Easy Ham and Bean Soup

Name: Easy Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 medium onion (chopped finely); 1 large carrot (peeled & chopped small); 3 sticks celery (chopped small); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 4 cups chicken broth; 2 cups water; 2 cups cooked ham (chopped (or more to taste)); 2 (14 fluid ounce) cans white beans (drained); Salt & pepper (to taste)

Published: Mar 3, 2021 / Updated: Aug 25, 2022 / 27 Comments

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This ham and white bean soup recipe is hearty, delicious, healthy, and simple to make! It's great for using up leftover ham.

ham and bean soup (close-up in a white bowl)

Love white beans? Try my Sausage and White Bean Soup, this Mediterranean White Bean Salad, or my Lemon Chicken White Bean Soup.

This recipe was originally published on December 19, 2017. I've republished it with updated photos, more useful post text, and I've tweaked the recipe to make it better.

You don't need to use leftover ham for this one (just buy a piece from any grocery store), but if you've roasted a ham for Easter or Christmas, this is a great way to enjoy those leftovers if you're over sandwiches.

This ham and bean soup with canned beans is one of those soups that gets better the longer you leave it. The flavors intensify and the leftovers are just really good.

white bean and ham soup in a yellow pot with a ladle full

How to make ham and bean soup (summary)

Sauté the onions, celery, and carrots for 7-10 minutes (some light browning is good as it adds flavor) in a fairly large soup pot. Stir in the garlic, followed by the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, chicken broth, ham, and white beans. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce the heat, cover (lid slightly open), and simmer the soup for at least 20 minutes. The soup will get more flavorful the longer it's cooked, so you can definitely go a bit longer! (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

Recipe notes & tips:

You can use a different variety of canned beans if you choose (e.g. great northern or navy beans will work).
If you want to use dried beans, soak them overnight. Just cover them in water then rinse them off before adding them to the soup.
You can definitely throw a ham bone in here! That'll make it taste even better. Or use a ham hock.
If you're sensitive to salt, use low sodium chicken broth or water. Ham can be quite salty, so wait until the end and taste before adding any extra salt to this recipe.
Try swapping the Italian seasoning for 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme if you prefer. Or use a couple sprigs of fresh thyme. You could also throw a bay leaf or two in here for extra flavor.
This soup freezes well, and it'll last 3-5 days in the fridge.
I added a bit of fresh parsley for the photos, but that's totally optional.

More delicious ham recipes to try:

ham and white bean soup in two white bowls

Hope you love this easy white bean and ham soup recipe!

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