Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (2024)

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by Sarah Olson on | Updated 111 Comments

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This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s® HamBeens® 15 Bean Soup® though all opinions are mine alone.

Leftover Ham? Look no further than this recipe for Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup with ham! This is a classic recipe with added kale to make it a complete meal! Add some garlic bread, and you are good to go!

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (1)

This recipe uses some of that leftover ham from the holiday and turns it into a delicious soup along with Hurst’s Ham Beens 15 Bean Soup mix. The colors of this soup are beautiful, Christmas colors from the red tomatoes and the green kale. The soup turns out a bit creamy, with some of the beans breaking down into the broth after the long 6 hour cook time.

Suppose you have leftover turkey instead; head over to my Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Leftover Turkey recipe. Both of these soups transform the leftovers into something different flavor-wise and are both very comforting.

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (2)

Ingredients

  • 15 bean Soup Mix – This mix is found in the same section of the store as the other dried beans, if you are unsure that your store carries them you can look up locations here.
  • Vegetables – Onions, carrots, celery and garlic flavor this 15 bean soup. Chopped Kale and diced tomatoes are added at the end of the cooking time.
  • Seasonings – Bay leaf, dried thyme, dried basil and the included ham seasoning packet that comes with the beans.
  • Lemon Juice – Lemon juice added at the end of the cooking time brightens up the flavor of the beans, try it!
Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (3)

Step-by-Step Directions

Step One – Rinse and sort beans, discarding any debris. Add the beans to the crockpot. Save the ham flavor packet for after the entire cooking time is up.

Step Two – Add ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, thyme, and water. Stir. Add the bay leaf on top of the soup.

Step Three- Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

Step Four -After the cooking time, I add lemon juice, Italian diced tomatoes, and a few cups of chopped kale. I love the added kale in this recipe. The kale takes about 20 minutes to soften at the end of the cooking time of this recipe.

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (4)

Recipe FAQs

Is this crockpot soup healthy?

Yes! Use a lean ham in this recipe, and you have healthy soup. It is full of vegetables and even healthy kale.

How can I thicken my soup?

Drain off part of the liquid, then take a cup of beans out and smash, add back into the soup.

Can this be frozen after cooking?

Yes! 15 bean soup freezes very well. Add to airtight containers or freezer ziplock bags. Freeze for up to three months.

Do I need to soak 15 bean soup mix?

There is no need to soak the beans before cooking. Though, be sure to cook them on high to ensure they cook up nicely.

What do I serve with this?

15 ham and bean soup is excellent with biscuits, garlic bread, or cornbread. It’s a very hearty complete meal.

Can I use a ham bone?

Yes! Use one large ham bone (or two small) in place of the diced ham in this recipe. If you use a ham bone, you will want to degrease the beans after cooking. Degrease the beans by laying a paper towel over the beans in the slow cooker, soaking up the grease. Discard the paper towel and serve!

Can I use chicken broth in 15 bean Soup with Ham?

You can use chicken broth in place of water for extra flavor if desired. You can even use four chicken bouillon cubes with the water if desired.

How can I spice this recipe up?

Add two teaspoons of chili powder to this recipe at the beginning of cooking.

Can I make it with a Cajun 15 bean Soup mix?

Yes! The cajun 15 Bean Soup mix works well with this recipe.

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (5)

I hope you give this recipe a try now or after Christmas with your leftover ham. What a great meal this is to have simmering away the day after the Christmas festivities. Hurst’s Hambeens has many more recipes like this one on their site, and you can find them here. I hope you have a great holiday, and let me know if you try this recipe.

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (6)

Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe

4.92 from 79 votes

15 bean soup made in the slow cooker along with ham. You can use leftover ham in this recipe.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Soup

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 6 hours hours 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 236kcal

Author: Sarah Olson

Ingredients:

  • 20 oz. Hurst’sⓇ HamBeensⓇ 15 Bean Soup mix (save ham flavor packet to add a the end of cooking time)
  • 2 cups diced ham (leftover ham works great!)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery ribs, peeled and diced
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 2 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • 8 cups water or chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf

Add these ingredients at the end:

  • 14.5 oz. can Italian flavored diced tomatoes
  • 3 cups chopped kale
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions:

  • Rinse and sort beans, discarding any debris. Add the beans to the slow cooker. Save the ham flavor packet for after the entire cooking time is up.

  • Add ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, thyme and water. Stir. Add the bay leaf on top of the soup.

  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.

  • After the six hour time is up remove the bay leaf. Add the lemon juice, diced tomatoes and chopped kale. Stir. Replace the lid and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes more.

  • Add the ham flavor packet and stir once more. Serve and enjoy!

How to Video:

Sarah’s Notes:

How can I thicken my soup?

Drain off part of the liquid, then take a cup of beans out and smash, add back into the soup.

Do I need to soak my beans?

There is no need to soak the beans before cooking. Though, be sure to cook them on high to insure they cook up nicely.

Can I use a ham hock?

Yes! Use one large ham bone (or two small) in place of diced ham in this recipe. If you use a ham bone, you will want to degrease the beans after cooking. Degrease the beans by laying a paper towel over the beans in the slow cooker, this will soak up the grease. Discard the paper towel and serve!

Can I freeze the leftovers?

Yes! 15 bean soup freezes very well. Add to airtight containers or freezer ziplock bags. Freeze for up three months.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 514mg | Potassium: 869mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4246IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker

This recipe is sponsored by Hurst’s® HamBeens® Cajun 15 Bean Soup® though all opinions are mine alone.

More 15 Bean Soup Slow Cooker Recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Cajun 15 Bean Soup with Turkey
  • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken 15 Bean Soup
  • Slow Cooker 15 Bean Chili
  • Slow Cooker Pizza 15 Bean Soup
  • Slow Cooker Vegetarian Cajun 15 Bean Soup
  • Slow Cooker Taco 15 Bean Soup

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Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup Recipe with Ham - The Magical Slow Cooker (2024)

FAQs

How to cook ham beans in a slow cooker? ›

Directions:
  1. Sort through the beans and discard any debris. ...
  2. Add the diced ham, carrots, onion, celery, dried thyme and pepper with the beans in the slow cooker. ...
  3. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 6-7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Dec 17, 2019

How do I thicken up my ham and bean soup? ›

Use Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder

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.

How do you thicken 15 bean soup? ›

To thicken the broth in bean soup, you can try the following methods:
  1. Mashing a Portion of Beans: Gently mash a portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot. ...
  2. Addition of Cornstarch or Flour: Create a slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch or flour with water. ...
  3. Use of Potato Flakes or Mash.
Apr 15, 2016

What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›

If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

Do you soak beans before slow cooker? ›

How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker
  1. Wash hands with soap and hot water.
  2. Place dried beans in a bowl.
  3. Add water to cover beans by 3 to 4 inches.
  4. Let beans soak overnight or 6 hours covered on the counter.
  5. Use colander to drain and rinse beans before cooking.
  6. Place soaked beans in crock pot.

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.

Why is my ham and bean soup watery? ›

Cook It Longer

Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.

How do you make ham and bean soup less gassy? ›

To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars. I tested this while fixing one of my favorite slow cooker recipes: red beans and sausage.

How do you thicken ham and bean soup without cornstarch? ›

Sprinkle in flour then cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. The addition of flour to the Ham and Bean Soup will give it a nice velvety texture. Step 3: Add the stock. Slowly add glugs of chicken stock while stirring until a smooth, creamy sauce forms.

Does heavy cream thicken soup? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

How healthy is 15 bean soup? ›

Is 15 Bean Soup Healthy? YES, this 15 bean soup recipe is healthy! Beans are high in protein and fiber, meaning this soup will keep you full. This recipe also includes an ample amount of carrots, which are high in beta carotene, antioxidants, potassium, vitamins, and fiber.

What is the best soup thickener? ›

Cornstarch is a great option as it is a natural thickening agent, but you'll want to be careful about how much you use. Start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch whisked together with cold water to create a slurry. Then, gradually add the slurry to the soup, letting it boil for one to two minutes before adding more.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

Why do you put vinegar in bean soup? ›

We use ingredients that help ease bean digestion. Onions, garlic and cumin help – but the star ingredient? Apple cider vinegar, which breaks down indigestible sugars to help digestion.

Can you put Worcestershire sauce in soup? ›

Soups and Chilis

Worcestershire sauce in soup? Trust me on this one. Just a little goes a long way; it helps cut through the richness in chilis and thick soups.

How long does it take to heat beans in a slow cooker? ›

Cook on low for 8-10 hours or 4-6 hours on high or until the beans are tender.

Why are my crockpot beans tough? ›

It can be a number of factors. If you have hard water that can help keep them hard the calcium ions tend to bind to the beans and keep them hard. Sodium ions from water softeners don't do that. So if you have a water softener, you should soften the water you use to soak and cook them.

How long can canned beans be in the crockpot? ›

Drain and rinse your white beans and kidney beans add to the crockpot. Add the remaining ingredients and then stir well. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beans? ›

Pressure cookers were made for beans. Slow cooking them would not improve the taste, and with kidney beans specifically you shouldn't slow cook them at all (unless you boiled them for ten minutes first).

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