The Ultimate Comfort: Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup Recipe

There is nothing quite as deeply comforting and wonderfully aromatic as a big pot of homemade bean soup simmering away on a chilly day. If you are seeking a recipe that requires minimal effort but delivers maximum flavor, you have found your holy grail. This recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup takes simple, humble ingredients dried beans, aromatic vegetables, and a smoked ham bone and transforms them into a hearty, deeply savory meal that practically cooks itself.

Forget standing over the stove for hours; your trusty slow cooker handles all the heavy lifting. By utilizing the long, slow cooking process, we extract every ounce of smoky, meaty goodness from the ham bone, infusing the beans and broth with unparalleled richness. This slow cooker method also eliminates the need for the tedious step of pre-soaking the beans, saving you hours of advance planning. Just prep your ingredients, drop them into the crockpot, and come back eight hours later to a glorious, ready-to-serve dinner. It’s truly the definition of set-it-and-forget-it cooking, making this one of the best and easiest ways to use up that leftover holiday ham bone, or simply to craft a deliciously economical meal.

Whether you call it Navy Bean Soup, Great Northern Bean Soup, or just good old-fashioned Ham and Bean Soup, the results are the same: a rich, thick, and satisfying stew perfect for feeding a crowd or providing cozy leftovers all week long. Prepare to make this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup a permanent fixture in your rotation of winter comfort foods.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

This particular recipe isn’t just another dinner idea; it’s a culinary experience steeped in tradition and simplified by modern technology. The reasons why this specific rendition of ham and bean soup will become your new favorite are numerous, centering around ease, depth of flavor, and incredible value. When you look up comfort food, this savory, smoky bowl of beans and tender ham should be pictured right alongside classics like Slow Cooker Chili or creamy potato soups.

Unbeatable Simplicity: The “No-Soak” Method

The single most compelling reason to embrace this slow cooker technique is the elimination of pre-soaking. Traditionally, dried beans require an overnight soak or a quick boil method to ensure they soften evenly and cook properly. However, the extended, gentle heat of the crockpot (especially the LOW setting) provides the perfect environment for the beans to hydrate and cook without the risk of bursting or drying out. You can literally wake up, throw the ingredients in, and have dinner ready that evening. This makes the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup accessible even on the busiest weekdays.

• Time-Saver: No need for 8-12 hours of soaking time.
• Flavor Maximizer: The beans absorb the smoky broth from the very first minute of cooking.
• Minimal Monitoring: Once the lid is secure, you don’t need to stir or check the liquid levels constantly.

Flavor Profile and Ingredient Synergy

The magic of this ham bone bean soup lies in how effectively the slow cooker extracts and merges flavors. A smoked ham bone (or hocks) is more than just meat; it’s a seasoning agent. As it simmers, the collagen, fat, and smoke essence melt into the broth, creating an incredibly rich, complex base that commercial broth simply cannot replicate.

We build upon this base with the classic trifecta of aromatics onion, carrots, and celery (often called Mirepoix) which provides a sweet, earthy balance to the smoky ham. The addition of dried thyme and bay leaves infuses the soup with a warm, herbaceous note, transforming humble dried beans into gourmet comfort food. Every spoonful of this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup offers tender beans, melt-in-your-mouth ham, and a rich, velvety broth.

A Budget-Friendly Powerhouse

Dried beans are one of the most cost-effective sources of protein and fiber available. Pairing them with a ham bone often a byproduct of another meal, or an inexpensive cut like ham hocks creates a substantial meal that stretches a few dollars a long, long way. This recipe is an ideal way to use up leftovers from holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas, turning what might have been discarded into a glorious, second-chance meal. Few recipes offer such a high yield of hearty, nutritious food for such a low initial investment.

This soup freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prepping. You can easily double the batch, enjoy half now, and freeze the rest for a quick, comforting meal later. The robustness of the flavors only improves upon reheating, ensuring that leftovers are just as satisfying as the initial serving. If you appreciate the convenience of large batch cooking, you should definitely check out my guide on making Crockpot Potato Soup for another simple, budget-friendly meal.

Why You Should Try This Recipe Today

Beyond the practical benefits of ease and economy, there are specific compelling reasons why the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup should be on your immediate menu plan. This recipe excels in its nutritional density and its inherent adaptability, ensuring it meets various dietary needs and preferences while providing deep, nourishing satisfaction.

Deep Nutritional Value and Satiety

Beans are celebrated as a superfood, packed with plant-based protein, dietary fiber, and essential minerals. Great Northern beans, specifically, offer a mild flavor and a creamy texture that is perfect for this type of slow-simmered soup. The high fiber content means this soup is incredibly filling, promoting satiety and aiding digestive health.

Furthermore, the inclusion of carrots, celery, and onion adds crucial vitamins (like Vitamin A from the carrots) and antioxidants. By making the broth base with low-sodium chicken broth, we control the overall salt intake, balancing the natural salinity that leaches out of the smoked ham bone. This results in a wholesome, balanced meal that nourishes the body while warming the soul. It’s truly a feel-good food that you can rely on when the weather turns cold.

The Power of Bone Broth Extraction

The star ingredient the ham bone is not just for flavor; it contributes significantly to the health properties of the soup. During the long cooking cycle, the bone releases gelatin and collagen into the liquid. Gelatin not only improves the mouthfeel and body of the soup, giving it a luxurious, velvety texture, but it also contains amino acids beneficial for joint health and gut lining integrity. This process transforms a simple broth into a nutrient-dense, almost bone-broth quality liquid, elevating the humble nature of this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup to something truly medicinal and restorative.

Perfect Consistency Management

A common pitfall in bean soup recipes is achieving the perfect consistency not too watery, not too thick, but beautifully creamy. The slow cooker helps us nail this consistency every time. Because the cooking process is gentle and lengthy, the beans break down slowly, releasing their starch naturally into the liquid. This natural starch acts as a thickening agent, eliminating the need for flour, cornstarch, or heavy cream to achieve a restaurant-quality texture.

A practical tip for those who prefer an even thicker soup: once the soup is finished cooking, simply remove about two cups of beans and mash them with a fork or an immersion blender before returning them to the pot. This quick step guarantees a rich, full-bodied soup every time, highlighting the versatility and robustness of this homemade method.

In summary, you should try this recipe because it delivers on every front: it’s easy, healthy, incredibly flavorful, budget-conscious, and yields a generous quantity of one of the most timeless and beloved comfort foods in the culinary repertoire. Don’t let that ham bone go to waste; turn it into a magnificent pot of Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup.

Ingredients and Necessary Utensils for Success

Achieving a deeply flavorful Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup depends entirely on the quality and preparation of a few key components. Below is a detailed breakdown of the ingredients and the tools you will need to execute this recipe perfectly.

Essential Ingredients Checklist

We rely on straightforward, pantry-friendly items for this recipe. Precision in your liquid and seasoning choice, however, is key to managing the overall salinity that comes from the smoked ham bone.

Choosing the Right Beans

While Great Northern beans are traditional for this soup due to their ability to hold shape while offering creaminess, Navy beans (smaller, often used for baked beans) also work wonderfully and break down slightly faster. If you want a slightly bolder flavor and larger size, you could experiment with Cannellini beans, though they might require the full 8 hours on LOW to fully soften. Remember, the key to the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup is the ham bone’s flavor married to the starchy beans.

The Power of a Smoked Ham Bone

The difference between good ham and bean soup and truly great ham and bean soup lies in the quality of the smoked component. If you don’t have a large bone leftover from a spiral-cut ham, ask your butcher for smoked ham hocks. They are typically affordable, heavily smoked, and contain plenty of gelatinous material that guarantees a thick, rich soup base.

Recommended Tools and Utensils

The beauty of this recipe is its minimal equipment requirement, focusing primarily on the slow cooker itself.

1. The Slow Cooker (Crockpot)

Requirement: 6-Quart or 7-Quart Capacity. A standard 6-quart oval slow cooker is ideal for this recipe quantity. It allows enough space for 8 cups of liquid, the solid ingredients, and the ham bone, preventing spillage during the long cooking time. Using the correct size ensures the heat distributes properly and the beans cook evenly. For those who frequently make large-batch meals, consider investing in a high-quality, programmable model that switches to ‘Keep Warm’ automatically.

2. Preparation Tools

• Large Cutting Board and Sharp Knife: Essential for dicing the Mirepoix (onions, carrots, celery) quickly and safely.
• Colander or Fine Mesh Strainer: Absolutely necessary for rinsing and picking over the dried beans.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: For accurately portioning the broth, herbs (thyme, pepper), and the final salt adjustment.
• Tongs: Crucial for the cleanup phase. You will need long, sturdy tongs to safely retrieve the piping hot ham bone and the bay leaves from the slow cooker at the end of the cooking process.

3. Finishing Tools (Optional but Recommended)

• Immersion Blender (Hand Blender): As mentioned, if you desire an extra-thick soup, a quick blitz with an immersion blender is far easier and safer than transferring hot soup to a stand blender.
• Large Ladle: For serving the thick, hearty Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup.

Having the right tools ensures that the prep is quick and the cleanup is simple, maximizing the “easy” factor of this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup recipe.

Detailed Recipe Steps: Achieving Perfect Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

Following these detailed steps ensures that your Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup comes out perfectly tender, smoky, and richly seasoned. Remember, the slow cooker does the hard work, but proper layering and timing are key to maximizing the flavor extraction.

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients (The Foundation)

Proper preparation sets the stage for a flawless slow cooker process.

Rinsing the Beans:
Start by placing your 1 pound of dried Great Northern or navy beans into a colander. Rinse them thoroughly under cold running water. While rinsing, spread them out and pick out any debris, tiny pebbles, or beans that are visibly broken or shriveled. Although this slow cooker method eliminates the need for soaking, cleaning the beans is non-negotiable for food safety and quality. Once clean, they are ready to go straight into the pot.

The Mirepoix Prep:
Dice the yellow onion, carrots, and celery. Aim for pieces that are roughly the same size about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch cubes. Uniform dicing ensures that they all soften completely and melt into the soup during the long cooking cycle. Mince your four cloves of garlic finely. Preparing all these vegetables beforehand makes the loading process extremely fast.

Step 2: Load the Slow Cooker (Strategic Layering)

Layering the ingredients correctly in the slow cooker helps distribute heat and ensures the best possible flavor outcome.

Placement of the Bone:
Place the large smoked ham bone (or 1 pound of ham hocks) directly into the bottom of your 6-quart slow cooker. Placing the ham bone here ensures that it is consistently submerged in liquid throughout the cooking process, allowing the maximum amount of flavor, collagen, and smoke essence to leech out into the broth base.

Adding Solids:
Next, pour the rinsed, non-soaked beans over the bone. Follow this with your diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Even distribution of these aromatics around the beans ensures a balanced flavor profile in the final soup.

Step 3: Add Liquid and Seasoning (The Critical Step)

This stage requires attention to both volume and timing, particularly concerning salt.

The Liquid:
Pour the 8 cups of low-sodium chicken broth over all the ingredients. It is vital that the beans are fully submerged by at least one inch of liquid. If 8 cups doesn’t cover them sufficiently (depending on the shape of your slow cooker or the size of your bone), add a little extra water or broth until they are covered. Beans expand considerably, so ensuring enough liquid prevents them from drying out or burning on the bottom.

Seasoning Strategy:
Add the dried thyme, black pepper, and bay leaves now. Do NOT add the recommended 1/2 teaspoon of salt yet! The salinity of smoked ham bones varies wildly. Adding salt now risks a catastrophically salty soup later. By holding the salt until the end, you can adjust precisely to your taste after the ham flavor has been fully incorporated.

Step 4: Cook the Soup (The Slow Transformation)

This is where the magic of the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup happens just set it and forget it.

Secure the lid tightly on the slow cooker.

• LOW Setting: Cook for 8 hours. This is the highly recommended method, as the low, slow heat extracts the most depth from the bone and cooks the beans gently to creaminess without causing them to burst.
• HIGH Setting: Cook for 4 hours. Use this setting if you are pressed for time, but be aware that you might need to check the liquid levels towards the end, and the resulting broth might not be quite as thick and rich as the LOW setting produces.

The soup is finished when the beans are entirely soft, tender, and easily mashed between two fingers, and the meat is literally falling off the ham bone.

Step 5: Finish the Soup (Extracting the Ham)

Once the cooking cycle is complete, the final steps involve refinement and mixing.

Remove and Rest:
Using long tongs, carefully remove the hot ham bone and the two bay leaves from the slow cooker. Place the ham bone on a cutting board and allow it to cool for about 10–15 minutes until it is safe to handle. Ensure both bay leaves are retrieved and discarded, as they are not edible.

Shred the Ham:
Once cool enough, use two forks or your hands to shred any usable pieces of ham meat off the bone. Look for the lean, tender parts. Discard the bare bone and any excessive pieces of fat or skin.

Step 6: Serve and Adjust (Final Polish)

The final crucial step involves integrating the shredded meat and perfecting the seasoning and consistency.

Meat Integration:
Return all the shredded ham meat back into the slow cooker and stir the soup well. This distributes the meat evenly and mixes in the naturally thickened broth.

Taste and Season:
This is the moment to taste the soup. It should already be flavorful and smoky. Now, add the reserved 1/2 teaspoon of salt, tasting as you go. You may need more, depending on the initial salinity of your ham bone. A splash of apple cider vinegar (1 teaspoon) can also brighten the flavors beautifully if the soup tastes a little flat.

Consistency Check:
If the soup is too thick (perhaps the beans broke down more than anticipated), add a small amount of extra hot water or broth to reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, use the immersion blender trick mentioned above blend just a cup or two of the beans to release more starch.

Ladle the magnificent, rich Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup into bowls. Garnish generously with fresh chopped parsley if you have it. Serve hot alongside cornbread or crusty bread for a complete, satisfying meal.

Tips, Tricks, and Delicious Variations for Your Slow Cooker Bean Soup

While the classic recipe for Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup is perfect as written, understanding how to tweak it for texture, spice, or dietary needs ensures you can adapt it to any situation. These tips help avoid common pitfalls and offer exciting ingredient alternatives.

Managing Soup Consistency

Texture is everything in bean soup. Here are two ways to control whether your soup is hearty and thick or light and brothy:

1. Thickening the Soup: If your beans are tender but the soup is too thin, use an immersion blender (or a potato masher) to mash about 1/4 to 1/3 of the beans against the side of the slow cooker pot. This releases the starch and thickens the entire batch naturally without changing the flavor.
2. Thinning the Soup: If the beans have absorbed too much liquid (common on the HIGH setting), simply add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of hot chicken broth or water at the end, stirring until the desired consistency is reached.

Ingredient Alternatives and Swaps

Flexibility is key for an easy recipe. Don’t be afraid to substitute ingredients based on what you have on hand.

Bean Variations

While Great Northern beans are traditional, you can substitute:

• Pinto Beans: These cook similarly and offer a slightly earthier flavor.
• Black Beans: While delicious, they will change the color of the broth significantly, making a darker, richer soup.
• Lentils: If you use red or brown lentils, drastically reduce the cooking time (lentils are much smaller and softer and only need 2-3 hours on HIGH or 4-5 hours on LOW).

Protein Substitutions

If you don’t have a ham bone, or prefer a different flavor:

• Smoked Turkey Leg or Thigh: This is an excellent alternative, providing the smoky element without the pork. Use the bone and skin just like the ham bone; the meat shreds beautifully.
• Bacon or Salt Pork: If you don’t have a bone, sauté 1/2 cup of diced bacon or salt pork until crispy, drain off most of the fat (leaving about 1 tablespoon), and add it to the slow cooker at the beginning. This adds a necessary smokiness and richness.

Vegetable and Spice Enhancements

• Spicy Kick: Add a diced jalapeño or a pinch of red pepper flakes (1/4 teaspoon) at the beginning of cooking for a slight heat lift.
• Acidity Boost: Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar right before serving. The slight acidity cuts through the richness of the ham and brightens the overall flavor profile significantly.
• Aromatic Depth: Sautéing the diced onions, carrots, and celery in butter or olive oil for 5-7 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker (a process called blooming) can deepen the flavor base, though it sacrifices a bit of the “dump-and-go” ease.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

To ensure your Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup is perfect every time, heed these warnings:

1. Over-Salting: This is the number one mistake. As emphasized, never add the main salt quantity until the very end. If your soup is too salty post-cooking, try adding a peeled, whole potato during the last hour of cooking; the potato may absorb some of the excess salt.
2. Old Beans: Very old dried beans (over 18 months in the pantry) often refuse to soften, even in a slow cooker. If your beans are excessively old, consider soaking them for 4 hours before adding them to the crockpot, just in case. Always try to use fresher dried beans for the best results.
3. Opening the Lid: Resist the urge! Every time you lift the slow cooker lid, you release a significant amount of heat, which can extend the cooking time by 30 minutes or more. Trust the process.

For more great comfort food ideas and meal prepping inspiration, be sure to visit my Pinterest page where I frequently share new slow cooker and freezer-friendly recipes, like this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup. You can find inspiration and save your next dinner idea here: My Recipes Ebook Pinterest Board.

Nutritional Values and Health Benefits of Ham Bone Bean Soup

This classic bean soup is more than just a satisfying comfort meal; it’s a nutritional powerhouse. When structured correctly, focusing on lean ham pieces and plenty of vegetables, the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup offers substantial health benefits derived primarily from the beans and the long-simmered broth.

Key Nutritional Profile (Estimation per Serving, 6-8 servings total)

While exact values depend heavily on the size of the ham bone and the amount of fat rendered, an approximate nutritional breakdown highlights the soup’s strength in protein and fiber:

• Calories: Approximately 300–400 Kcal per serving.
• Protein: High, around 25–35 grams per serving (derived from the beans and the shredded ham). Essential for muscle repair and satiety.
• Fiber: Extremely high, typically 12–15 grams per serving. This is a massive percentage of the recommended daily intake (RDI).
• Fats: Moderate, depending on how much ham fat is added back. Around 8–15 grams, mainly saturated from the ham, but minimized by removing excess fat before serving.
• Carbohydrates: Approximately 40–50 grams, primarily complex carbohydrates from the beans, leading to sustained energy release.

Benefits of Great Northern Beans

Great Northern beans are the foundation of this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup and contribute significantly to its healthy status:

1. Excellent Source of Fiber: The high dietary fiber content aids in digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and contributes to lowering cholesterol. The fiber content is why this soup is so effective at keeping you feeling full for hours.
2. Mineral Rich: Beans are rich in folate, magnesium, and potassium. Magnesium is crucial for muscle and nerve function, while potassium helps balance blood pressure.
3. Iron Boost: Beans provide a good source of non-heme (plant-based) iron, essential for preventing anemia. Pairing bean soup with a source of Vitamin C (like a side salad with vinaigrette) can help the body absorb the iron more efficiently.

The Advantages of Using a Ham Bone

Using the bone, rather than just pre-cooked ham cubes, offers two distinct advantages:

1. Collagen and Gelatin: The long, slow cooking process breaks down the connective tissues in the ham bone, releasing collagen. This gelatin enriches the broth texture and provides beneficial amino acids (like glycine and proline), which are believed to support joint health, skin elasticity, and gut health.
2. Economical Protein Source: By utilizing the leftover meat on the bone, we ensure minimal food waste and incorporate protein that has been naturally tenderized by the long simmering process.

Integrating Vegetables for Micronutrients

The addition of carrots, celery, and onion (Mirepoix) provides crucial micronutrients that complement the dense profile of the beans:

• Carrots: Loaded with beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, which supports vision and immune function.
• Celery and Onion: Provide antioxidants and subtle anti-inflammatory properties, adding to the overall immune-boosting qualities of this hearty soup.

In essence, this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup offers a perfectly balanced meal: high in sustaining protein and fiber, low in refined sugars, and packed with essential vitamins and minerals all delivered in a warm, comforting bowl.

For readers looking for other comforting yet healthy soup options, consider trying our recipe for Creamy Tomato Soup with Fresh Tomatoes, which offers another fantastic way to get vegetable goodness into your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

Conclusion: The Timeless Appeal of Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

The process of creating this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup is a testament to how the simplest ingredients, when given time and gentle heat, can yield some of the richest and most rewarding dishes. We started with a basic collection of dried beans, aromatic vegetables, and a smoky ham bone, and through the magic of the slow cooker, we finished with 6 to 8 servings of deep, savory comfort.

We’ve covered everything necessary to guarantee your success: the crucial step of avoiding pre-soaking, the strategic use of low-sodium broth to manage salinity, the importance of long cooking on LOW to maximize flavor extraction, and the final adjustment of texture and seasoning. This recipe proves that maximizing flavor doesn’t require complex techniques or dozens of expensive ingredients just patience and the right appliance.

Whether you were looking for an economical way to utilize leftover holiday ham, a hearty freezer meal, or just a simple, deeply nourishing soup to warm up a cold evening, this Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup delivers on all counts. It’s a classic for a reason, and now, thanks to the slow cooker, it’s easier than ever before.

We encourage you to try this recipe tonight. Taste the difference that a real smoked ham bone makes, and enjoy the effortless cooking process. If you loved this slow cooker recipe, please share it with your friends and family. We always love hearing about your cooking adventures let us know in the comments below what you served alongside your hearty bean soup!

Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup

This comforting and hearty soup utilizes a smoked ham bone to create a deeply flavorful broth, combined with tender beans and traditional mirepoix, all cooked effortlessly in a slow cooker.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American, Southern

Calories: 385

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Soup Base

• 1 large smoked ham bone (or 1 pound ham hocks)
• 1 pound dried Great Northern beans or navy beans rinsed and picked over
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or water, or a combination)
• 1 large yellow onion diced
• 3 carrots peeled and diced
• 3 celery stalks diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste; adjust after cooking due to ham bone salinity
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped (for garnish, optional)

Equipment

• 6-Quart or larger Slow Cooker
• Cutting board
• Tongs

Method

 

Preparation

1. Rinse the dried beans thoroughly under cold running water and pick out any debris or broken pieces. (There is no need to pre-soak the beans for this slow cooker method.)
2. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Mince the garlic.

Slow Cooker Setup

1. Place the rinsed ham bone (or ham hocks) into the bottom of a large 6-quart or 7-quart slow cooker.
2. Add the rinsed beans, diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic over the ham bone.
3. Pour the 8 cups of low-sodium chicken broth (or water) over the ingredients, ensuring the beans are fully submerged by at least an inch of liquid. Add the dried thyme, black pepper, and bay leaves. Do not add the salt yet.
4. Secure the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 8 hours, or the HIGH setting for 4 hours. The soup is ready when the beans are completely tender and the meat is falling easily off the bone.

Finishing and Serving

1. Carefully remove the ham bone and the bay leaves from the slow cooker using tongs. Place the bone on a cutting board. Shred any usable pieces of meat off the bone. Discard the bone and any excess fat or skin.
2. Return the shredded ham meat back into the slow cooker and stir well. Taste the soup and add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, or more, as needed.
3. If the soup is too thick, add a small amount of water or broth to reach your desired consistency. Ladle the Easy Slow Cooker Ham Bone Bean Soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired and serve hot.

Notes

For a thicker soup, mash about 1 cup of the cooked beans against the side of the slow cooker before returning the ham meat. This releases starch and naturally thickens the broth. This soup freezes exceptionally well—store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 months.