15 Bean Ham Bone Soup Recipe on the Stove Top

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup is a classic recipe that brings warmth and comfort to any table, perfect for using leftover holiday ham bones.

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As the temperatures drop and the evenings get longer, there’s nothing quite like a warm, hearty bowl of soup to soothe the soul. One of the best comfort foods to prepare this season is 15 Bean Ham Bone Soup. Packed with protein, fiber, and robust flavors, this dish is not only satisfying but also an excellent way to make use of leftovers—especially that ham bone from your last holiday feast.

Whether you’re looking for a family dinner, a meal-prep solution, or a dish to impress at a potluck, this ham soup checks all the boxes.

This recipe is a great way to use a leftover ham bone from holiday dinners or weeknight bone-in ham meals. When we make a spiral ham, I always save the bone in the freezer until we are ready to make a meaty ham bone soup. 

The Nutritional Benefits of 15-Bean Soup

This soup isn’t just tasty—it’s also packed with nutrients. 

1. High in Protein: Beans and ham provide an excellent source of protein, essential for muscle repair and overall health.
2. Rich in Fiber: Beans are a fiber powerhouse, aiding digestion and helping to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
3. Low in Fat (with adjustments): By controlling the amount of added fats or using leaner cuts of meat, you can create a healthy, low-fat version of this soup.
4. Packed with Vitamins and Minerals: The mix of beans includes a variety of nutrients like iron, potassium, and folate. Adding vegetables like carrots, celery, and tomatoes further boosts the vitamin content.

Serving Suggestions & Tips

• For a vegetarian option, omit the ham bone and use vegetable broth. Add extra vegetables or a plant-based protein like tofu.
• Include diced jalapeños or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
• Add fresh thyme, bay leaves, black pepper, rosemary, or oregano for additional flavor depth.
• Blend a portion of the soup with an immersion blender and mix it back into the pot for a thicker consistency.
• For additional flavor, use the ham flavor packet that often comes in the package with the beans. 
• Make sure to rinse the beans, otherwise the dirt will get into your soup water as they cook. This is also a good time to check for unwanted debris in the beans.  
• If you want a deeper flavor, replace half of the water with chicken broth or vegetable broth. 
• A smoked ham hock can be used in place of the ham bone if you don’t have one from a leftover holiday ham. 
• Make this a complete meal and serve with a side of fresh crusty bread, cornbread, roasted vegetables, coleslaw, green salad, pickles, potato salad, or cauliflower rice. 

Why Use a Ham Bone?

A ham bone is the star ingredient that elevates this hearty soup from good to great. Not only does it infuse the broth with smoky, salty flavors, but it also extracts collagen and nutrients, resulting in a velvety texture. Plus, it’s an economical and sustainable way to use every part of the ham. If you don’t have a ham bone, smoked ham hocks or shanks work beautifully as substitutes and can be purchased in the meat section at your local grocery store.

What Comes in a 15 Bean Package?

I typically purchase the Hurst’s Hambeens brand of dry beans. It has a great mixture of beans to make a delicious soup. 

• Seasoning packet: Contains hydrolyzed soy protein, maltodextrin, salt, artificial flavorings, and silicon dioxide
• White beans: Small white beans, white kidney beans
• Red beans: Small red beans, pink beans
• Lima beans: Large lima beans, baby lima beans
• Split peas: Green split peas, yellow split peas
• Kidney beans: Kidney beans, white kidney beans
• Lentils: Brown lentils, red lentils, green lentils
• Other beans: Pinto beans, great northern beans, navy beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, cranberry beans, adzuki beans, mung beans

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup Step by Step

Ingredients

• 1 ham bone
• 1 pkg 15 bean soup mix
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp cold water

Preparation

Rinse the beans until the water runs clear.

Bring 10 cups of water to a boil in a large pot then add the beans.

Meanwhile, strip the bone of all meat and set the meat aside.

Add the ham bone to the soup.

Cover and simmer for 1.5 hours.

Add the onion, tomatoes, chili powder, lemon juice, garlic, and ham to the soup.

Simmer for another 30 minutes then remove the ham bone.

When finished, mix cornstarch and water then add to the soup to thicken.

Serve warm.

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup Leftovers

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheating: The best way to reheat ham bone soup is in a small saucepan over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes, until warmed through. If the soup is too thick, add a little bit of water or broth as it warms. 

Freezing: Let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recipe

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup is a classic recipe that brings warmth and comfort to any table, perfect for using leftover holiday ham bones.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Diet

Gluten Free

Keyword:

bean soup

|

beans

|

ham

|

ham bone

|

one pan

|

soup

|

southern

|

southern cooking

Dietary Needs:

Dairy-Free

|

Egg-Free

|

Gluten-Free

|

Nut-Free

Meat:

Pork

Cooking Method:

One-Pan Meals

Servings: 8 cups

5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

• 1 ham bone
• 1 pkg 15 bean soup mix
• 1/2 onion (diced)
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 3 tbsp cold water

Recommended Equipment

• Stockpot

Instructions

• Rinse the beans until the water runs clear
• Bring 10 cups of water to a boil in a large pot then add the beans
• Meanwhile, strip the bone of all meat and set the meat aside
• Add the ham bone to the soup
• Cover and simmer for 1.5 hours
• Add the onion, tomatoes, chili powder, lemon juice, garlic, and ham to the soup
• Simmer for another 30 minutes then remove the ham bone
• When finished, mix cornstarch and water then add to the soup to thicken
• Serve warm

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Nutrition Facts

15 Bean Ham Bone Soup

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 259 Calories from Fat 1

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.1g0%

Saturated Fat 0.02g0%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.02g

Sodium 140mg6%

Potassium 985mg28%

Carbohydrates 48g16%

Fiber 15g60%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 17g34%

Vitamin A 135IU3%

Vitamin C 6mg7%

Calcium 99mg10%

Iron 5mg28%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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