Hearty Navy Bean Soup is an easy recipe! With classic flavors it's an affordable soup that tastes even better on day two! Big meaty flavor from the ham and creaminess with perfectly cooked beans. This is an easy meal the whole family will enjoy!
This recipe is easy to make on the Stove Top, Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker!
Love a great bowl of soup? Click here for the best soup recipes ever on the blog - these are my favorites!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
Ham and Bean Soup is a staple in our home. When it's bubbling away on the stove, the beans slowly soften and become soft and creamy, the ham is fall-off-the-bone tender. It's hearty and so flavorful and costs less than $1.00 per serving, talk about value!
Bean soup has been a go-to meal of mine for years. When I was single and dollars were tight I would purchase a ham and eat it for days.
Dollars were tight. Packed with protein and vegetables that basic ham and bean soup was the best meal I could afford and is still one of my favorites!
When the ham was gone I'd take the bone and make soup and eat that for days. (For more recipes click here!)
🗒️ Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Navy beans or great northern beans - they are small white beans sold in one pound bags in the dried bean section.
- onion, carrots, celery - an aromatic flavor base for this stew.
- leftover ham bone, chopped ham (optional) - the bone adds loads of flavor, if you have extra meat great, if not - no worries! You should still make this soup. You can substitute with smoked turkey legs or wings as well.
- water - if you have low sodium chicken broth, that will add even more flavor!
- bay leaves, pepper, red pepper flakes - all seasoning you have in your spice cabinet.
- olive oil - to sauté the vegetables
- salt - if needed at the end of cooking
- lemon and parsley (optional) - the addition of lemon and parsley brightens the flavor of the soup. I highly recommend it!
⏲️ Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
Stove top method
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat add the olive oil.
- Add the vegetables, season with the black pepper and red pepper flakes & sauté until tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Next add the bay leaf, ham bone and beans to the pot. Add enough water to cover the beans and simmer covered for 1 ½ hours, until the beans are tender.
- When the beans are tender, taste for seasoning. Now's the time to add salt!
If the beans are presoaked cooking will take about an hour.
Electric pressure cooker instructions
- Turn the pressure cooker to sauté.
- When hot add the olive oil and sauté the vegetables. Season with black pepper and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Next add the remaining ingredients and 7-8 cups of water. Do not overfill the pressure cooker.
- Set the Instant Pot to manual and high temperature. Set the timer to be 45 minutes. Add the lid and seal.
- Natural release at the end
If the beans are presoaked, reduce cooking time to 10 minutes
Slow cooker directions
Slow Cooker Navy Bean Soup is so simple. It makes the texture of the beans super tender and when I have a busy day, this is the method I use.
- Omit the olive oil.
- Add all of the ingredients to the crockpot. Cook for 8-9 hours until the beans are tender.
- Check for seasoning - add salt as needed.
If the beans are presoaked, reduce cooking time to 5-6 hours.
🙋♀️ FAQ's
I like to think of this as everything you want to know about bean soup but were afraid to ask! Seriously though I have a post dedicated to making the BEST Homemade Soup.
Have you made bean soup from scratch? This Navy Bean Soup Recipe is easy to make and it's a great way to stretch a buck. Here's the low-down on beans!
Start by picking through the dry navy beans and sorting them. It's not unusual to find small stones and/or dirt clods mixed in.
Rinsing the beans thoroughly in cold water will ensure the dust and debris is rinsed away.
There are several varieties of white beans and they are very common. Navy beans are a small white bean and have an oval, slightly flattened shape.
Soaking them overnight will shorten the cooking time. Rinse them well first, then add the beans to a large bowl covered with water. Refrigerate them overnight or they could ferment.
No, drain beans and discard the soaking liquid. The water can be dirty and contain anti-nutrients. Rinse the beans until the water runs clear.
This method shortens the cooking time. Pick thru the beans and rinse them well, add the beans to a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a hard boil for one minute. Remove from heat, leave covered for one hour. Drain and rinse the beans well.
👍 Tips
Want to take your homemade soup to the next level? Add a squeeze of lemon and minced parsley at the end of the cooking process. It brightens and freshens the flavor of the soup!
Also, anytime you're cooking beans, salt when the beans are done cooking. If you add salt in the beginning the beans will be tough.
Wait until the end of the cooking time to taste and adjust flavors. Often times between the ham hock and the ham, there’s plenty of salt – when this slowly cooks, the salt distributes into the broth. It just might be salty enough!
What are the best soups on the blog? Click here to find out! Best Soup Recipes Ever!
You'll definitely want to give this simple recipe a try!
📓 Variations
There are several variations of bean soup recipes
- 15 Bean Soup with Ham - grab a bag of assorted beans at the grocery store and make this soup! It's a mixture of lentils, pinto, black, kidney beans and more. Another hearty delicious meal!
- Homemade Bean and Bacon Soup - super creamy and easy this one uses canned beans and is ready in a snap!
- White Bean and Turkey Chili Recipe - I make this ALL the time! It's a great pantry meal.
- Navy Bean Vegetable Soup - all the goodness of Navy Bean Soup but stuffed with your favorite vegetables!
Serving suggestions
My favorite side with this bean soup is this recipe Skillet Corn Bread. It is the best combination. Serve a fresh garden salad as well, wow - what a feast!
Related recipes
There are so many love soup recipes on the blog. In fact, over a hundred! (I have a soup eating problem, I know! 😋) It's comforting, easy to make and affordable and that works for me. Check out the Soup Category
Still hungry? Here are more hearty soup recipes!
- Lamb Stew Recipe - tender meat and vegetables, this soup is savory and delicious!
- Homemade French Onion Soup - comforting on a chilly and topped with a thick slice of toasted bread, loaded with melty Gruyere.
- Moroccan Chicken Stew - Tender chicken flavored with fragrant spices cooked with vegetables and dried fruit.
- Easy Lasagna Soup Recipe - just like your favorite pan of lasagna, this soup is cheesy and hearty!
- Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup - quick and easy to make in your pressure cooker, this is a family favorite!
Looking for budget-friendly tips to save $$'s on your grocery bill? Click here to learn more!
Navy Bean Soup with Ham
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 package Navy or Great Northern Beans
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 3 carrots chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ham bone
- 2 cups chopped ham optional
- 8 cups water
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt to taste if needed at the end of cooking
- tablespoon juice of ½ lemon and 2 fresh parsley minced (optional)
Instructions
- Pick thru the beans, checking for small rocks, blemished beans, etc and remove.
- Prepare the beans by following product directions by either soaking the beans overnight, or using the quick soak directions. Set aside.
- In a large soup pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add the onion, carrots and celery to the pot, season with the black pepper & red pepper flakes & sauté until tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Add the bay leaf, ham bone, diced ham (if using) and beans to the pot & add enough water to cover the beans and simmer covered for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed and cook until the beans are tender.
- When the beans are tender, taste for seasoning. You may need to add a teaspoon or two of salt.
- You can also remove the hambone and pick the meat off it and add the meat back to the soup. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
- When you turn off the heat add in the lemon juice & parsley, mix well and serve!
Notes
Instant pot directions
- Turn the pressure cooker to sauté.
- When hot add the olive oil and sauté the vegetables. Season with black pepper and red pepper flakes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Next add the remaining ingredients and 7-8 cups of water. Do not overfill the pressure cooker.
- Set the Instant Pot to manual and the timer to be 45 minutes. Add the lid and seal.
- Natural release at the end
Slow cooker directions
- Omit the olive oil.
- Add all of the ingredients to the crockpot. Cook for 8-9 hours until the beans are tender.
- Check for seasoning – add salt as needed.
Nutrition
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Don't worry, we'll never share your email.First published May 17, 2016 - Last updated July 14, 2021
