Quick Ham and Bean Soup

Name: Quick Ham and Bean Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 7 servings.
Cuisine: Comfort Food Recipes, Comfort Food Soup Recipes
Ingredients: 2 medium carrots, sliced; 2 celery ribs, chopped; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 2 tablespoons butter; 4 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained; 4 cups chicken broth; 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1 bay leaf

If you like ham and bean soup but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty and timely version prepared by our Test Kitchen will leave you with a satisfied smile. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

2 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery ribs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter
4 cans (15-1/2 ounces each) great northern beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 bay leaf

Directions

In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in butter until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook for 15 minutes or until heated through. Discard bay leaf.

Test Kitchen Tips

You can purchase fresh bay leaves in the herb section of large supermarkets. Fresh leaves are more aromatic than dried, and you can finely mince them to season kabobs and Mediterranean dishes. To preserve leftover bay leaves, rinse and pat them dry, freeze quickly in a single layer, then store in a freezer container to use for soups.

Unless otherwise specified, Taste of Home recipes are tested with lightly salted butter. Unsalted, or sweet, butter is sometimes used to achieve a buttery flavor, such as in shortbread cookies or buttercream frosting. In these recipes, added salt would detract from the buttery taste desired.

Check out some classic homemade soups your family will love.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 168 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 1242mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 12g protein.

Originally published as Ham And Bean Soup in Quick Cooking March/April 2005

Reviews

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Average Rating:

Renee

Apr 23, 2019

This was really good! I halved the recipe for two, and still had leftovers. Very good served with cornbread, and will definitely make again!!!!
INGRID

Apr 3, 2019

Absolutely delish, I only added 3/4 the beans it called for, and added just a dash of garlic powder, and a dash of chili pepper. My 4 year Grandson even liked it! Thanks for the recipe!
Douglas

Feb 15, 2019

Good and very easy. We cut the chili power in half though.
Dena

Dec 29, 2017

This recipe was great. I think it was watery for a bean soup. So, if you puree 1/4th -1/2 of the beans you will get a thicker soup product. It was really good tasting.
lmooseekian

Sep 10, 2017

I followed the recipe to the letter and was completely satisfied as well as the other 2 people who were eating it with me. We all loved it!!!! Very, very easy to make. This is definitely a keeper.
Christina

Jul 11, 2017

Love it! I made it pretty much is written, except I used the beans I had on hand which were great northern southern seasoned beans, and I did not drain. I used three cans of beans, and the 4 cups of chicken broth.I also added in about a half teaspoon of ground mustard. I kept everything else the same, and wow! It's really good.Don't forget to take out some of the beans, mash them and put them back in for a creamier appearance and taste.
greatwithoutgluten

Jan 27, 2017

Fast, easy, delicious. I will be making this again. My whole family enjoyed it.
suekg

Feb 17, 2016

Quick and easy as advertised. I don't care much for beans but the men in my family seemed to enjoy it.
pattyk17

Feb 15, 2016

Quick, easy, delicious! Followed recipe made no changes... will for sure make again
anschimkus10.22

Feb 2, 2016

I just made this soup, and it is absolutely delicious! The flavors are so rich, and it didn't take long at all. Definitely going in my recipe box for the future!