After Christmas dinner or Easter brunch, my family already knows what’s for dinner the next day. These slow cooker ham and beans turn leftover ham into a cozy meal I’ve been making for years. And the trick for the richest ham flavoring? Keep reading!
Prep takes almost no time. Toss everything in the crockpot and let it fill your house with the BEST aromas all afternoon. If you love an easy recipe like this, my slow cooker chicken stroganoff and butter chicken are two other family favorites.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- A smart way to use up leftovers. That holiday ham gets a whole new life in a big pot of beans.
- An affordable meal to feed a crowd. It’s a great option when you’re hosting a group for the holidays or just need a regular weeknight dinner.
- Comfort food at its finest. Serve it with crusty bread or a piece of cornbread, and you won’t need anything else!
- Pantry staples keep it simple. The ingredients are easy to find, and you probably already have most of them at home.
Tips for Busy Cooks
I’ve tried many cooking methods for ham and bean soup over the years, and the crockpot wins every time. It’s hands-off, so you can get on with your day while dinner cooks itself.
This is also one of my go-to meal prep recipes. The flavors get even better after a day or two in the fridge. And it’s freezer-friendly, so you can have a batch ready to thaw any night of the week.
Key Ingredient Notes
- White beans (Great Northern, navy, or cannellini): Any canned white bean works. I grab whatever is already in my pantry.
- Cooked ham: Buy diced ham or use leftover ham.
- Ham bone or ham hock: Optional, but I highly recommend it. It adds so much richness.
- Medium yellow onion: The chopped onion gives a sweet base to the beans.
- Garlic: A key aromatic that pairs beautifully with the ham.
- Medium carrots: They add a nice sweetness and make the dish more filling.
- Water or low-sodium chicken broth: This is your cooking liquid. Broth adds more depth, but water works fine.
- Brown sugar: Just a little bit rounds out the other flavors.
- Cayenne pepper: For a kick of spice. If you prefer mild, leave it out.
How to make slow cooker ham and beans
Add the diced ham, ham bone (if using), onion, garlic, carrots, water or broth, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper to the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours to develop flavor.
Remove the ham bone, shred any remaining meat, and return it to the slow cooker.
Stir in the drained and rinsed canned beans.
Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on LOW, just until the beans are heated through.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste before serving.
Expert Tips
- Add the canned beans at the end. They only need about 30 minutes to warm through. If they cook the whole time, they’ll turn mushy and lose their wonderful texture.
- Make it more like a soup. Like your ham and beans brothy? Add an extra cup or two of liquid, and you’ve got a hearty bean soup.
- Add more vegetables. Sweet potatoes or butternut squash work well. You can also stir in leafy greens like baby spinach or kale at the end.
- Serve it over rice or mashed potatoes. I personally love these stewed beans on their own, but either option makes them even more filling.
- Customize the spices! I’ve added smoked paprika, ground coriander, and even thyme or rosemary. They’re all delicious.
- Don’t over-salt. The ham is already salty, and even low-sodium broth adds some, so taste before you season.
Storage
Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. If they’ve thickened up, add a splash of water or broth.
They also freeze like a dream! Let them cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
FAQs
Yes! The ham bone is optional, and the diced ham still gives plenty of ham flavoring. If you want a richer, smokier broth, grab a ham hock from the meat counter instead.
Any canned white bean is delicious, like Great Northern or navy beans. They’re creamy and mild and pair so well with the salty ham.
Simmer them with a ham bone or ham hock. It infuses the broth with smoky, rich flavor. Plenty of aromatics like garlic and onion help too.
More flavorful slow cooker recipes
Slow Cooker Ham and Beans
Ingredients
- 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked ham diced
- 1 ham bone or ham hock optional
- 2 medium carrots sliced
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust to taste
- 4 (15oz) cans white beans (Great Northern, Navy, or Cannellini) drained and rinsed
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the diced ham, ham bone (if using), onion, garlic, carrots, water or broth, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours to develop flavor.
- Remove the ham bone, shred any remaining meat, and return it to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the drained and rinsed canned beans.
- Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes on LOW, just until the beans are heated through.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste before serving.
Share your thoughts! If you make this please leave a review letting me know how it was!
Notes
– Store leftover beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop. If they’ve thickened up, add a splash of water or broth.
– They also freeze like a dream! Let them cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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