Crockpot White Bean and Ham Soup

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Crockpot White Bean and Ham Soup. It’s perfect for a cozy meal and easy to make with minimal effort!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dried white beans (such as Great Northern or Navy beans), rinsed and soaked overnight
• 1 ham bone (or 2 cups of diced ham if you don’t have a bone)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1-2 cups water (to adjust consistency)
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the beans: If you haven’t already, rinse and soak the dried white beans overnight. If you don’t have time to soak, you can skip this step, but it might take a little longer to cook the beans.
2. Add ingredients to the crockpot: In your slow cooker, combine the soaked beans, ham bone (or diced ham), onion, carrots, celery, garlic, chicken broth, bay leaf, and thyme.
3. Cook the soup: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the beans are tender and the flavors meld together.
4. Adjust seasoning: About 30 minutes before serving, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. If the soup is too thick, add water a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
5. Shred the ham: If you used a ham bone, remove it from the pot and pull off the meat. Shred the ham and return it to the soup. Stir to combine.
6. Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy with some crusty bread on the side!

This hearty soup is perfect for a cold day, and the leftovers get even better as the flavors continue to develop.