Slow Cooker Ham & Beans

This is comfort food at its finest—easy, hearty, and budget-friendly. Soaking the beans overnight gives them that perfect, tender texture. Then toss it all in the crockpot and the slow cooker does all the work for you. You can use packaged diced ham or use up leftovers. This dish is all about keeping things simple and delicious.

Use our slow cooker ham recipe for leftovers, or try our life-changing pulled ham.

This recipe is a total lifesaver when you need a low-effort meal on the cheap. It’s filling and easy to change up to use up extra veggies you have on hand. Serve it up with a slice of cornbread or some crusty bread, and dinner’s done. It doesn’t get much easier than this!

Ingredient Notes

• Dried Great Northern Beans: Keeping things cheap with dried beans. You could also use navy or pinto beans.
• Yellow Onion: Use yellow or white and be sure to dice it.
• Celery Ribs: We like to dice them to blend in, but you could also just slice them.
• Carrots: Once again, dice them to have them blend in, but you could also slice them for larger chunks.
• Ham: Packaged ham is super convenient, but this is also a great way to use up leftover ham.
• Chicken Broth: Opt for low-sodium chicken broth if you want more control over the salt level which is control over flavor. Vegetable broth also works.
• Minced Garlic: Freshly minced will always give you the best flavor. Jarred minced garlic works too, it just has a slightly bitter flavor.
• Bay Leaves: Be sure to remove them before serving.
• Dried Thyme & Oregano: You could play with the herbs, but this is the combo we like best.

Ham Options

Prepackaged Ham: Packaged ham comes in two common varieties—cubed and diced. This recipe calls for cubed ham since it’s larger, giving you bigger chunks in every bite. The diced variety will also work in the recipe. Your choice!

Leftover Ham: Leftover ham is perfect for this dish. Just dice it into bite-sized pieces so it blends well with the beans and veggies.

Ham Steaks: Many grocery stores sell ham steaks, which are single slabs of ham. These are great if don’t have leftovers on hand. Simply dice them up before adding them to the slow cooker.

Smoked Sausage Swap: For something different, try smoked sausage like andouille. Just dice it into small pieces before tossing it into the slow cooker for a smoky, slightly spicy twist.

The Science of Soaking Beans

Soaking beans overnight isn’t just a step to soften them. There’s science behind it!

Hydration for Even Cooking: Dried beans are like little sponges. Soaking them allows them to slowly absorb water, which rehydrates the tough outer skin and softens the dense interior. This step ensures your beans cook evenly in the slow cooker, preventing any unpleasantly crunchy bites.

Reduces Cooking Time: By pre-soaking your beans, you’re giving the slow cooker a head start. Beans that haven’t been soaked can take hours longer to cook through.

Helps with Bean Bloat: Beans naturally contain compounds like phytic acid and oligosaccharides that can cause a little bean bloat. Soaking helps break these down, making the beans easier on your stomach.

Cleans the Beans: During soaking, beans release dirt, debris, and impurities, including substances that cause foaming during cooking. Draining and rinsing soaked beans ensures you’re starting your recipe with clean beans.

Skipping Soaking Beans

You can skip soaking the beans and still end up with a delicious pot of ham and beans. Here’s what you need to know:

Quick Soak Option: If you’re short on time, you can quick-soak the beans by boiling them for 2 minutes and letting them sit in hot water for 1 hour before draining and rinsing. It’s not as effective as an overnight soak, but it’s a great time-saver!

No Soaking at All: If you skip soaking entirely, dried beans will take longer to cook—plan to add an extra 1-2 hours on low in the slow cooker to make sure they soften properly.

Rinse Thoroughly: Even if you skip soaking, always rinse the dried beans thoroughly under cold water before using. This step removes dirt and debris, so your beans are clean and ready to cook.

Adjust the Liquid: Unsoaked beans soak up more liquid while cooking. Keep an eye on the liquid level in your slow cooker and add an extra cup or two of broth as needed to prevent the dish from drying out.

Serving Suggestions

Just because it is ham and beans, it doesn’t have to be boring! Serve alongside cornbread or any crusty bread from the bakery to soak up the flavorful broth. Spoon the ham and beans over steamed white or brown rice to make it even more filling. Add a fresh side of sautéed greens, like spinach. Garnish with fresh parsley, a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or even a drizzle of hot sauce for a spicy kick.