Ham and 12 Bean Soup
Do you have leftover ham from Easter dinner? We do…so Ham and 12 Bean Soup is on the menu. This is a soup that really sticks to your ribs and warms you down to your toes. The best soup to serve on any chilly evening. The whole meal costs less than $10 and makes six servings. Affordable and flavorful! A classic soup that you’ll make over and over again!
Are you ready? It’s time to make SOUP! Not just any soup, one of my favorites. Ham and 12 Bean Soup is a classic, hearty soup that is comforting and satisfying for the whole family. It comes together in the slow-cooker and costs less than $1 per bowl.
Ham and 12 Bean Soup
What’s needed?
- 16-ounce bag 12 Bean soup mix
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- 2 stalks of celery with leaves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced
- 2 ham shanks (or ham bones with meat)
- 32 ounces vegetable stock (or chicken stock)
- 12 ounces beer
- 1 cup of water
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning
How to make Ham and 12 Bean Soup?
- Open the bag of beans and throw away the seasoning packet. Put the beans in a bowl of water and soak them overnight in the refrigerator. OR put the beans in a dutch oven with 8 cups of water and boil them for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow them to sit for one hour. This is the quick cook method and is usually what I do. The 12 bean mixture will have a variety of beans, I think this is more flavorful than using just one type of bean. But you can certainly use what you like or what you have on-hand.
- While the beans are soaking in hot water, chop your veggies and put them in the slow-cooker.
- Add the minced garlic, ham shanks, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Once the beans have soaked for an hour, add them to the slow-cooker along with the vegetable stock, beer and water. Stir all together.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, stirring once or twice throughout the cooking time. The soup will become thick and the meat will easily come off the bones.
Before serving, remove the bones from the soup and stir. I served the soup with wheat crackers and Caesar Salad. Ham and 12 Bean Soup is hearty and delicious, and so very affordable, too! Remember to leave me a comment when you try this hearty soup.
Ham and 12 Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 16 ounces dried beans, 12 bean soup mix
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 ham bones with meat
- 32 ounces vegetable stock, or chicken stock
- 12 ounces beer
- 1 cup water
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Open the bag of beans and throw away the seasoning packet. Put the beans in a bowl of water and soak them overnight in the refrigerator. OR put the beans in a dutch oven with 8 cups of water and boil them for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow them to sit for one hour. This is the quick cook method and is usually what I do.
- While the beans are soaking in hot water, chop your veggies and put them in the slow-cooker.
- Add the minced garlic, ham shanks, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Once the beans have soaked for an hour, add them to the slow-cooker along with the vegetable stock, beer and water. Stir all together.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, stirring once or twice throughout the cooking time. The soup will become thick and the meat will easily come off the bones.
- Before serving, remove the bones from the soup and stir. Recipe makes 8 servings.
Equipment
- 1 5-quart slow-cooker