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Ultimate Ham Bone Soup: Comfort in a Bowl - Ham bone soup: Make this incredibly flavorful and hearty soup using your leftover ham bone in the slow cooker. Simpl

Ultimate Ham Bone Soup: Comfort in a Bowl

Ham bone soup is the ultimate comfort food, especially when made in a slow cooker. This recipe transforms humble leftovers into a rich, flavorful broth packed with tender beans and savory ham. It's perfect for a chilly evening or a satisfying lunch. Our slow cooker ham bone soup is incredibly easy to prepare, requiring minimal hands-on time. You get all the depth of flavor from simmering the ham bone for hours, creating a meal that tastes like it simmered all day on the stovetop.
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Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours
Servings: 8
Course: Soup
Calories: 350
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.2 kg / 2.4lb leftover ham bone (OR store bought ham hock / meaty bone)
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
  • 1 celery stalk, cut into chunks
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 sprigs thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1.5-2 cups dried white beans, no need to soak
  • 2 litres / 2 quarts water (8 cups)
  • 2 tbsp (30g) butter or oil
  • 1 onion, chopped

Method
 

  1. Place the ham bone, carrots (cut into chunks), celery stalk (cut into chunks), 2 garlic cloves (unpeeled), thyme sprigs, dried white beans (no soaking needed), and water into the slow cooker.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.
  3. Remove the ham bone from the slow cooker. Shred any meat off the bone and discard the bone. Return about half of the shredded ham back into the slow cooker.
  4. Discard the thyme sprigs.
  5. Chop the carrot and celery chunks removed earlier and return them to the slow cooker.
  6. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add about half of the remaining shredded ham and cook until golden and crispy.
  7. Transfer most of the crispy ham to the slow cooker, reserving a few pieces for garnish.

Notes

- For an even richer broth, use a ham hock or a meaty ham bone.
- You can add other vegetables like potatoes, leeks, or parsnips along with the carrots and celery.
- Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.