Rich, hearty, and delicious, this tomato-based Dutch Oven Ham and Bean Soup will be a family favorite and is a great way to use leftover ham.
There's nothing pretentious or particularly sacred about this humble soup. It's completely adaptable to whatever you have on-hand and tastes great every time. If you love soups, stews, and chili like we do, give our quick chicken noodle and awesome chili a try.
Jump to:
- Can you cook soup in a Dutch oven?
- Why this recipe works
- Recipe ingredients
- Step by step directions
- Recipe FAQs and Variations
- What to serve with this Dutch oven ham and bean soup
- Our favorite tools to make Dutch Oven Ham and Bean Soup {tomato based}!
- Other Soup, Stews and Chili Recipes
- Get the Recipe
- Recipe ideas using canned beans
There's nothing quite as soul-satisfying as a hearty soup.
Can you cook soup in a Dutch oven?
Yes. If your Dutch oven is properly seasoned, you'll have absolutely no problem making ham and bean soup, which has a tomato base or any of your favorite soups.
Why this recipe works
This is one of those recipes that I've made some version of for years. The ham, white beans, and vegetables remain the same, everything else is changeable. Sometimes we use broth, other times we use water and bouillon.
This year, when we made our Honey Mustard Glazed Ham, we saved the cooking liquid and used that as the base of this soup. Oh my...delicious. The soup broth is a bit sweeter in the end as a result but it really works with the savory of the tomato.
What kind of beans for ham and bean soup
White beans are the most typical or common bean used in a soup like this. Any white bean will do. They all have slightly different flavors and textures but in the end, your soup will taste great with any of them.
- Navy Beans but also called pea beans. They're the smallest, most fragile, and kind of oval in shape. These are most often used in pork n' beans or Boston baked beans.
- Great Northern Beans are a medium sized bean with a firmer texture or flesh. This makes them great for using in soups and stews.
- Cannellini Beans are sometimes called white kidney beans due to their kidney-like shape. These are the largest of the white beans. They're flavor is also a bit bolder or nuttier than the great northern or navy bean.
- Baby Lima Beans or butterbeans are small with a creamy or buttery texture, hence the moniker butterbeans.
Recipe ingredients
- Ham and ham bone — we used leftover slices of spiral ham and the bone to make the broth.
- White beans — use your favorite white bean. We used canned cannellini beans. Drain and rinse them first.
- Vegetables — the standard three, mirepoix, or the trinity: onions, celery, and carrots. A can of diced tomatoes too.
- Liquid — You'll want 8 cups of total liquid, plus 8 ounces of tomato sauce (or 15 for a really tomato-y broth). We used 2 cups of ham cooking liquid as mentioned above, a 32 oz container of low-sodium chicken broth, and 2 cups of water.
- Herbs and seasonings — oregano, thyme, granulated (or fresh) garlic, pepper, and bay leaves. We used a mixture of dried and fresh, use whatever you have on hand.
- Optional ingredients — tomato paste for thickening and salt if needed to taste.
Step by step directions
Step 1 — Add the ham bone, onions, carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, and fresh herbs to the Dutch oven.
Step 2 — Add all the cooking liquids except tomato sauce.
Step 3 — Add the dried herbs and seasonings to the pot; stir well. Bring it all to a boil for 15-20 minutes. The liquid should reduce.
Step 4 — After the boiling time, remove and discard the ham bone.
Step 5 — Add the tomato sauce and return the soup to a low simmer.
Step 6 — If you want to thicken your soup broth, add anywhere from 1 tablespoon to the full 6 oz can of tomato paste. Slow add a bit at a time to your desired thickness.
Step 7 — Once the soup has reached the desired thickness, add the diced or cubed ham.
Step 8 — And finally, add the drained and rinsed canned beans. Allow the to heat through, about 5 minutes.
Recipe FAQs and Variations
Yes about 1.5 cups of dried beans. After sorting and soaking your beans, you'll need to boil with the ham bone for about 2 hours. During the last 20 minutes of that boiling time, begin the recipe by adding the vegetables.
No. Between the ham and the canned ingredients, this dish can be salty all on it's own. However, sometimes it does need salt. Taste the broth during the cooking process and add salt to taste as needed.
Yes, we do this often. We prefer Knorr's granulated chicken bouillon. Make sure you start with 8 cups of water and add as much bouillon as per the package directions and/or to taste.
Please do. The ham bone just adds some depth of flavor to the broth, but you can obtain that with herbs and seasonings.
Yes it is.
No, it is not. Some of the ingredients gives that impression but this would not be considered an Italian or Italian-style soup.
What to serve with this Dutch oven ham and bean soup
While this soup is fantastic on its own, we can't blame you for wanting a bit more of something...but what? How about cornbread? Our creamed corn cornbread or sweet cornbread would be wonderful.
Or you could enjoy with a classic homemade white bread.
If you're wanting a bit more to eat than just soup, how about these Hot Italian Sandwiches from Family Fresh Meals?
Our favorite tools to make Dutch Oven Ham and Bean Soup {tomato based}!
Lodge Blacklock 5.5 quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Buy Now →BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning
Buy Now →Other Soup, Stews and Chili Recipes
If you tried this Dutch Oven Ham and Bean Soup or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Get the Recipe
Dutch Oven Ham and Bean Soup {tomato based}
Equipment
- 5 quart Dutch Oven or larger
Ingredients
- 1 ham bone
- 1 cup celery diced, about 3 ribs
- 1 cup onions diced, about one small
- 1 cup carrots diced, about 3 large
- 15 oz can diced tomatoes with juices
- 32 oz low-sodium chicken broth
- 4 cups water
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1½ teaspoon dried oregano 3 tablespoon fresh
- 1½ teaspoon dried thyme 6-8 sprigs fresh
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 15 oz tomato sauce 8 oz for lighter tomato flavor
- 4 cups ham diced or cubed
- 45 oz cannellini beans drained and rinsed (3 cans)
- 6 oz tomato paste OPTIONAL
Instructions
- Add the ham bone, vegetables, diced tomatoes, herbs/seasonings, and liquid (broth and water) to the Dutch oven.
- Boil for 20 minutes and then discard the ham bone.
- Add the tomato sauce and return to a low simmer.
- If using tomato paste to thicken, slowly add a tablespoon or so at a time until the broth reaches the desired thickness.
- Add the ham and bean and return to a low simmer for 10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Recipe ideas using canned beans
- Mexican Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet
- Charro Beans from The Complete Savorist
- Steakhouse Chili from The Magical Slow Cooker
- Baked Beans and Bacon
- Authentic Mexican Black Beans from The Complete Savorist
- Land Your Man Baked Beans from The Magical Slow Cooker
Gianne
The tomato base added a great depth of flavor and the ham was savory and tender. It's the perfect cozy and comforting soup for a chilly day.
Dannii
This was so comforting and really easy to make. I will definitely make it again.
kushigalu
Flavorful and delicious soup recipe. Love the combination of ingredients. Thanks for sharing.
Rita
This soup was delicious! We will be making it again!
Holly
I am not a huge fan of beans, but my husband is so I made him this soup and he gave it a big thumbs up! It made enough for him to eat for lunches throughout the week. He is a happy camper. Thanks for sharing.
Lubna
How simple and easy is this recipe. I made it with mutton bones and it turned out amazing. Love the flavour of tomatoes in this soup.
DK
Such a rich and hearty soup! We had it on a cold night and it was the perfect warm meal!
Justine
This was so great! Super easy to make with great flavor - will definitely make it again!
kushigalu
Love the combination of ingredients in this soup recipe. So flavorful and delicious.
Angela
Pure comfort food and absolutely perfect for the cold weather we've been having lately. We really enjoyed this meal. Thanks for a great recipe!
Naelle Yoshimura
This recipe saves the day! I have leftover ham and I wasn't feeling split pea soup. Super easy to follow, very tasty way to use leftovers, thank you!
Kim
This was really tasty! So hearty and filling, and easy to put together. I'll be making this one again soon.
Tiffany
This is my families favorite way to use our leftover ham on holidays! It is filling and full of flavor! Thanks!
dana
LOVE how smoky and delicious this is. So cozy and perfect for this chilly weather we're still getting. Trying to get my soup fill now!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
This is such an easy and delicious recipe, I cannot wait to make it again!