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White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

Snuggle in this weekend and make a pot of this white bean and ham soup! It’s cozy, comforting, and hearty – perfect for a chilly night. The best part is that it cooks in one pot in just over a half hour!

Bowl of white bean and ham soup garnished with sliced chives.


 

Easy White Bean and Ham Soup Recipe

This one-pot white bean and ham soup is the ultimate comfort food—simple to make and absolutely loaded with flavor. With tender beans, smoky ham, and a rich, creamy broth, it’s a hearty meal that comes together effortlessly. Perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner! And it’s a great way to use up that leftover holiday ham!

Bowls of ingredients to make white bean and ham soup.

Ingredients for White Bean and Ham Soup

How to Make Ham and Bean Soup

Saute onion, carrot, and celery in butter. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, sage, and flour. Cook for a couple minutes.

Large pot filled with sauteed veggies, garlic, herbs, and flour.

Slowly add 3/4 cup of chicken stock to deglaze the pot, scraping all the yummy bits off the bottom until clean.

Large pot with sauteed veggies and herbs in a roux.

Add cannellini beans, diced ham, and remaining chicken stock.

Large pot filled with broth, ham, and beans.

Stir in heavy cream and the bay leaf. Add a couple pinches of salt and pepper.

Heavy cream and bay leaves added to a pot of white bean and ham soup.

Simmer gently for 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender. Carefully remove the bay leaf and stir in 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with sliced chives and enjoy!

Large pot of white bean and ham soup.

Tips for Making the Best White Bean and Ham Soup

  • You don’t have to use dried beans. You sure can if you want to! But canned beans are just as delicious and they make this soup a breeze to throw together.
  • You can use the ham bone and leftover ham for this recipe. I love to make a big pot of this soup after the holidays when we’ve got tons of ham left over!
  • Ham can be salty, so I like to add a few pinches of salt throughout the cooking process but wait until the end to really season to taste. Just to make sure it doesn’t end up too salty!
  • Use any herbs you like! I love the combination of Italian seasoning and sage but you can use your family’s favorite dried herbs.
Bowl of white bean and ham soup.

Make-Ahead Instructions

  • This white bean and ham soup is one of my favorite make-ahead meals!
  • It stays fresh in the fridge for days and the flavors just get better with time.
  • Plus, then you’ve got easy lunches or dinners ready to go throughout the week!

Storing Leftover Ham and White Bean Soup

Store leftover ham soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezing Ham Soup

  • Freeze leftover ham and white bean soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating White Bean and Ham Soup

  • Reheat leftover soup in a saucepan over medium heat until warm.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

Try these easy soup recipes next!

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White Bean and Ham Soup

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Snuggle in this weekend and make a pot of this white bean and ham soup! It’s cozy, comforting, and hearty – perfect for a chilly night. The best part is that it cooks in one pot in just over a half hour! 

  • Author: Kylie
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Heat 5 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add 1 small diced yellow onion, 1 cup sliced carrot, 1 cup sliced celery, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 8 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add 6 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon sage, 5 tablespoons flour, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Slowly add 3/4 cup of chicken stock to deglaze the pot, scraping all the yummy bits off the bottom until clean.
  5. Add 2 cans cannellini beans, 2 cups diced ham, the remaining chicken stock, 1 cup heavy cream and 1 bay leaf. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
  6. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 10 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
  7. Carefully remove the bay leaf and stir in 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  8. Garnish with sliced chives and enjoy!
  9. If you loved this recipe, leave a five-star rating and review!

Notes

    • You don’t have to use dried beans. You sure can if you want to! But canned beans are just as delicious and they make this soup a breeze to throw together.

    • You can use the ham bone and leftover ham for this recipe. I love to make a big pot of this soup after the holidays when we’ve got tons of ham left over!

    • Ham can be salty, so I like to add a few pinches of salt throughout the cooking process but wait until the end to really season to taste. Just to make sure it doesn’t end up too salty!

    • Use any herbs you like! I love the combination of Italian seasoning and sage but you can use your family’s favorite dried herbs.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/8 of the soup
  • Calories: 340
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 443.4 mg
  • Fat: 17.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.3 g
  • Fiber: 4.4 g
  • Protein: 19.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 71.4 mg

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