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This slow cooker ham and bean soup is incredible. My wife proclaimed it to be the closest we have ever come to duplicating her mom’s recipe. That’s high praise indeed. Every bite is packed with wonderful ham and bean flavor. The broth is nice and thick, perfect on a cool fall day. The ham is tender and delicious. The beans are cooked perfectly. All you need is some hot-out-of-the-oven cornbread and you’re in for one fantastic meal.
This is the kind of dish that’ll warm you to your cockles. I think. I had to look that up to make I wasn’t saying something weird. It’s an old English saying, apparently, meaning to warm you to your heart. Whew! And it’s spot-on, too!
The Ultimate Comfort Food
This was the first time I’ve cooked using ham base. It really made this slow cooker ham and bean soup amazing. Like its beef counterparts, beef and chicken base, it adds a depth of flavor you just can’t get on your own. At least, not easily.
A Lil Smoke
Ok. I know. Some folks don’t care for that smoke-in-a-bottle stuff. Liquid smoke. I use it sometimes. Sparingly. I think it has its place in some dishes. I know it’s a shortcut to adding real smokiness to something. But doing that indoors, with a slow cooker full of beans, is a real challenge. So yeah, if you want to add a drop or two to give your beans a bit of cooked-over-a-fire feel and flavor to them, I say go for it!
- Generous Capacity: 7-quart slow cooker that…
- Cooking Flexibility: High or low slow cooking…
Le Stove Top Version
I made this soup in my slow cooker but you could make it on the stove-top also. Just bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to a slow simmer and continue simmering until the beans are tender, 2-4 hours. Stir them occasionally. Like the slow cooker version, you might find that the soup is even better the next day.
Also try my fantastic vegetable soup and my delicious New England clam chowder.
Slow Cooker Ham and Bean Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried great northern beans
- ยฝ cup onion diced
- 1 clove garlic diced
- 1 pound ham cubed
- 6 cups water
- 2 ยฝ tablespoons ham base
- 1 apple cored, quartered
Instructions
- Place beans in a large pan or bowl.
- Cover with water and let stand overnight. Check the water at least twice to make sure the beans stay covered, adding more water if needed.
- Lightly spray a slow cooker with non-stick spray.
- Drain the beans and place in the slow cooker.
- Add the onions, garlic, ham, water, apple and ham base. Stir.
- Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
- Remove apple pieces and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
- Package Includes: Six (6) Reynolds Kitchens Slow…
- Easy Cleanup: These strong, reliable slow cooker…