pot.

How To Store Slow-Cooker Ham Bone Soup

Cool the cooked soup and place in freezer safe bags or airtight containers for up to 3 months. To prepare from the freezer: For best results, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Warm in a stockpot over medium heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Hambone Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker) - About a Mom (6)

Slow-Cooker Ham Bone Soup

About a Mom

This slow cooker ham bone soup recipe is a great way to use up any leftover ham from Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime! The meat and veggie combo offers a healthy main course loaded with nutrition too!

4.72 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

6 hours hrs

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 83 kcal

Equipment

  • slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 meaty ham bone
  • 3 potatoes, diced
  • 2 c carrots, sliced
  • 2 small onions, diced
  • 2 cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (15 ounce cans)
  • 8 c chicken broth or water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp thyme leaves
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Combine all of the ingredients in a large slow cooker. Stir everything around the hambone to combine.

  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 9 to 10 hours or cook on the high setting for 4 to 6 hours.

  • Before serving, remove the hambone and bay leaves. Remove the meat from the bone, cut the meat into bite size pieces, and return to the soup.

Notes

Freezer Tip: Cool the cooked soup and place in freezer safe bags or airtight containers for up to 3 months. To prepare: For best results, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Warm in a stockpot over medium heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 132mgPotassium: 242mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2678IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Slow Cooker Recipe, Soup Recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase from these links, About A Mom receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read our privacy disclosure for more information.

Hambone Soup Recipe (Slow Cooker) - About a Mom (2024)

FAQs

How long can you keep a ham bone before making soup? ›

For best results, try to use your frozen ham bone within three months. There may be some loss of flavor if you keep it longer, and any bits of meat and cartilage remaining on it may get freezer burn or dry out. Ham bones are packed with so much rich, flavor.

Does soup taste better in slow cooker? ›

That's because the low, slow style of cooking lets the flavors simmer together for hours, creating a much richer and more flavorful meal.

Can a ham bone be used twice for soup? ›

Ham Bone Soup Recipes

Depending how much meat comes off the bone, you may be able to reuse it if you refrigerate it between uses. Salt and pepper the recipe to taste.

Is ham still good after 7 days? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, ham is good for three to five days in the refrigerator after it is cooked.

Is ham bone broth good for you? ›

Simmering animal bones in water releases collagen and other proteins into the broth that may have health benefits, although more research is needed to validate these claims. Now, a new study has shown that ham bones contain peptides that could have cardioprotective effects.

How long can you leave soup in crockpot on low? ›

That varies by what's inside the slow cooker and also by the appliance's setting and model, the experts say. Most recipes for all-day cooking call for 6 to 8 hours on low. Quality- (and safety-) wise, another 1 to 2 hours in 'keep warm' mode won't mess things up.

Is it OK to leave soup in a crockpot overnight? ›

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker? ›

Editor's Tip: Can you overcook soup in a slow cooker? It's a common question—and the short answer is yes. Ingredients like veggies, pasta and rice can get very mushy if left in the slow cooker too long. Many meats will toughen, too.

What beans should not be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

Turns out cooking dried red kidney beans and cannellini beans in your slow cooker can make you sick. Find out how to eliminate the toxin that can make you ill and how to safely prepare and cook these commonly used legumes.

Can you put unsoaked beans in slow cooker? ›

Learn how to cook dry beans in a crockpot! This super-simple method takes less than four hours. No need to soak overnight!

What is in the Hambeens flavor packet? ›

Each package contains 20 oz. of dry beans with one seasoning packet. Hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, salt, natural and artificial flavors (includes vanillin).

How do you thicken ham bone soup? ›

Add a little flour or cornstarch. Often a good idea to mix either with a little warm water in a small bowl, and the add to the soup. You can also add some cooked, cubed potatoes (canned will work), to thicken. Instant potato flakes will work, too.

How do you thicken hambone soup? ›

Use Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder

Slowly add this mixture to your soup, stirring continuously. Let the soup simmer for a few minutes until it reaches the desired thickness. Remember to follow the recommended ratio of starch to liquid to avoid clumping.

Can you buy just a ham bone for soup? ›

They're not a super-fancy item only found at gourmet grocery stores—I buy mine at the local Safeway. If you can't find them, just ask. Both fresh and smoked ham bones need to be cooked thoroughly before eating and do best when simmered slowly for hours in a pot of soup.

How long can you keep a ham bone in the refrigerator after? ›

Christmas ham stored in the fridge, either on the bone or carved off and wrapped in plastic and foil, will keep perfectly well for up to two weeks. Ham wrapped in plastic and foil and then frozen will last in the freezer for up to a month.

How many days does a ham bone last in the fridge? ›

Do Whole Hams Last Longer? Whole cured hams last in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, fresh ham only lasts a few days in the refrigerator, about three or four once you've cooked it. It doesn't matter if the ham is whole or sliced; the lack of preservatives allows it to spoil more quickly.

How long can you save a ham bone? ›

Place the ham bone in the freezer with enough space around it to ensure it freezes quickly. For best results, try to use your frozen ham bone within three months. There may be some loss of flavor if you keep it longer, and any bits of meat and cartilage remaining on it may get freezer burn or dry out.

How long can you keep bones in the fridge for broth? ›

How long does homemade bone broth last in fridge? If you follow a typical recipe, then bone broth will last around 5 days in the fridge and up to 12 months if stored in the freezer. However, there are some things you can do to extend the best-buy date to 7-8 days in the fridge and 24 months in your freezer.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5841

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.