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Southern Ham Bone Soup

An old-fashioned classic, this easy ham bone soup recipe with beans is a nourishing and satisfying supper that’s full of rich, smoky flavor!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 15 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings: 16 cups
Calories: 165 kcal
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 ham bone (about 1 ½ lbs.)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Leaves from 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 8 cups low-sodium or unsalted chicken broth
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, not drained
  • 2 medium Russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 8 ounces each)
  • ½ head green cabbage, cored and shredded or finely sliced (about 8 cups)
  • 2 (16 ounce) cans white beans, drained and rinsed (use navy beans, Great Northern beans, or cannellini beans, for instance)
  • 1 lb. diced ham
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce, to taste
  • Optional garnish: splash of apple cider vinegar or squeeze of fresh lemon juice; additional hot sauce; chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley or thyme)
  • Optional, for serving: cast iron cornbread

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, onions, and celery. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables start to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the ham bone, bay leaf, thyme, chicken broth, and tomatoes. Add black pepper, to taste. Wait to salt the pot until later, since the ham bone can be salty and you might not need too much extra salt by the end.
  3. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the potatoes and cabbage; simmer (covered) for about 30 more minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.
  4. Stir in the beans and the diced ham. Simmer for about 10-15 more minutes, just until the beans and ham are heated through. Discard the ham bone and bay leaf. Taste and season with salt and cayenne pepper or hot sauce, if desired.
  5. Ladle into bowls, garnish with optional toppings, and serve!

Notes

  • Some folks start with water rather than chicken broth; however, since this quick recipe doesn't require simmering the ham bone for hours and hours, the water won't be flavorful enough and the ham broth won't be rich.
  • Some folks start with water rather than chicken broth; however, since this quick recipe doesn't require simmering the ham bone for hours and hours, the water won't be flavorful enough and the ham broth won't be rich.
  • Ham bones can be quite salty, so I recommend using low-sodium chicken broth or unsalted broth and seasoning with herbs or extra salt and pepper at the end.
  • Ham bones can be quite salty, so I recommend using low-sodium chicken broth or unsalted broth and seasoning with herbs or extra salt and pepper at the end.
  • Puree or mash some of the beans (and veggies) to thicken the soup. You can use a potato masher, the back of a spoon, or an immersion blender.
  • Puree or mash some of the beans (and veggies) to thicken the soup. You can use a potato masher, the back of a spoon, or an immersion blender.
  • This dish just gets better as it sits in the fridge, so feel free to make a pot in advance and reheat the ham and bean soup the next day. It will have great flavor and a thicker texture! Slow Cooker Method: sauté the vegetables and garlic in olive oil, as instructed, then transfer them to a Crock Pot. Add the remaining ingredients (except for the beans and diced ham), cover, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. Add the beans and diced ham during the final hour of cooking. Discard the ham bone and bay leaf.
  • This dish just gets better as it sits in the fridge, so feel free to make a pot in advance and reheat the ham and bean soup the next day. It will have great flavor and a thicker texture!
  • Slow Cooker Method: sauté the vegetables and garlic in olive oil, as instructed, then transfer them to a Crock Pot. Add the remaining ingredients (except for the beans and diced ham), cover, and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. Add the beans and diced ham during the final hour of cooking. Discard the ham bone and bay leaf.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1cup Calories 165kcal (8%) Carbohydrates 24g (8%) Protein 13g (26%) Fat 3g (5%) Saturated Fat 0.4g (2%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 15mg (5%) Sodium 746mg (31%) Potassium 567mg (16%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1383IU (28%) Vitamin C 18mg (20%) Calcium 69mg (7%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16cups

Amount Per Serving

Calories 165

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cup
Calories 165kcal 8%
Carbohydrates 24g 8%
Protein 13g 26%
Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 15mg 5%
Sodium 746mg 31%
Potassium 567mg 12%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1383IU 28%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Calcium 69mg 7%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.