Crock Pot Ham and Beans
There’s nothing boring about my basic crock pot ham and beans recipe. It’s is a slow-cooker version of the navy bean and ham soup that I enjoyed so often as a child.
Why mess with a classic when it tastes this good? Along with crock pot pork chops, it’s one of my favorite slow cooker recipes.
Crock Pot Ham and Bean Soup Recipe
That’s right, there’s nothing new or innovative about this old-fashioned crock pot ham and beans recipe, yet, it’s one of my favorite hearty soups.
These old-fashioned ham and beans are creamy, full of ham flavor, and totally comforting.
When I was a kid, my mom prepared this navy bean soup with ham on the stovetop, but I prefer slow-cooking it in my Crock Pot these days.
My grandpa cooked beans a lot, too. He used an old-fashioned cast-iron bean pot like this one. Doesn’t that just take you back?
I always keep several bags of dry navy beans in my pantry for chilly days when I can make this yummy dish. It’s the best ham and bean soup ever, as far as I’m concerned!
Ham and Beans Crock Pot How-To
To make my easy crock pot ham and beans you’ll just need to have these simple ingredients on hand.
- dry navy beans
- ham hocks
- yellow onion
- black pepper and salt
- I like to garnish with green onion!
I highly recommend soaking your beans for this recipe!
Rinse and sort beans. Cover beans with about 2 cups of water and allow to soak overnight or 6 to 8 hours.
After soaking rinse again. Add the beans to the slow cooker and cover with 6 cups of water. Add the onions and the ham hocks. Cover and cook on low for 5 ½ to 6 hours.
Remove the ham hocks from the pot and remove the meat from the bone and stir back into the bean. Season with salt and pepper. Stir, cover and cook for another 30 minutes, or to desired tenderness.
Serve with a hunk of buttermilk cornbread!
What Kind of Ham Do You Put In Beans?
Ham hocks bring so much flavor, but you can also use a ham bone, diced ham, or even leftover holiday ham.
Ham hocks are not loaded with meat. I find that there is enough meat for my bean soup from two ham hocks, but if you’d prefer even more meat, you can add diced ham to this recipe.
Love ham? Don’t miss my ham and noodle casserole.
I hope you’ll try my yummy slow cooker ham and beans. Be sure to leave a comment letting me know how your parents or grandparents prepared beans when you were a kid!
More Old-Fashioned Recipes
- John Wayne Casserole
- Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup
- Potato Corn Chowder with Bacon
- Biscuits and Gravy Skillet Casserole
- Crock Pot Chicken Orzo Soup
Crock Pot Ham and Beans
Basic ham and bean soup in ther slow cooker is an old-fashioned family favorite recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bag of navy beans, rinsed and sorted
- 6 cups of water
- Ham hocks, about 2 lbs.
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- green onion to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Rinse and sort beans. Cover beans with about 2 cups of water and allow to soak overnight or 6 to 8 hours.
- After soaking rinse again. Add the beans to the crock pot and cover with 6 cups of water. Add the onions and the ham hocks. Cover and cook on low for 5 ½ to 6 hours. Remove the ham hocks from the pot and remove the meat from the bone and stir back into the bean. Season with salt and pepper. Stir, cover and cook for another 30 minutes, or to desired tenderness.
Notes
Optionally, you can use chicken broth in place of the water for a richer flavor.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 233Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 86mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 4gSugar: 1gProtein: 23g
I love this old fashioned recipe. Have done it this way forever but someone suggested I use chicken broth instead of all water. Made it extra delicious. Don’t have a crock pot so just put in the oven on low temp and they cook just as if in a crock pot. Saves having to store one more kitchen appliance. 🙂 Thanks for all your delightful posts and recipes.
Hi Jeannine! I completely agree that this is wonderful with broth as well. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting! 🙂
This looks delicious Crissy! I make this just the same way and agree about the ham hocks giving just the right flavor. I do have variations though. I will use a mixed bean also the same way and it is really good. I have also found that a ham bone will work too- SAVE the bone from bone in ham I prefer not spiral cut. It works great. I will freeze the bone for later use works just fine. Yes, I am that person who will ask for the bone !
Love it! I’ve never used a ham bone but I want to try it. It’s a great idea to freeze them, too! So glad to hear from you. Hope you are doing well! 🙂
Such a great soup for the upcoming winter months! Simple to make and so delicious!
I can’t wait to give it a try!
I loved your bean soup. Made a extra large pot due to size of family (15 children ages from 17-1 year old with twins on the way). Everyone (except the little ones 4 and under had at least two servings. Within two hours our house smelled like a sewer from all the gas. Hubby thought is was hilarious to see the kids hike their leg to cut the cheese. They all decided to see who could FART the loudest. My 15 year now has a new name. His siblings call him “B-A-R-O-O-M” like an elephant farting inside a cave (the loud echoing effect). Heading to store now to purchase some Lysol thanks to my little stinkers. Hope Walmart has enough
Toni with a T
I soaked my beans overnight and they were still kinda hard after5+ hrs of slow cooker.
I am making this for my parent’s dinner tomorrow. My beans are soaking right now. I bet this will be delicious @
Toni
Are you kidding???? I come from a family of 5 and thought that was large! God bless you, hope this finds you sane and well!
It’s in my crockpot as we speak. Beans, ham, onion, celery and carrots (allfinely diced). Cornbread made with ricotta cheese and black forest brownies for dessert!
Love your recipies!
Could you just add all ingredients to crock pot hard beans and all? Cook on low for about 10 hours. Wouldn’t that be a sufficient time for beans to soften and cook?
Can I cook this on high for 2-3 hours? Would the flavor be still good if it’s cooked on high? I don’t have all day to cook lol.
My kids are picky eaters. I want to try this, but if I use a ham hock they wouldn’t eat. Is it possible to use bacon? Thank you in advance.