The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Leftover Ham and Bean Soup is an economical recipe that makes use of a ham bone. This ham bone soup is easy to make and incredibly flavorful.
Our recipe for Ham and Bean Soup costs $7.97 to make. It makes 8 servings for only $0.99 per serving.
Save the bone from our Copycat Instant Pot Honey Baked Ham for an affordable way to get two meals for your family.
Ham and Bean Soup
One great way to really make your grocery budget stretch is by not letting food go to waste. Making soup from the ham bone that many throw away is a great example!
Using the rind from a parmesan wedge in our Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup is another great example of using all your resources to stretch your budget.
This ham soup is a hearty, rich, and filling meal that will feed a crowd. The meaty ham bone is cooked with beans and veggies in broth, creating a soup that smells just Heavenly. You will be amazed at how flavorful this soup is.
The majority of the flavor comes from the ham bone, so do not throw it away again! Use it to make ham bone soup instead!
How do you thicken ham and bean soup?
To thicken the soup, remove 2-3 Tablespoons of liquid from the pot and place it in a small bowl. Stir in 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch. Once the broth and cornstarch are combined, stir it into the pot to let it simmer.
How long is ham and bean soup good for in the refrigerator?
Soup generally stays fresh in the fridge for about three days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container to help it stay fresh.
What can I do with leftover bean soup?
Want to make this meal stretch even further? Freeze it to save for another time! This meal freezes well in an airtight container.
How to make Leftover Ham and Bean Soup recipe:
STEP ONE: First, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Then cook the onion and carrots before adding the garlic to cook as well.
STEP TWO: Next, stir in the chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the remaining ingredients.
STEP THREE: Cover the pot and bring the soup to a boil. Then reduce the heat and simmer for thirty minutes.
STEP FOUR: Finally, remove the ham bone from the pot, leaving any remaining ham bits in the soup before serving.
Cook’s Tools:
- large heavy-bottomed pot
- cutting board
- chef’s knife
- measuring cups
- liquid measuring cup
- wooden mixing spoon
- measuring spoons
The Flavor and Recipe Variations
- You can also add other vegetables such as celery and potatoes to this soup.
- If you don’t have a ham bone with meat attached to it, then you can use about 1-2 cups of leftover ham instead.
How much WIll this Ham Bone Soup Cost to To Make:
RECIPE COST: $7.97
PRICE PER SERVING: $0.99
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil – $0.28
- 1 large yellow onion – $0.62
- 3 carrots – $0.42
- 2 garlic cloves – $0.10
- 9 cups chicken stock – $2.97
- 1 ham bone – $1.68
- 2 bay leaves – $0.06
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme – $0.08
- 3 (15 oz) cans white beans – $1.74
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika – $0.02
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
How long is it good for:
Serve: You can keep the soup at room temperature for about 2 hours before it will need to be refrigerated.
Store: Keep leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freeze: Place the cooled soup in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. Freeze for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to use it, defrost the soup in the refrigerator overnight. Place the soup in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until heated through.
Budget Tip:
- Even if you do not plan to use the ham bone right away, you can freeze it to save for later in dishes like this ham bone soup recipe.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
Ages 2-3: Practice counting skills with your child as he/she helps pour the chicken stock into the pot.
Ages 4-5: Have your child help measure and pour the ingredients into the pot. He/she can also help stir the soup while it is simmering.
Ages 6-8: Using proper stove-top safety, teach your child how to cook the onion and carrots until they are soft. They can then add in the garlic to cook as well.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
More Soups:
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Crockpot Lasagna Soup
- Healthy Chicken Vegetable Soup
- Instant Pot Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup
- Leftover Turkey Barley Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Large Batch Chicken Noodle Soup
- Italian Harvest Soup
- Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli Soup
- Taco Soup
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
Leftover Ham and Bean Soup
Equipment
- large heavy-bottomed pot
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Wooden mixing spoon
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 3 large carrots peeled and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 9 cups chicken stock
- 1 ham bone with some meat attached
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- (3) 15-ounce cans white beans rinsed and drained
FOR SERVING:
- Fresh chopped parsley optional
Instructions
MAKE HAM AND BEAN SOUP:
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat.
- Cook the onion and carrots while occasionally stirring until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in chicken stock and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add ham bone, thyme, paprika, and bay leaves to the pot. Stir in beans.
- Cover the pot and bring the soup to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes while stirring occasionally.
- Remove the ham bone and strip it of any remaining ham and add the meat back into the pot.
- Serve with fresh chopped parsley, optional.
Sam says
This soup was delicious! Such a great way to use up leftover ham!
Lisalia says
The best way to get all that delicious ham flavor to stretch further! Thanks for a way to use up our leftover Easter ham. I LOVE ham soup and this is terrific!
Amanda says
this was delicious, so flavorful and satisfying!
Jess Jankowski says
So happy to hear that. Thank you!